BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 6

BOXING.

HASTINGS CONTEST.

A WIN ON POINTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Hastings, Friday. B. Ireland (Waipawa) defeated W. Bartlett (Christchurch) on points at the end of , 15 rounds last night for a purse. s SEARCHING FOR A CHAMPION. INTERVIEW WITH MR. A. F. BETTINSON. The success of Carpcntier over Wells has exercised the mind of the British public in many ways, as whilst some people were frankly delighted at the overthrow of a fellow-countryman, the more patriotic section are disposed to adopt a far too serious view of the position. Possibly the apprehensions of the pessimists are to no insignificant extent due to the unfortunate fact that too much importance had been attached to the justice of Wells's pretensions to championship form. If so, the fiasco might leave persons unacquainted with the facts to imagine that British boxing had suffered an irreparable wrong at the hands of the youthful French exponent of the science, and very possibly the offer that has been made of £5000 towards the discovery of a representative British heavy-weight champion has assisted in confirming this impression. It was in order to ascertain the ideas of an authority on boxing, who is, above all others, qualified to express an opinion, that a representative of the Pall Mall Gazette called on Mr. Bettinson at the National Sporting Club, and doubtless his views will be read with interest. In the first case, Mr. Bettinson was most particular in saying that although •he had not read all that has appeared concerning the £5000 which is being offered for the discovery of a British white hope, he wished the scheme every possible good luck, though he added that he was a little sceptical regarding the success of the attempt. "The truth is," said Mr. Bettinson, "that we in this country have struck a bad patch, so far as heavy-weights and middle-weights are concerned, but the light-weights are as good as they ever were, perhaps better as a lot.' " But do you thipk it will last?" "Of course it won't; perhaps in two or three years, or even less, the position may be reversed. You don't expect the Derby to be always won by a bad horse because the three-year-olds of a particular season are moderate, and it's just the same with athletes of all kinds—they vary in different periods." " Well, won't the £5000 ensure the good men appearing?" "I must say that I can't see it. No money can produce what isn't there, and there is plenty of money already forthcoming to encourage merit if the men are in existence. To be candid, I think that there is a great deal too much money given to budding pugilists, and this, in addition to the laudations of injudicious friends, is apt to turn their heads. " A lad should begin at the bottom like Carpentier did, and work his way up by merit, and then is the time to reward him liberally." But don't you think there may be latent champions amongst the pitmen of Lancashire and Yorkshire who want discovering?" " Of course I do, but there is quite as much money now offered for novices as is likely to be good for them. Just think what splendid work the army and navy are doing in that direction alone." "Then you think one of tho services will produce the forthcoming champion?" "Indeed, I don't think anything of the sort, as I should be sorry to suggest what quarter he will appear from—but come ho will, I'm certain. Besides, isn't it only fair and within the natural view of things that the Frenchmen should possess a champion? They certainly deserve to do so as they i have spent money towards that end, and spent it wisely, too; so now that Carpentier has gained the position by dint of hard work and merit, why on earth should wa be either scared or surprised." "It's positively refreshing to listen to your ( optimistic opinions, Mr. Bettinson." "I'm glad to hear that, for it never pays to be despondent, and the man will turn up in due course, sure enough. But mere money and puffing will neither produce him nor make him when he is produced. Hard work will do it when he appears, but big money to immature lads, and flattery as well, simply turns their brains, and is as bad for the sport as for the individuals." McCOY-WELLS CONTEST. At the • end of the twentieth round a very tired, a very groggy, and a very gladi that-it-was-all-over Wells placed his hand upon the head of Herb. McCoy, and thus . gave the latter the victory on his own be- ' half. It was a mere formality for Arthur Scott to follow suit. This is how the Sunday Tunes describes the Wells-McCoy contest. J Wells was a badly-beaten man, and if this is to be his last fight as a light-weight lie will not have made a very auspices entry into the welter class. Still, in view of his sportsmanship and his generous acknowledgment of defeat at the hands of a better man, it is a trifle hard to tell the bitter truth about this wretched showing. This was not the man who beat Mehegan, and who defeated Owen Moran after being downed twice in the first round This was not Wells the skilful, Wells the general, Wells the Boxer. The man we saw last night was a sorry shadow indeed of the real thing. At the same time, let us accord all praise to Herb. McCoy. We have been told he has a taste for art and literature. Certainly he is an artist in the ring. Fighting with superb skill, he out-boxed, outgeneralled his opponent, and made Wells look like a veritable tyro. Much as the Englishman fought below his true level, more than half of his poor showing was duo to the wonderful science of his smaller opponent. Truly will Mehegan have to look well to his laurels. In one round—the eleventh—Wells's wild swings and uppercuts reached their mark, and four fine swings found a restingplace on the neck and jaw. Still, they had absolutely no sting, and McCoy shook off their effect even before the last had landed. It was a fight that should have been one of the best ever witnessed. As it was, it developed into a veritable retreat from Moscow— the part of Wells,