THE RING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1156, 27 April 1894, Page 24

THE RING.

THE LATE HARRY LAIN 6. PARTICULARS OF HIS CAREER. In view of the sad and almost sudden death of Now Zealand's Champion Boxer, Harry Laing, and of the interest taken in him by Wanganui-ites, the Wanganui Herald gives tho following particulars, which at the present juncturo may prove interesting to the general reader and athletes alike. Harry was generally referred to as a half-caste," but was, we believe, in reality a quarter caste, his mother being a half-caste African and his father a Scotch Whaler* Stripped in ring costume ho was the beau ideal of an athlete —of good height (ho stood sft 9in,) and weighod in condition 12st 101 b. With splendid muscular development—his chest measurement was 41 jr inches, biceps 15in, thigh 25in, and calf 16in —and with a happy expression of face, it was impossible to do otherwiso than like him. He was a native of Blenheim, and at tho time of bis death was but 32 years of age. From an early part of his life he showed proficiency in the art of self-defence, and

ONE OF HIS FIRST FIGHTS in the northern part of this colony was against a man named Headhouse, and his next victorious contest was with Shepherd, a seventeen stono man. Shortly after this he took up his abode in Wanganui, where he fought a great battle with Billon, who cried " enough" alter holding out for something like an hour and a half. Some of " the boys," as Harry liked to call his Wanganui chums, will remember about this time how he used to meet all-comers on the racecourse, aye, and knock thera out with one hand too. Mitchell, a 15 stoner, one of those mountains of bone and musclo ono but seldom sees nowa* days, next fall under his conquering arm, and then Teague was knocked out in easy fashiou in the first round. From this out. Laing's name being noised abroad, he found it necessary to meet men not only ambitious to beat him, but men also who were well up in ring tactics, and who for the most part knew as much about the business as himself, but as Harry often said to the writer, he never came out of the ring without having learnt something. There can be no doubt that about this time he was as

STRONG AS THE PROVERBIAL BULLOCK, but lacked science. As men entered the field, so Laing progressed, and it was his honest boast only a few days back that his recent Australian trip had done more for him in that particular than could be imagined by anyone (to use his own expression) " not in the game." Going back to 1886, we find that on the 13th December of that year he defeated Laurie in six rounds. This was in Wanganui, as also was the battle on the 9th May, 1887, against Pettingell, whom he defeated in the match for £2OO in seven rounds. About a month later, or on 6th June, the memorable match also took place here with Murphy, for £4O a sid*. Harry again being the victor. Then at Wellington, on the 28th of the same mouth, he defeated Cunningham in 17 rounds in a match for £SO a side ; and on the 18th October be knocked Richardson out in 11 rounds for another £SO a side. Returning to Wanganui he again met Richardson on the 21st November for another £SO a side, and this time inflicted a crushing defeat in six rounds. Following up his victorious career, and after a lot of talk on both sides, be met Matthews in a match for the championship belt and £IOO, and scored a decisive victory in four rounds. Another victory that Matthews will never forget was at Auckland, on 29th March, when Laing beat him in one and a half rounds for £IOO and the championship. It was after this

HE FOUND HIS WATERLOO in Frank Slavin, who beat him at Wan* ganui in five and a half rounds. The issue of that contest only goes to prove that Laing was, from indisposition, not fit to enter the ring. Once more in condition, he journeyed to Dunedin to again meet Pettingeil, and defeated him in six rounds. Following this success up ha had a go at " The Stranger " at Timaru, beating him in 1£ rounds ; then Francis tackled him—same result; while strange to say Orbell in a £25 a side match went down under the same conditions. Laing's next contest was at Wanganui with Billy Smith, when it will be remembered that after 18 rounds had been negotiated the authorities put an end to the contest; it will also be within the memory of those who t oltowed

his career that he later on met Smith in an 8 round contest. About four years ago he went over to Australia, his first match beincr against Owen Sullivan, victory being in Harry's favour after

A STUBBORN BATTLE lasting 43 rounds. Then, on his last trip, he went on to Queensland, defeating Starlight in H rounds at Brisbane, Wilson (the Ipswich champion) in 2 rounds, and received #25 forfeit from •' The Infant" at Brisbane. After this ho w*s matched to meet Dooley, but the affair did not come off. Then ho went to Parramatta and beat Starr in the middle of the second round. His last fight was with Joe Goddard for £l5O at Cumberland Athletic Club, Melbourne, on Ist January, and after waiting pome days for news it will be remembered the feeling of satisfaction his friends experienced when it was known that Harry had inflicted a decisive defeat on his big opponent mIH rounds. His next fight was to have been with Dooley in Sydney, and only a few moments before the accident happened that terminated his life he was remarking that t e -go "would be a good one, but that he was sanguine of victory. The only soft epot Harry Laing had was with regard to Wanganui.ites, and ihey will deplore his l9ss at such an early age and under such lamentable circumstances.