BOXING.

Mataura Ensign, 18 July 1914, Page 7

BOXING.

CUNBOAT SMITH. A CHARACTER SKETCH. (By Stephen Black In the 'Daily Mail.') A fairj tall, seemingly very tall, young man with extremely high frontal bones that protect a pair of radiantly bright eyes is Gunboat Smith, the American heavyweight pugilist who has come her eto fight Georges Carpentier (the European champion) tfor the fistiochampionship of the white world. Nobody would ever take Gunboat Smith for an Irishman. He upsets all ethnological .theories just as he upsets rival boxers. Quite possibly, if one were speculating on the ancestry of this inspiration for caricature, visions might be seen of a Viking forefather helping King Canute to sweep back the sea. But an Irishman—never. You cannot possibly visualise Gunboat Smith from his photographs. l Something in the protruberance of those frontal bones destroys all sense of perspective. The American champion was made only to look upon in the flesh and the bone. What bone! It would seem as. though all the water Smith drinks and the many steaks he eats instantaneously turn to bone; And Gunboat Smith's supporters claim for him not only the fighting but also the eating championship of the world. Flanagan,, the wonderful hammer-thrower and oxeater, is a child compared with the pugilist. As Mr Buckley (quaintest of boxing managers!) says, "Gunboat certainly can eat some steak." And Niagara, in the same quaint vocabulary, was in serious danger of being dried up before the champion sailed. Why He Is a Boxer. But if Gunboat Smith does not look the everyday pugilist he certainly doeF look a fighter. He says little on the subject of business, but these sandy prognathous features tell the story without words. I asked Mr Buckley why Gunboat became a pugilist. "Oh, somebody called him a Rube," said the manager, "and he wanted to show that he wasn't." I am sure that the Gunboat will forgive me if I admit that until he took to the pugilistic game he probably did look a little rustic to the common eye. But who, by the nay. is -Mr Buckley? I.am sure people arc asking the question. Mr Buckley is as unusual a boxinp manager as Gunboat Smith is a boxer. Here too all one's theories are upset Mr Buckley looks like a prosperous City man or shipowner, and the information that he is a wealthy contractor in New York did not surprise me. He has no need for money, and his proteges are merely asked to go in and win their contests. Then there is Mrs Gunboat Smith, too, a pretty and/refined-looking young woman, who completes the unpugilistic alibi. A Creat Match. The battle with Carpentier, the French champion, will take place this month at Olympia, and Europe is, from the sporting point of view, in a ferment over the affair. For this will be the greatest boxing match that has taker place in England for many, many years, and the winner will have the right to meet Johnson or Landlord for the world's championship. Mr Buckley is very emphatic as to the excellence of Langford's condition when that great negro was recently beaten by Gunboat Smith, and he is equally sure that the ex-sailor can beat not only Carpentier but Johnson a-s well. Still, there is in the American camp no disrespect shown to Carpentier. He is frankly admitted to be a great pugilist and a dangerous opponent for America's rugged champion. But Smith's enormous punching powers are expected to defeat the pride of France. We shall see. But what a strange sight this—a battb for the physical supremacy of Europe and America, wit(i France representing Europe! Ten years ago, long as even that was after'the golden age of British boxing, how would such a prediction have been derided! But it is true nevertheless, and Europe, even Saxon Europe, is proud of its champion, whom it stands ready to acclaim if once more he defeats the champion whose tongue is English.

j CARPENTIER-SMITH FIGHT. [CROWD HOSTILE TO AMERICAN. I jBT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH — : COPTBIGHT FBB UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION LONDON, July 16. Fourteen thousand people were present at Olvmpia, including many women, to witness the contest between Georges Carpentier (European heavyweight champion) and "Gunboat" Smith (white heavyweight champion of the world) hut there were fewer than at the Wells fight. Numerous peers and members of the House of Commons, American Senators, professional and social notabilities were present. French sportsmen were wearing tri-i-olored ribbons and the Americans were carrying largo stars and stripes to greet Smith. . Elaborate preparations were made for einematographing the contest, there being a travelling platform from the root to within 10 yards from the ring. .Smith was favorite in consequence of his extra weight and hard hitting powers. The fight commenced with a clinch. Breaking away. Smith rushed and swung low with his left, being eau-i tioncd. Smith had a slight margin in I ins favor in the first round. The second; was clearly Carpentier's, who had Smith 111 difficulties. In the' third round Smith was cautioned for striking low with his left. Carpentier was immeasurably smarter than his opponent and showed- cleverer footwork. In the fourth round Carpentier rushed in and sent his right across, landing fairly 011 the point, Smith sprawling on his back for nine seconds, but the bell saved liiin. The fifth round was characterised by much holding. In the sixth round Carpentier, feinting cleverly, brought his right across and narrowly misled the ooint. He was carried away bv the force of his blow and supped to his knees. Before he could attempt to rise Smith, unable to withhold his hand, delivered a righthand punch with great force to the ,•» " Frenchman's neck. Mr Eugene Corri (the referee) waved Smith away. Carpentier did not try j to rise being obviously badly hurt. He was brought round after vigorous work' by his seconds. The crowd was so ho,s-{ tile that Smith was forced to leave the ring. j CARPENTIER'S CAREER. , j The extraordinary rise of Carpentier to fame in the ring is hut the culmina- 1 tion of a series of more or less minor successes of this extraordinary boy. In I'rorri Pit-Bov to Champion Boxer", (Ewart, Seymour and Co., Ltd.. Windsor House. Kingsway. W.C., Is net), I Mr I'. .tlurdnian Lucas tells the story: of Carpentier's life, and it is not too ! much to say that every page thrills. , While he was yet little more than a schoolboy, Carpentier showed decided indications of the possessions of fistic genius; at an age when most boys are spinning tons, Carpentier had' accomplished deeds of valor. | The picture of "him, a slight, effem-' mate-looking lad, standing up against! tough and experienced pugilists and | more than holding his own, reads I more like a fairy tale than a record of actual fact. He, was like a young' David against the Goliatlis of the rj mo- • or a young "Jack the.Giant-Killer." 0 1 Ihe book bristles with exciting inci-l dents which stir the blood and arouse' amazement and unqualified admiration.' His indomitable courage, superb self-' confidence, and keenness for success are equalled only by his absolute genius in scoring victories against seemingly impossible odds. . , [ It would be almost revolting to read the account of 'him, when he was a frail child of 14 years, enduring 18 rounds against an opponent five years his senior, .were it not for the wonderful spirit he so-evidently displayed. In the conrest we refer to lie was urge'd to abanInn the fight, but turned deaf ears to all entreaties. "Crash went the boy through the ropes as ho fell among the audience, but with the agility of a cat an<J the courage of a lion, Carpentier was back ■n the ring, his eyes aflame with- defiance; once more the little body was <ent clean out- of the battle precincts, but again lie had found the necessary "letermination to creep back into them." When the fight was given against him, "this big-hearted infant was vehemently declaring with' all the force of an outraged soul that he was capable of continuing the struggle." I he book is one which everyone who ippreciates pluck will find absorbingly interesting, and those especially who ire interested in boxing will l>e well advised to add it to their collection.