BOXING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 189, 15 July 1925, Page 12

BOXING.

(By “Flush Left.”) It would be fairly safe to issue a newspaper challenge to all fight fans and quid mines generally, in Australia and New Zealand to name the first recorded heavyweight champion of America. The reading matter in connection with his picture held by “Flush Left” concludes with: “This portrait was leaned the Pugilistic Publishing Co., by Arthur Chuinbcrs. It was taken when Tom Hyer was in his prime, and is the only one in existence.” It depicts a man with the most extraordinary length'of reach this writer ever beheld. There could have been no necessity for Tom to step in with his punch, as the tremendous stretch lie Was capable of bringing into use made doing so quite needless. Its a quaint, old picture, showing the ring pitched in the open, with the ropes held in place by simple stakes guiltless of padding. Tom is in the usual tight fighting shorts that lace at the knee, and the lace ends hang in tassels over the tops of stockings that fit glove-like to his calves. The customary sash, with its neatly tied bow, is around his waist, and is held in place by a curious little breeches flap buttoning over it. Tom stands upright with left foot pointing straight in front, and the right one (not far from its mate) truly directed outward. He has a well let-in neck, and fine chest and arm development. It is certain that were he a present day fighter, and adopted the stance shown in the picture, he would run a risk of having his left hand “claimed” pretty often. Here is-what the old record has to say about him: “Tom Hyer was born January 1, 1819. He stood six feet, two and ono-half' inches in height .and weighed one hundred and eighty pounds. He was the first champion of America, and the greatest, fighter that ever stood in a ring in any country. Hyer only fought, two battles in the ring, but that was owing to the fact that after his battle with ‘Yankee’ Sullivan there was none who cured to meet the native-born American champion. Ilyer’s first battle was with ‘Country McCloskey’ (George McCheester), who stjood six feet high and weighed one hundred and eighty

pounds. The fight took place at Caldwell’s Landing, New York, September 9, 1841. Hver won in one hundred and one rounds, lasting two hours and .fifty-five minutes. ‘Yankee’ Sullivan, who was McCloskey’s second, finding his man could not win, threw up the sponge, though the brave McCloskey wanted to continue? Although ‘Yankee’ Sullivan had been McCloskey’s second, and saw the terrible punishment inflicted by Hyer, he challenged the latter, and a match was made for 10,000 dollars. The fight came ofl at Rock Point, Md., January 10, 1849. Country McCloskey and Johnny Ling seconded Sullivan, and Joe Winrciw and Tom Burns looked after Hyer. Hyer won in sixteen rounds, lasting eighteen minutes and seventeen seconds. The battle was a terrific one from the start. Sullivan was overmatched, but his backers thought his • great pluck, endurance and science would win for him. He was so terribly punished that he had to be taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, in Baltimore. Hyer was next matched to fight John Morrissey, but the latter forfeited one hundred dollars.' Afterwards a fight was arranged to take place at “The Abbey,” New York, October 20, 1854. Morrissey’s ‘gang’ outnumbered the followers of Hver, and the latter produced revolvers for Morrissey and himself, and proposed fighting it out with them. This Morrissey declined., Hyer challenged William Perry, ‘The Tipton Slasher,’ for two thousand dollars, but, the latter would not meet him, .-o the champion was left, alone in,' his glory, for no one dared meet him. Tom Hyer was the son of Jacob Hyer, who fought Tom Beasley, in 1814. He was a generous, kind-hearted man, and when ‘Yankee’ Sullivan was arrested and put in

