BOXING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 January 1925, Page 10

BOXING

AN AUSTRALIAN’S GREAT FIGHT WHEN BILL SPARKES FOUGHT NAT LANGHAM. (By Queensberry.) How many of us who often sit and talk, and, occasionally, a few of us who think alone, of the glories of the Australian ring that have been, gue a passing thought to the man v bo, over 70 years ago, braved the perils of a mighty sea voyage, and went to England to battle for the supremacy of Great Britain at Ins weight, which in those far-back days meant the world: There was such a doughty Australian, and how nearly lie came to winning the honour I propose to tell to-dav. There are descendants of his living m the suburbs of Sydney at this moment. Sime time ago one endeavoured to emulate the prowess of his forebear and, at the time, the late Mr, W F Corbett recalled the story of tlie o-reat'fight in England. That was many years back, so the tale will now bear re-telling. I am actuated to do this bv the fact that the other .night, m my home a friend was talking about oldtime Prize Ring Rules fighters and their sDirits. He marvelled that Australians had never achieved any real distinction in that direction. Then it was I told him of the mighty deeds of Bill Snarkes, of Sydney. He fought Nat Langham, a famous English lightweight, for the honour, and historians tell us that only for sheer had luck would nearly have been in the running for the title, for Langham at that time was on the high road to the eliampionwas spoken of hy the chroniclers of the day as having been sent to England from Australia to do battle with the best man his weight the Old Country could produce. He was a fine, hardy, powerful young fellow, and not only brought him the belt of the Australian championship, but also cups and trophies which testified to his_ fleetness of foot and proved liis claim to call himself the champion runner of Australia. He had never been beaten either in the ring or on the running natli. His height was sft. 8-1 in, and his best finhting weight lOst 121 b. He was backed by Johnny Broome, then a very big figure in the Prize Rina, who told his Corinthian customers at the Rising Sun that this young Cornstalk was just the chap to polish ofl Nat Langham, who, in Broome’s opinion, was dangerously clever, hut had no constitution. _ . Five years prior to the advent ot Bill Snarkes in London, a man called Bungaree this real name was Gorrick), had gone from Sydney with a tremendous reputation, which was quickly shattered by two rapid heatings. Australian prestige in snort was held in noor favour by Englishmen as a result. Thev little dreamed that .in a few short years men were to come out of Australia who would upset Englishmen from the' nedestal they occupied in boxing, on the cricket field, and on the river.

The end of all talk was that Sparkes was matched with Langham for £SO aside, and the day fixed for the contest was Tuesday, May 4, 1847. Langham was favourite, though only at slight odds His stamina wa s thought to be defective, and if a. powerful fighter had the pluck to stand the punishment Nat would inflict in the first half-hour, the knowing ones thought there was always a good chance for the strongei man, inferior though he might be in science. To the end of Langham’s career there were those who clung to the idea, and yet there was only one man who ever licked him, and that was Harry Orme, a marvel of strength and endurance. ... When the two men stood up to fight there was no longer any disposition to lay even a shade of odds on Langham, for although he had the greater height and reach, tlie Australian was not only far his superior in strength a’fid hardihood, but* also shaped as well that it was evident he knew his business. Langham’s l attitude was the prettier and more artistic. Thefe was a careless ease about the way his right rested over his chest and his long left swung from his hip. Sparkes stood up and his body inclined backwards in an extraordinary manner, which, though it made him hard to get at, mfist obviously have rendered it almost impossible for him to get hack quickly at his man. Sparkes could not be caught hy Langham’s clever sparring, and all the Englishman’s wiles failed to draw him. The second round held a surprise for everybody. Langham landed with a left on the nose, but Bill drove his right heavily to the body and, swinging his left to the side of. the head, knocked Langham clean off his feet. That made Langham wary, and he was very cautious afterwards. No round lasted more than half a minute. Nat would lead, Sparkes would land his favourite body blow and Langham would go down. There was, in fact, very little damage clone up to the twentieth round.

The Englishman plastered Bill with his left for the next two rounds, and his honv knuckles tore the 1 bark from his nose. Langham was careful not to get in close, but in the twentysecond round Sparkes caught him and threw him heavily. Langham was very shaky when lip went up for the „ next round, and was glad to get down as quickly as possible. For n moment it seemed as if the Australian had the upper hand, as Langham appeared to he getting weak. Langham, however, pulled himself together in remarkable fashion, and during several succeeding rounds gave Sparkes a had beating about the face. Sparkes was making tlie mistake of constantly going for the lx>dy, with the result that he gave liis head away to Langham. who smartly took advantage of the opening. But although all the !blood was drawn bv Langham, it was Sparkes who scored the knock-downs. Four times he knocked Langham off liis feet with blows under the ribs'. One of these punches, delivered in the thirty-sixth round, so severely shook Langham that he was rocky for several rounds and his friends were extremely

anxious. But' by cleverly and cautiously keeping away, and going don n craftily when Sparkes pressed lnm hard, the wily Englishman regained his wind and strength, and then began to jab. Ins adversary with such severity that Bil s left eve was completely closed and -the right‘was fast getting the same wav, wiiile from a cut on the eye the blood was oozing all the. time. \et the Australian fought with such unflinching courage and was still so sound m win and so strong on his legs, that his backers by no means gave up hope of him pulling through. And it is just possible that Bill mi„ht have worn Nat out alid- licked him just as Harry Orme did, if he had not broken His right forearm in the sixty- ; second round. Sparkes hakl thrown j Langham and fallen on him With his ! arm doubled underneath him. Hence 1 fracture. With his chief weapon ot 1 offence useless, Sparkes stood no chance ! against such an able fighter as Langham, and though lie made a desperate effort to continue the battle with one hand; it was no good. He was so teiribly punished that Johnny Broome i stepped into the ring and refused to ! let him fight any more’. _ J Sparkes was furious and tried to slip ! past Broome- and have apother dash at 'Langliam, hut he was held hack by his | seconds and the sponge was thrown up. So Langham was proclaimed the wmner of an obstinate battle of about two hours, with, as the historian proclaimed, “one of the gamest and most | fearless boxers ever seen in the Prize | Ring.” i Sparkes soon afterwards returned to Australia without again fighting in England. I Sparkes was the first man in Austraj lia who ventured forth, seeking pugilistic honours. He was a worthy pioneer and blazed' a trial which was more successfully trodden Jay others a few vears later