IN THE RING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 14

IN THE RING

BOXERS AND THEIR DOINGS. (By “The Amateur.”) The Hannan-Murphy clash on Wednesday promises to bo an even battle. One Wellington man remarked, “I was offered evens—take either—and stand olf.” There is very little to come and go on between them. Murphy has the advantage of a few pounds in weight, but as lie is tied down to lOst 51b, he will havo to be quite fine, while Hannan, who will probably box about lOst 11b,- will be enabled to fight as strong as he pleases. Work in their respective “stab'les” is progressing smoothly, and both defender and challenger promise to b© in the best of trim on tho evening of the 7 th.

The ex-Londoner "Mack,” and “Thompson,” runner-up in the New Zealand championships here last month, will provide ono of the curtain-raisers and a good set-to is certain to result. If “Alack” could manage to stand off and box his opponent he would probably: get the verdict, but tho Southlander has a strong inclination to get to “holts.” Carrying a heavy punch in either hand, and being a bustler, lio will stand a big chance of landing the goods. Havill v. Simpson also sounds pleasing, and should give us another taste of New Zealand championship form. Billy Iggulden, late of these parts, was awarded Dr McArthur’s cup for tho most scientific boxer at the Victorian amateur championships. The exWelJingtonian has been under the late Jack McGowan’s charge. “The cabled news to hand that Mr Mclntosh’s American representative has secured Johnson’s signature to a contract for two fights in Australia aroused great interest. The consideration named is £IO,OOO, and the two opponents will bo selected from Langford, Jeannette and McVea. Langford, for one, is a sure opponent.” dims a Sydney scribe, hut w© shall believe in Johnson’s arrival when we hear ho is in Sydney, | and not before. Also there is the cable; concerning a fight in Paris, and an- j other that Johnson will not fight again.! “Barney” Ireland, of Waipawa, was to make his bow to aa Australian; “house” last Monday night, when he| was down to meet Bob Fraser, an un-j known quantity, in Melbourne; hut noj news has yet filtered through to me.

Billy Wetland was knocked out in the sixth round by “Snowy” Corbett in Perth, W.A. The chance of the man with the punch, again. The principal topic of conversation in Sydney boxing circles just now is the Langford-McV ea contest, which will finally settle the disputed question of supremacy between these two. They have now met three times, with a win each to their credit, the odd match a draw; so that this meeting will be the decisive one. As they will provide the opening contest in the new roofed Stadium a record crowd will probably result. Mr Mclntosh has secured McVea’s signature to a renewal of his contract, extending over January next. To-night’s battle should be a rousing fight all the way. The Sydney Stadium management re. ceived a cable sating that Paul Til, the French champion light-weight, was on the R.M.S. Medina. His compatriot, Georges Carpentier, the idol of France, who has rapidly climbed right into the limelight, leaves by the following steamer, and his appearance in Sydney is oeing eagerly looked forward to, on account of his recent sensational ring experience. American Terry Qeller, “Cyclone” Thompson’s one-time protege, met <3 feat from Colin Bell, who was o touted as a “white hope,” but who failed to carry into effect all the prophecies made concerning him. Jack Read, one of Sydney’s most promising lightweights, • bos won a couple of good contests recently, his opponents being Frank Thorn and Rod Stand on. He will probably figure as the most dan gerous opponent that the imported light-weights will encounter—that is, of course, during the temporary absence of Hughie Mehegan. The improvements to the Sydney Stadium have cost about £BOOO. The place will be re-opened to-night with

the clash between the two Sams— Langford and JlcVca.

PALZER-WELLS BATTLE

Further particulars by mail of this contest show that A 1 Palzer and Bombardier Wells, the heavy-weight champion of England, received 34V1 dollars (.nearly £700) each for their fight be fore tlie Garden Athletic Club in Madison Square Garden. Although Palzer won, he was tho worst whipped man in the two rounds that ever aspired to a championship. Luck was surely with him — luck and stamina and courage.

As for Wells, he is a wonderful boxer and a wonderful puncher. There are few who will go three rounds with him. it may be that he lacks the stamina necessary in a long fight. New Yorkers would like to see him try again. If he can develop endurance or learn how to conserve his energies through a long fight he will bo the best of the “hopes," in spite of this first defeat. The bout between the Englishman and the big Westerner was the most gruelling, slarahang, real good and hard fight that has been seen in this country for years. It was fast from the word go. When Wells knocked Palzer sprawling ,in the first round the fist fans grinned their pleasure, though those who had their money on the American turned pale. For it was real fighting. Both men in the ring were or tho old Sullivan-Smith type—clean knockouts and savage hitting and a disregard for the shelter of the clinches. If Johnson meets Palzer he will need all his science and strength to get the better of A 1 from the ploughshare, and he will want to lose a whole lot of those sweltering layers of fat which come from feeling too good as a champion.

THE PA.SSOH OF A FAMOUS BOXER

DEATH OF JACK McGOWAN. Boxing enthusiasts throughout the Dominion will hear with genuine regret of the death of the idol of Victorian, boxing patrons—Jack -McGowan. His end (.according to an exchange) came suddenly. He was instructing a Melbourne University club and received % blow over the eye. A doctoi, whom ho consulted, informed him that he had a slight concussion of the brain, and suggested a few weeks’ spell. On July 17th McGowan, feeling better, attended the Melbourne Amateur Athletic Club rooms to instruct the members, and was hardly warmed up when ho collapsed and was removed in an unconscious condition to the Melbourne Hospital, where he died next day of cereoral hemorrhage. New Zealanders will remember his boxing turn (with his brother Archie) in Bland Holt’s drama “Sporting Life,” but I don’t think that ho ever appeared in a contest in this country. No one .Who knew “Jacky” (as his intimates called him) could help admiring the resolute little chap. As an old-time pupil and warm personal friend I could well understand how he earned the title “Gentleman” Jack McGowan—a title that ho was more proud of than any championship honours that he from 'time to time achieved.

McGowan’s fistic career commenced, while yet a mere lad, in 1889, ana since that date he fought innumerable battles, and although most of his contests were during a period that boxing was at a low ebb and “crook” bouts were the order of the day (or evening), never a breath of suspicion was attached to the popular South Melbourneite. [ witnissed all his memorable contests with Tim Hcgarty (who also took the final “count” some time ago). There was very little to choose between tnom in the second and third contests (each of 20 rounds). A terrific uproar ensued over the decision in the latter fight. The referee hastilly yelled his verdict and bolted out of the hall, whilo Jim Quigley (now gathered to his fathers) fought a rearguard action. Another match was arranged, and the little hall at the back of the “Bed Lion,” in Little Bourke street, was packed to the ceiling. Jacky on taking his corner received a tremendous ovation, but Hegarty stepped into the ring entirely unprepared for a contest, and started wrangling about the referee. After a time the crowd became convinced that Tim did not want to fight. They hooted him out of the ring and cheering McGowan again and again demanded that the whol.e purse should bo given him. Negotiations were cnteied upon for a hare-knuckle fight to. a finish, but although Jack was agreeable nothing came of the proposed match. Their next and last meeting was a 30-rounds draw, but this was a disappointing affair. In most of his matches “Jacky” used to give away a considerable amount of weight, but he generally gathered In the bi" ©nd of the purse. .No better-proportioned man for his inches ever entered the ring, and loud applause always greeted his entrv, for ho was a perfect picture of gfowing athletic manhood. McGowan never, to my knowledge, drank or smoked, and was devoted to his wife and children, j

When the names of perhaps more brilliant exponents of the fistic art will be long forgotten the memory of plucky, straightforward, gentlemanly Jack McGowan will bo ever green.