BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14209, 4 November 1909, Page 8

BOXING.

HEAVY-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

LANG DEFEATS SQUIRES.

t A LIVELY CONTEST. " Bill " Lang last night succeeded in retaining the title of heavy-weight champion of Australia by defeating " Bill" Squires in 20 rounds (says the Sydney Morning Herald) of October 26). The contest took place in the Cyclorama, in the presence of a huge crowd. Right up till the last few rounds Squires was leading on points. Then it was a case of give and take. Both men: were fagged out. and, although they came together frequently, they never managed to land a. telling blow. However, within two minutes of te end of the 20th round, when victory was assuredly within the grasp of tho New South Welshman, a lucky right by Lang dazed his opponent, and another knocked him out. It was bad luck for Squires, for right through the encounter he did all the leading, and several times narrowly missed accounting for his burly opponent. Both men were loudly cheered for the plucky manner in which they pegged away at each other in the concluding rounds. Both looked in the pink of condition. Squires, whose weight was announced at 12st 51b, was a trifle on the light side, and, in fact, it was freely whispered that he had worked too hard in his training to bring himself into condition for tho match, which was put on two weeks earlier than previously arranged for. In his corner was Tommy Burns, a man who three times defeated him. Lang's body was white, and had not that healthy tint which betokens outdoor training. His weight was given as 13st. and he looked every pound of it. His condition was perfect, in view of the fact that he has been preparing to meet Fitzsimmons when he arrives from America. Lang's chief adviser was Ed. Williams. The referee. Jack Mitchell, performed his duties well, and had no trouble in getting the men to obey him.

Before the fight began the police examined/ the 6oz gloves, and declared themselves satisfied with tho arrangements made for the contest. . •

Describing the latter stages of the contest the report says that in the 13th round Lang was groggy. Squires opened the 18th round with six lefts to the face in quick succession. Lang then got in two with the left on the jaw, and Squires with his left opened his opponent's eye. As the round closed Lang again made contact with his left on the face. In the 19th round both men were very weak, and clinches were frequent. Both tried for knock-out blows, but neither were lucky enough to land one. The final round opened by Squires slipping as he loft his corner. He recovered himself, but had hardly gob steady when Lang came at him, and in am interchange managed to whip hit* right on to the point. Squires rocked, and, Lang following up, sent in another right, which floored his opponent, who was counted out.