In the Ring

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7865, 29 July 1911, Page 15

In the Ring

Dombadier Wells. A recent cable stated that Bonibadier 1 Wells had been matched against Johnson for a purse of ABIXK). The fight was fixed for September 30th, but Johnson appears to be such an elusive man to get a contract with that it is quite possible the match will later on be cried off, ‘Whatever Wells may develop into later ho hardly appears to have the stayling power necessary to have much chance lot* success against a man of Johnson's [calibre. Weils is only twenty-three; years of age, and is really not fully developed as yet. He began fighting in the army in India. His father was a musical composer who earned enough to keep the family in modest circumstances. When ho died the responsibility devoly--ed uyion Billy. Finding the wages of a bombardier insufficient for the new demand upon it, he supplemented his earnings by turning professional boxer. Like Gunner Moir lie eventually won the army championship of India. Returning to England he won a couple of con-t tests when he was seen by Eugene Corrßt who can claim the distinction of being the real discoverer of. this particular *“white man's hope." Corri told MclnItoshithat Wells was the most promising heavy-weight he had ever seen, and .the Australian * lost no time in placing him under contract. Under the wing of Mclntosh and Britt, who, were then running a boxing establishment at King’s Hall, in South London, Wells disposed of three fairly good men - in Sergeant Sunshine, Private Voyies, and Seaman Parsons. Ho was 11)on matched to fight Gunner Moir, tho one-time English champion. Wells beat his man to the boards in tho first round, but was prevented from finishing film by the bell. In the second round, thinking he had his man well beaten, ,he waded into him recklessly, with tho result* that he ran up against a stiff punch from the gunner and went down for the ‘count. Moir has refused to meet since. In his next match with Flynn, tho Boston heavy-weight, he had by far tho best of the battle, but through clever generalship the American managed to last twenty rounds. Wells • has since easily defeated Iron Hague. * / (A Clever Indian Wrestler. In the big match in London between .Ahmud Bux, the Indian wrestler, and Maurice De Biaz, who is said to be one of the strongest men in tho world, the latter was thrown twice within minutes. Describing the contest the “Sporting Life" says: “Tho period during wbicli the men were fencing for holds seemed to mark extreme nervousness and caution on tho part of Do Kiaz, and the rnpre sublime confidence on the part of Bux, who glided about with snake-like motion. The Indian, like all his countrymen do, had got his lock on before his man had reached the mat, and was turned with a half-nelson while still falling. This seems the greatest feature of these Indians —they are attacking the whole timo and work with extraordinary quickness. They do not seem to be exerting any muscular strength whatever, seeming more to be holding back and reserving their strength. One can imagine the tremendous staying power of these Indians in long matches, for they seem as fresh at the finish as at the start. “It must be owned that De Biaz showed extraordinary quickness, and yet he was lost for pace with tho Indian. It was a very quick bit of work on the part of the Swiss when he obtained a leg, hold at the beginning of tho second bout, but tho way in which Bux extricated himself and managed to got on top was the quickest bit of counter-work I have ever seen. Early in tho second bout De Biaz left himself very open for a half-nelson by waving one aria about in tho endeavour to get tho Indian’s head in chancery, and the latter was not slow to take advantage of it, and only De Biaz’s wonderful bridging saved him on that occasion. “In so short a contest it is difficult to really discover the tactics of the Indian, but ho seemed to have a partiality. for applying a combined halfnelson and further leg hold. The German Invasion Of The Ring. A quarter of a century ago when boxing, as it is now practised, took the upward turning that has brought it to its present popularity, the mere mention of a boxer of German birth or extraction cutting any figure in tho ring was always the cause of a good laugh. The German boxer was a joke that was a never-failing source of amusement to the habitues of the music-halls and other variety entertainments. But things havo changed now. Billy Papke, in a recent article, points out that Billy Myer, who came from Streator, Illinois, was the first boxer of German extraction to go some. Billy gave Jack McAulifie, when the latter was at his best, the two fights of his life. In the first ho went’ G-i rounds to a draw with McAuliffe,

and put up one of the fiercest fights ever seen. The second took place during tho great three days' carnival in New Orleans at which Sullivan lost his title to Corbett, and George Dixson finished Jack Shelley's aspirations. Tho battle between Myer and McAuliffe went 15 rounds, when the former was knocked out. It was admitted then that Myer was second only to tho Brooklyn cooper. • Tommy Ryan, whoso real name is Joseph Youngs, was at that time commencing to mako a' name for himself. Ryan was also of German descent, and wound up his career by becoming fche middle-weight champion of tho world. Out on tho Pacific Coast at the same period -was Johnny Herget, another German, who thought so highly of Charley Aiitchell that he«. called himself Young Alitchell; had won the championship of the West iu the middle-weight division, and outside of a defeat by Dempsey was never beaten. The successes-of Myer, Ryan, and Herget encouraged the German to greater efforts, and as it stands to-day v the men who stand at . the very top of the tree among tho Ainerican boxers are all of German extraction, and not a few of them claim world's titles. This change in the personnel of the ring has 'been the cause of many discussions in America iud Australia, and I have often been asked (continues Papke) to what it could bo attributed. There is only one reason : The spread of knowledge . tho Briton who first conceived the great sport of boxing:has carried the gloves with, him wherever he went, and while it is true that a couple of generations ago only those of British stock took au interest in the pastime, boxing has now become universal. No longer can any one country claim great preponderance of fistic stars; they are BX>read all over the world. But let every man speak for his own. I am of German descent. Among tho American boxers .who are bred like myself are Johnny Coulon, who is half German, Abe Attcll, Adolf Wolgast, and Harry Leris, all of whom claim the championship of the world in their own class—an imposing array. But there are others. AI Kaufmann, who is said to be the best big man among the whites; Frankie White, the Chicago feather, who is going to mako a noise some daj’; Knock-out Brown, George Memsic, Willie Lewis, Howard Baker, Billy Berger, Young Sammy Smith (the great sensational fighter), Eddie Greenwald, Leo. Houck, Fighting Dick Hyland, Frank Klaus, Pal Moore (who is also half German), Frank Montell, Young Otto, and last, but not least, the biggest surprise of them all, Joe Jeannette, the coloured fighter, whoso mother is a German. The latest cable is to the effect that Johnson has been matched against McVea and Langford. It is quite possible that th© big fellow has agreed'to meet McVea, but Langford has been seeking a match in vain with the champion so long that one rill only believe the men are to meet when they dro actually in tho.ring. If, however, the cable is correct, 1 then Jbhnson will have his hands full this spring with matches against Bonibadier AYells in addition to tho two boxers mentioned.