BOXING.

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1911, Page 2

BOXING.

HOW LESTER BEAT LANG,

Grim determination, unflinching courage, remarkable powers of endurance *and .xjaoupfcira^oin,- cbuplcid with the tru& ■cbmbaitive 'instinct — all these factors assisted "Jack" Le s ter to gain a points i decision over lf Bill" Lang-^ the Australian heavyweight champiom, after 20 rounds of bitter boxiing at the Stadium (says the Sydney "Morning Herald."

Lester was first into -tlie ring and was ■quickly . followed by Lang", who, although .reported <o have been suffer ing from imfluemza earlier in the Aveek, neyier looked betteu, a.nd indeed as subsequent 'events showed, anust have lacked nofbirig on the sr-de ot condition. Contrary to 'his practice, too, he starVd off confidently, <'lseing enitiusly free from tho. usua-1 trace of ■nervousness . rtvihiioh cliiarac«e,nses his fighting 'cFur'mg the early, rounds. Lester, too, was 'brimful of assurance and from the start carried vhe fighting to Lang, who nothing JoMi stood to lin'im. From a spectacular 'paint' of view the contest was' .perfect, and so exciting was it tha-ti the enthusiast? who atVndeld in such numbers as to tax seat!nig accommod'aition to its utmost, wctr roused to the highest pitch of exoitement.

For Lang's defeat .there can .be no excuse. He fought the fight of his career only to mact defeat. Wic-h all the advantages of weiight, reach and «xpcwience in his favour lie was ".15eaten fairly aiiKt SQiiarely fy a mere youth, who by sheer aggressiveness and unflinching courage accomplished tho -tias'lv he had sot himself to perform — to wear down the Australian champion.

•Never before has Lang fought with such confidence. At the ou'tsidc he, perhaps, mi'slcid as to Lester's abilities, starting; off full of confidence. But ha had under-estimated the vallue of Lester's 'methods. Crude 'th&y may appear to be, Ibut ithat fact notwithstanding- they are certainly effect ive. LestK'r may mot be ia finished boxer — no one would ever seek to lay that to bis credit — ibut as a ifignter he certainly is entitled to rocognition. Of coursei he, as a representative of 'tihe American, school upsets all our preconceived ideas of 'the hit, stop, asn-d ,get away type of. boxer, to which class Lang ibelongs. His sole aim is to get to c!os,e quarters, as it is while in 'that position that he inviaa-iably manages to get in ■effectivo work. With but little variety :in his 'method he crowds in all the tim.e. Taking no U&aA of punches which would! tfuop many ano'thctr strong boxer in his track?, the iboy for ho is only 20. years old — srnilingily bor.es 'in as regardless of them as if they were so many love taps. And whan he works in closei, what- a tjitansifonimiaition 'is sieen ! Th>3 wild swings which characterise his outfighting- cease, and rin tlieir place damaging rips and uppercuts -delivered alike with 'both hamds and for both the body land! jaw with tolling effect. These short punches are the mosit damaging in Lester's by no ■meains e^tenisivc repertoire, 'but? tTfcy are so effective that they .cnablo him to 'keep his opponent puzzled.

Them there is lv's wonderful power of Tccuperatiion. This was especially rajtio-alxlp divviVig <ite?., seiv«ntih yi.nd eighth rounds Undeil the severe punish memt inflicted by Lang, who at that ti.me was finding .the body with hqavy drives, Lester scorned to itire, but ,6mly momentarily, as lilie next round saw him attacking as vigorously a? before Lester huii-g to La'mg •aM ih,e time novcr '.giiving- him ia.n instant's peace and when ithe final bell ramg Lang was in such poor shape that it is more than probable, that with a couple more rounds to go ho w-ouild have been knocked out. 'A moment's pause with all the. crowd expectantly standing on tip-toe 1 , a,nd them Mr. "Snowy'BaJccr. the refere,?, walked over to Lester iand raised! his arm in token of victor. The old champion had; fallen ! Tliß new champion was be-foi-Q, theim. That the victory wa? -a popu'lax ome was testified to- *by the resounding cheers which, ' greeted the referee's decision.- The attendance was estimated.. at 10,000.