HOW CARPENTIER WON

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11158, 14 March 1922, Page 8

HOW CARPENTIER WON

COOK’S KNOCK-OUT. FRENCHMAN WINS ON HIS 28th BIRTHDAY. ’ LONDON, January 18. It is a reasonable assumption that Carpentier was satisfied with his 28th birthday. , For he -‘came back,” and the fourth round of his fight with “Digger" Cook at the Albert Hall saw the Australian on his back and counted out. Cook is a frightening-looking fellow, and as if still further to overawe his more debonair opponent, he brought Winnie Lewis into the ring with him. But all the mascots in the world could not ward off the Frenchman’s right, once it got properly going. DESCAMPS EXCITED.

Winnie Lewis headed Cook’s little procession to the ring, and was sat, a garish, sprawling figure, on the post at his corner. During the preliminaries the doll was more visible than its owner.

The ring, of course, teemed with people—a queer sort of birthday party for Carpentier. The most intellectual looking was. Carpentier. The most excited was Descamp6, Carpentier’s hypnotic manager, who ordered a, superfluous “second” to “get away over there—queek.”' The most determined was Jack Smith, the referee. The most urbane and academic was M. Vyle, the accomplished French “announcer,” who alwavs seemed to bo meeting friends, and greeted Carpentier with an air. of surprise, an if Baying, “Fancy running across you —and in England, too, of ull pleccel” THE STUDIOUS CARPENTIER.

Cook, as I have said, we 'could Jjot eee at all, but Carpentier, aloof from the crowd, reserved, reflective, bandaged hie hands much, as a young student might examine and attempt to eolve 'on intricate.'problem. * When at last Cook came out from his eclipse he disclosed himself as a sombre, heavy-featured man, whose expression suggested that hp 'might be nursing a surprise. . Hap; heavy lips curled up at the,, right corner, ae ne cpst curious glances—now that thp cartain of white jerseys was withdrawn—towards the young Greek god at the other, side of the. xing. -... The fight opened’' under' a hail of “coo-ees,” and it was obvious that Cook fully intended to .gratify the Cornstalkers, Miss Winnie-LSwiSj"'and iris own soul by knocking the Greek god from his pedestal. • I.' *' V Slow, was he? He would show them. That was his attitude, as he opened ■ with a sort of lumbering speed which was swifter than it seemed.

And ,Carpentier, calm though he might look, gave one the impression of being a trifle surprised** even anxious. Several times he shot out that formidable right of his, only to miss, and miss fcedly. In fact, the first round was decidedly Cook’s, 'and whs ' closed in another storm of “Coo-ee#.”. - ‘ For three roflnds Oaipenfier’s aim was defioientj but his ,eye was gradually getting into focus, and a miss in the third round was a vgry narrow miss indeed. ‘ t

SEPARATING, THE MEN. There was holding, of course: there always is. In the clinches'the back, of Carpentier’B head received mors punishment than was good for it, and Mr Jack Smith, despite? his determined • look, his business-like manner, and sharp words of command, tolerated a“ good deal and, pulled the men apart with great, difficulty. . Cook -wanted •» lot of pulling, for he was'more, than a stone heavier than Carpentier. ; Then many in the crowd, who had made quite a fuss during' the. earlier contests' because the referees failed to ‘toull ’em apart,” protested because 'Mr Jack Smith pulled fern apart—and strolled between them—too much.-- The reason for this was that Cook was moderately oomfoftahW'iCndfCkrphtier was. distinctly Uncomfortable until the pulling of ’em apart was accomplished. . The third round ended in a storm not of ‘.‘coo-ees,’’ hut of “boo-es,” for Cbok Carpentier after the gong had .sounded,. Even Winnie Leris seemed to blush, though ready, like a woman, to make-excuses for tne man. No. doubt Cook did. not '.hear the gong. Nevertheless ' there were “booes, ’ and not ,a man .was hold enouch to “cooiee.” ' - “

It was., the last gong that mattered. Three minutes later the Greek god added accuracy to grace, and Cook was ' a id prone. The Australian had received .the surprisy, though it was obviously not the .surprise which he had been nursing so discreetly in his corner before he and Carpentier had been properly introduced. . Wlien_ ho had recovered he duly wished Carpentier many happy returns of the day and retired. As for-Winnie Lewis,, the jade, she seemed to smile at the Frenchman; '