THE RING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 26

THE RING.

From Otir Special Correspondent. London, November 3.

Short and sweet is the general order with boxing matches carried out under the regis of the National Sporting Club. A fight for a round and one man beaten at the end of it is the sort of dish the management generally puts on for a special night, and when Tom Williams, the Australian Light Weight Champion, entered the ring on Monday cvenuig with Johnny Boyle, of Glasgow, nobody preset t expected a lengthy contest. Both men were “ fib ” apparently, and both are accustomed to fight at full speed from the handshake That Williams would net alter his style on this occasion was pretty certain, for his reputation demanded that he should polish off the presumptuous Cale donian in short order. It was his last chance, for since arriving Home fresh from his victory over George Dawson the Australian's career has been—well, not a champion one. He disposed of Hatcher in one round, forfeited to Harry Nickless, and made a draw with “ Cock Robin ” after breaking his wrist. That was the state of his record up to Monday night. Boyle’s claims to fistic honours rested on a veiy slight foundation. He was kriocker-out-in-chief in a travelling boxing booth, and won prizes galore in local competition, but had never stood in the ring with a recognised fighter of his own weight. So far as the physical advantages go, height and reach laid with Williams, and Boyle's poundage was just a pound below that of the Cornstalk when the pair weighed on Monday. Williams was favourite at about 50 to 20 on, and the moment the word was given he set to work to justify the odds. So anxious indeed was the colonial to .get on his man, that had Boyle possessed . any cleverness Williams would have been “outed" in the first half minute. He rushed at his opponent, and letting fly with both hands, Pegged with (he left and spun his opponent

with a hard right somewhere on the back of the head. Recovering quickly, the Scot half hooked Williams on the. jaw, and brought him to his knees. But the colonial was up in a second, and as Boyle sparred high, rushed him to the ropes and was pulled down. The referee would not allow the foul and ordered them to fight on. Williams went to work excitedly and laid himself open to the knock-out half a dozen times ; but Boyle was thinking more of saving his carcase than punching his adversary. Finally, in a mix-up the Cornstalk slipped up. The concussion of his nether parts with the boards had a beneficial effect on Williams’ brain, and when he rose to renew the fight he went to work in a business-like fashion. Sparring with rapidity and grace, the colonial suddenly shot over Boyle's guard and caught the Scot a very heavy smack on the cheek, laying him down flat. The recipient of this favour took his six seconds spell, and then rose close to the ropes. Without ado Williams repeated the dose, and Boyle found himself on the wrong side of the ropes. He crawled back and seemed pleased to hear the welcome cry of “Time.” The second bout lasted just a minute. Boyle toed the scratch decidedly groggy and Williams at once went for him viciously. A right and left on the head sent the Scot reeling to the ropes, and following up quickly, the Australian planted a particularly thick hit in his opponent’s short ribs. Boyle laid down, got up, was knocked down again, and on rising received a right hand on the point. Subsequent proceedings had no interest for him, and the colonial was hailed the winner of a fight which would have been considered a poor one, from a scientific point of view; had the combatants been a couple of schoolboys. But Williams is £3OO richer by his victory, and is now ' challenging anybody and everybody at 10st.‘

A far better fight is reported from South Africa, where in the Amphitheatre at Johannesburg on October Ist, Billy Heffernan, of New Zealand, and Lachie Thompson, of Glasgow, fought to a finish with small gloves. Heffernan was in the pink of condition, and entered the ring weighing lOst 21b, but Thompson was not as fit as hands could ' make him by any. means, and the eight pounds he had the better of his opponent were by no means an advantage. In height, and reach, however, he was better off than Heffernan. After six even rounds of a fast and furious character, the New Zealander took a lead, but in the ninth meeting Thompson punched himself to the head of affairs once more, and it looked as though plucky Billy was going to play second fiddle. In the tenth round Thompson kept up bis attack and driving the New Zealander round the . ring finally brought him down with the right. Billy took his full ten seconds, like a wise man, though his pals were yelping, “ For Gawd’s sake, git up—-git up.” Lachie pounced on him the moment he had assumed : the perpendicular, and finding his opponent’s attentions, rather distressing, Heffernan went down for another spell. Up once again, the New Zealander stalled off Thompson’s weakening rushes and managed to last till “ Time.” Burge and Barnett, his seconds, cle ned him up beautifully, and when the pair faced for the eleventh bout the Antipodean looked, if anything, the fresher and stronger. Lachie wanted a rest badly, but at once forced the fighting. But Heffernan wouldn't mix it, and contented himself with guard and counter. Suddenly Thompson rushed, and missing with both right and left, received a left hook fair in the wind. The blow doubled the Scot up, and Heffernan, following up the advantage, made it very warm for Thompson until “ Time ” came to the rescue. Iu the twelfth round it was acase of “I would if I could ” with both. Neither had, apparently, sufficient strength left to hurt the other, but in reply to Thompson’s weak leads, Billy returned equally tf weak and harmless counters. So they poked about till the round was nigh gone. Then the pair w'oke up a bit and had a little fight. Neither could hurt the other* however, and they drew off. For a moment they stood scowling, and then the Scot tried a rush, Heffernan swung the right wildly and caught his opponent fairly on the point. Down went Thompson on to his face. Barnett called to Billy to “ come away/’ and though fearfullj excited, the New Zealander hearkened co his second’s mandate. Thompson, after seven seconds had gone heaved himself to his feet, reeled to Heffernau’s corner, sank down on his knees, and then, with a superhuman effort pulled himself up, staggered towards his opponent, fell across the ropes, tumbled backward, and lay like a log, clean knocked out.

Heffernan, by his victory, gained somewhat in reputation, for Thompson has a fairly good repu afion on this side of the water, though be is by no means a champion at his weight. Sill he has always shown plenty of pluck, and his.conqueror will find plenty of backing should he come to England.