STRANGE BOXING BOUT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 194, 16 August 1912, Page 3

STRANGE BOXING BOUT.

UNUSUAL POLICE AOTIQN

LANGFORD BEATS McVEA

The contest between Sam Langford and Sam McVea, two colored heavyweights, at the Stadium on Saturday, night (August 3rd), under rules framed by the New South Wales Police Department and. directed by a police officer, Superintendent Goulder, from outside the ring, vvas hardly satisfactory, says the Daily Tele-* graph. (superintendent Goulder apparently knows very little about boxing. His orders were that he was not to allow the kidney punch. There is no good reason why the kidney punch should be allowed. There are many why it should be abolished. Superintendent Goulder's trouble was that he did not know a kidney punch when he saw it. One of the most damaging punches McVea received was a terrific welt over the kidneys. He winced under the smash, and his breath, came in gasps. This was passed unnoticed by Superintendent Goulder. But on another occasion, when one of the contestants hit. the other a light blow on the hip-bone, the officer promptly stopped the fighting, in the mistaken belief that the banned punch had been driven in. There was something of the comic element in all this, but it was a rather serious matter for the men engaged, for it was believed that the winner would have the chance; of participating later in a contest carrying with it the right of the victor to proclaim himself champion of the world. In these days the possession of such a title means a fortune for the holder. . ■ ' '

The men were in a further predica-. ment. They did not know what was, and what was not, allowed. Thus, while Langford got* inside McVea's guard on many occasions and prepared to follow up the advantage thus gained, he- refrained, for the reason that he was afraid that „if he sent in a punch at close quarters he would be disqualified, not by the referee, but. by^ the police, for in-fighting. As things are, a contest is a farcical affair altogether. On Saturday night the referee within the ring saw nothing that justified him in calling a halt. Presumably, toto, he was informed of the banned punches. Yet, while he saw no reason to interfere, a police officer exercised his authority. Hence the referee was one in name only.

This -interference—the second in four rounds—had the spectators in a tangle. But the boxers were more completely nonplussed. And it completely changed the character of the contest. Very little in-fighting was indulged in. The men took i\o risks, and fought at long range. McVea. is essentially a !>oxer, while Langford is a natural fighter. He likes to get in close, and stay there. But he was afraid to.

However, Langford won all the way. . Be led from start to finish. The altered conditions imposed by a man other than the referee should have suited McVea. But they didn't. Langford has picked up the knack of blocking McVea's left. Without it, McVea is apparently helpless. He is taller and heavier than Langford, but there the advantage, a big enough one in all conscience, stops. Langford loves fight. McVea doesn't. He likes and tries to stall his man off, and win on points piled up scientifically. Larigford would not be stalled off. He came in all the time. . McYea broke ground every time.. In the closing stages of the , contest Langford was palpably looking for a knock-out. It was poor policy, but he was impelled to do so by his confidence. He was cool, and a grin which was*almost of the insolent variety showed what was in his mind. McVea, on th© contrary, was obviously troubled. The bull-terrier had the mastiff in sore distress. Langford has not the thinking capacity of McYea. McVea was looking ahead, and he knew what defeat meant for him. Langford, on tha contrary, had one idea to beat the man opposed to him. And he went about his business with the greatest of good humor.

Neither man was seriously . hurt'" at the finish, notwithstanding; that in the nineteenth round McVea looked like havine the count put on to him. But magnificent condition enabled! him to recuperate, and both looked like being: able to go on for another twenty round's if necessary. But Langford won ensiK. He had led throughout-, R ~v-H M'--*. —'■' V.'-vl V.otkcd tho