THE RING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1200, 1 March 1895, Page 26

THE RING.

From, Our Own Correspondent. London, January 12. Mr Frank Patrick Slavin's trip to South Africa seems to be postponed sine die. He is now figuring large in the sporting papers with challenges to Peter Jackson and the smaller person of. colour, Prank Craig. Slavin offers to fight "Peter at the latter's convenience for a thousand a-side, and pending the big man's decision is open to give Craig a dressing down for as much money as the " Coffee Cooler " cares to risk.But Craig is after Peter's scalp, and has intimated in a beautifully written epistle that he considers his victories over O'Brien and Pritchard give him the right to disregard " third-rate, heavyweight " boxers, challenges, and to demand a meeting with Peter Jackson. Since Craig's only meeting with a heavyweight resulted in the swift and conclusive defeat of the "Coffee Cooler," this is a pretty large order. Peter Maber is reckoned a "third-rate heavyweight," but he knocked out Craig in two rounds, and on any collateral form Slavin is a rung or two above Maber on the I aider of pugilistic "class." Slavin's anxiety to meet the coloured men is rather peculiar, since it is but a few weeks since he backed out of a match with Jem Smith on the score of his South African trip. As the Englishman was open to put up <£soo, it is strange that Slavin should not attempt to re-open negotiations with his old knuckle opponent. Such little puzzles incline one to the belief that Slavin has degenerated into a mere newspaper fighter.