jail for fighting Morrissey, he raised the amount necessary to secure his release. He had many rough and tumble fights, which grew out of the turbulent times that he lived in. and his aggressors invariably got the worst of the encounter. Hyer died June 26, 1864, in New York City, of cardiac dropsy, aged 45 years, and was buried in Greenwood cemetery.” Two fights, and claimed to he “the greatest, fighter that ever stood in a ring in any country!” Such modesty is a national trait —and asset. Before these notes appear Nelson McKnight will have met Reg. Trowern at the Town Hall, Wellington. McKnight is a, substitute for George Stace, who is debarred from completing his part of the contract entered into owing to an injured ankle. Although he will have a pull in the weights McKnight will probably suffer from the usual disability ot substitutes in the matter of condition. For a fighter to be at his best after a few days’ training is practically impossible, and anyone who has done any boxing at all knows of tho weird helplessness, and pathetic inability to punch, that is the portion of the physically unfit in a prolonged competition. Still, Nelson McKnight. is only in his early twenties, and unabused youth is a fine form of fitness. He can box all right, and carries a punch that only wants hanging on the right place once to bring the business the way he wants it. Since losing to Hay, of Hawke's Bay, last year at the New Zealand championships, McKnight has realised that, there’s more necessary in the hempen ring to score a win than simply discarding everything for the chance of delivering the K.O. Hay taught McKnight a fine lesson on that occasion. Our own lad, Derry Clinton, is to meet Lin Robinson at Dannevirkc on the 29th inst. The feather championship should be involved in this clash, and Derry’s many well-wishers would be. highly pleased to see him bring the title homo In Robinson he is meeting a seasoned campaigner who carries quite n wallop in his fighting kit; but tlie writer has seen Derry assimilato a goodly number of severe cracks without any noticablc inconvenience. In any case he possesses a greater portion of the asset, youth, than Robinson now holds, and Derry lights all the, way. The secretary of ihc local boxing club deserves all , credit for the success he is making of his undertaking. It is a distinct, compliment to have so many members of his club going forward to represent Manawatu at the Wellington championships to be held at, Blenheim on the 21st, and 22nd inst. The team is-quite a good one, and should meet with a fair share of victories. If F. Nesbit grasps the fact that he can send them home as hard as the other fellow, and then some, lie will prove a pest to the rest of the bantams. He has the goods, but isn’t yet sure of the fact. M. Carroll knows a good deal about the game, and would probably make a hobby of buying fights if he had money to burn. S. Hayes lacks nothing in gamcness; but should sec where his. blows are landing. Griifo always saw where his brought up. There’s a lot in this point. Try one or .two upstairs when you get your man smothering down. Bill Walden has now had a lot of fighting. Bill specialises in countering, which is effective if the other fellow stands for it; but, if not, if doesn’t lead to a points victory. M. T’eace won’t come to much harm even if his opponent doesn’t. The local representatives should keep in mind, the fact that the journey is so very short, that they have no right attempting it unless absolutely fit to do it, at top. So short a course should be gone over without loitering with a view to a points decision. apart from a possible quicker one. “Flush Left” trusts that R. Rotbury and Eddie Downes won’t have to wait much longer before getting the opportunity to again show their paces to the public. And this also applies to n most promising young heavyweight, who used to come in from out Ashliurst way. He was a very fine cut of early manhood, and appeared to thoroughly enjoy his bouts. Jack Humphreys, a Palmerston feather, has expressed willingness to stake £SO against any other feather in New Zealand if an association will provide tho opportunity. Presumably Humphreys carries his credentials with him, and, in any case, a try-out should present no great, difficulty, and would givo, say r , tho local association committee the chance to oxeroiso its own judgment. Humphreys would,' no doubt, bo prepared to consider a moderate purse

to obtain a chance to display his wares, even in a preliminary. No other conclujion can now be arrived at than that the last has been seen of Laurie Cadman. He was here three years ago when the New Zealand championships were brought off in the Zealandia Hall. A well set-up young chap, ho at one time gave every promise of becoming an outstanding boxer. A little while back he lost to Eddie. Parker at Christchurch. A fellow-passenger of Cadman on the ill-fated journey up from Tauranga to Aucklnnd states that he was with the boxer till 10.30 on the Thursday night, and afterwards received a message from him requesting a meeting before leaving the vessel at Auckland. Cadman failed to turn up next morning, and nothing has been seen of him since.

If Purdy was quite well his Sydney debut was very disappointing, to say the least. As one would expect from a boxer of Purdy’s experience he was not at all lacking in confidence. Possibly Donovan, who would be in Purdy’s corner, was satisfied that his man was ahead, and restrained him from going all out. Also, the fact must not, be overlooked that to get the best out of Purdy he must be made to go at top, and he can then pace it with the fastest. But the fans were not pleased with his display, and they dominate the position, so that another chance to show his skill may not come his way at the Stadium. Which would bo a pity, l.is non-possession of a knock-out punch notwithstanding. It is said that Pancho Villa has earned to date no less than £50,000, but has not acquired the habit of saving. Breaking thousand dollar bills to pop the eyes of waiters is said to be one of his whims. When advised against this waste he is alleged to have remarked: —“I live- but once, as you tell ’em. I like not the money itself, I like what him buys.”

Schoolmarm, to boy pupil: “Where did Captain Cook land ?” Boy pupil: “On the jawr.”

RING OUTPOINTS MAGILL. LONDON. July 13. In a fifteen round cruiser-weight contest Ring outpointed Dave Magill, tjie Irish champion.—Reuter.