BOXING.

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1920, Page 6

BOXING.

\(.U'i> FI;t)M lilii-TAIN'. j IXTEKF.STIXCI COMMENTS. j LONDON, Nov. 20. It is easy to be mistaken, but. (writes Mr Eugene Corri) it is my firm belief that Johnny Basham is one of the greatest welter-weights of modern limes, and L hope the date is not far distant when he will be given an opportunity to try for the world's title. Against the Frenchman, Francis Charles, on a recent occasion at Olympia, he was all wrong. This was because, as i thought, he imagined that he was up against a very ordinary young man. That he took rounds to win was most surprising, and there were those who feared for his chances against Bermondscy Billy Wells. The two, however, did not meet according 1o programme, the railway strike happening, and, in the general disturbance which it caused, the contest was called oil. Bui the other day at the .King, Blaikfriars, this particular Wells was outfought and outclassed by Kid Doyle, a young man whose home is at Salford. And now i doubt whether he will be asked to meet Basham at the National Spoiling Club as was intended. BASHAM PLATS M. WELLS. Basham, a week ago, at the Holborn Si:.ilium, with Carpeuiier and Joe ,;. ,-ket! looking on, beat Matt Wells in a way that left no doubt as lo his supeiiority, and showed him to be in a ck;.-s by himself. And yet a certain, not to say undesirable, section of the speciaiors made tin.ugly demonstration against the referee. Mr.l. T. Hulls. Their show of lemper was for no other reason but that they had betted on Wells, who for the firsl few rounds, it must be saiii, made very many more points than did Basham; but there was not a single person presenl who knew anything about boxing who differed from the ruling of the referee. Basham, for fifteen out of tho twenty round-; was a master of tlie game. His speed at times was phenomenal and when he put complete faith in his left hand Wells could do nothing. As a inn Iter of fact Wells was outclassed. THE CHAMPION. Carpentier, to whom f spoke, gave it as his opinion thai he had never seen a move clever boxer Ihan Basham. i do not think he has. The Frenchman is about one of the happiest young men I have ever met. He certainly does not appear to be worrying about his lighi with Beckett. Without saying so. Carpentier believes that he will win on December 4. (He did. —Editor.) ;He is in the best possible shape, and, on the afternoon following the Bas-ham-Wells contest, he did an hour's work in the ring of the Holborn Stadium in such a way and with such obvious relish, that I am sure Beckett will lincl in the Frenchman the hardest man lie has over met, most certainly the fastest. Ido not remember in all the long years I have been associated with boxing seeing a heavy-weight so quick on his feet as Carpentier. As you watch him it is hard to believe that he is a heavy-weight. If he wins, it will be very largely because of his speed, though T have an idea that he can hit every bit as hard as Beckett.