BILL LANG BEATEN.

NZ Truth, Issue 326, 23 September 1911, Page 3

BILL LANG BEATEN.

Lester Springs A Surprise.

Our Sydney correspondent thus sums up the Lang-Lester lash: — What a surprise it was — and yet what a deadly battle too ! It was ..never dreamt that Jack Lester, a 20---year-old boy from the Land of Fried Nigger, was going to be the cause of the setting of the pugilistic star of Bill Lang, heavy-weight champion of Australia. Yet the youngster performed the trick m a decisive fashion after one of the most slogful heavyweight fights that we have seen for many a day. Though bitterly contested from start to finish, it was fought with an admirable spirit of fair play every second. Only on a couple of occasions were there actions to which exception could be taken, and they consisted of Lester bumping his head into Billum's chin early m the fight, but we can let these pass as being purely accidental (also that Bill almost uppercut his man whilst on his knees). Lester's sparring with Jack Howard and other clever boxers has had a great effect on him. He has simply improved out of sight since his previous battle with Bill of the Lang Clan. He panned out a surpriser — a paralyser, m fact. Up to, say, the tenth, Lang certainly displayed more scientific work, but Lester also displayed smarter footwork and generally all-round improved form, and was full of fighting devil from start to finish. In fact, at the termination of that terribly hardfought twenty rounds, he was not m the slightest bit distressed, and looked quite able to go the full distance over again. Any doubts about his being a boxer of the cold feet order must be at once dispelled by his showing-. He also proved that he contained tremendous stamina and punching power; and, another thing, he had learned how to punch? and got away from the fearfully crude wild-swinging style which worked his initial appearance. Frequently Lang got home on to his jaw with a force calculated to fell a working bullock. He also fairly bombarded the boy's body with heavy smashes. But seldom did this severe punishment cause Lester to break ground. He would take the wallops, and instead of going back, he would bounce m, to the amazement of Lang and the rlng-siders, and deal out such telling bashes In return that Bill was forced to go away from the vlsl-

tations. Lang had a great advantage m height and reach, and although no weights were announced, it was plain to every eye that he carried a far •greater poundage. It appeared to be .generally assumed that Lang would just about put the boy to sleep within eight or nine rounds. Regarding: Lang himself, he appeared to fight right up to his best form. "Writer . saw him a couple of days before the and Bill assured him that he had quite recovered from his slight of influenza. On the occasion, though, this scribe took the opportunity of examining Bill's hands, and was rather surprised to find to what an extent his thumbs were bumped up, and how many knuckles were buckled. However, Bill was mighty '„ confidant of winning, and that he i tried his damnedest to win, and was -.fairly beaten, no one can gainsay.