ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

NZ Truth, Issue 327, 30 September 1911, Page 8

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

''[Webbanul."— He was m Auckland on his way to America from Australia. HANNAN THE WINNER. DOES THE TRICK WITH TIM TRACY. A Great Fight Before A Great Crowd.

What might happen, at anyrate m "Wellington, should the antt- sports move m the direction of interfering with the grand old sport of boxing, was indicated on Friday night lasjt week, when every available seat was secured in^ the Town Hall, whan the Wellington Boxing Association put on its tourney, the main event of which, was the 15-round bout between Tim Tracy, Wellington's pride twid * joy, and Billy Hannan. the young, enthusiastic and ambitious boxer of West Maitland, New South Wales.

Judging from the bright; gleaming, cheerful, healthy countenances, the ruddy . glow of which was not dimitied by the white lights of a few hundreds of electric, bulbs, here and thfjre shaded by red globes, Wellington's manhood would have arisen and annihilated the Wowser and gloried m the massacre. What a scene it was. What a revelation. What decency and' decorum. What a fair-minded crowd it was, even though the Australian "type" did make his presence felt, and m the moment of victory whooped for Australia, because Billy Hannan is one, and had won.

As I sat at the press /table looking oiit on to a sea of faces, each illuminated with a smile and. goodhumor, and exuberant spirits gushing from parted lips, I thought of some of the boxing "dens" across the Tasrnan, where, m days gone by, and even m days that ' are now, "scraps" are conducted. Who forgets

a. close, stinking- atmosphere, reeking- of the stable and heavy tobacco smote ? Who forgets his neighbor's liad breath and his worse habits ? Foul cigars, fouler cigarettes, and a pipe that actually apologised for its appearance ? Who forgets the refereo clambering through ropes on to «. bared floor making a few announcements, and then m choice diction "beggin' tha gents. t o put aht their smokes as it 'urts the boys" ? Is it any wonder " after last Friday night's sceno m the Wellington Town Hall, with its galleries and it's auditorium and its platform thronged by clean men, by white men and fair men, and n. couple of ladies, "gallantly greeted by the massed males, «s they m a de their appearance, <that one's mind should wander to scenes of other nights, and that a proper appreciation should be instilled m one's mind by tlie simple remark of an Australian uieml, "What a revelation I" Yes, it was a revelation, a complete answer to Wowser fiddling with the rights of healthy-mind-ed men to enjoy, to admire, and to ;.pplniui the pluck, the skill, and the iHilendid exhibition of boxing by two clean-living athletes trained to the hour. The Town Hall looked its best. Whether it is the right place for a boxing match, or, as our French friends would declare, "A Combat de Boxe," is not the question, though tie 2000 and more men and two women who were present supply, an answer. Everything m the hall was as right as the careful attention, of Dorrie Leslie and "his assistants could make it, and no one entered upon the task of making the hall look its best better than Dorrie Leslie. His, heart was m the work. JJorrie's heart is always mi n the work whether it is a marathon or a tug-of-war, but a "scrap !" — well, Just glide into Dorrie's office and look at the walls and you'll know.

It is a tradition of the Wellington Association that its management of a contest must be superb. There was no friction ;no hitch. Every man was at his post. Secretary Talbdt was willing, obliging* and alert. The success overwhelmed Beauchamp-Platts, the aristocratic treasurer, who was nioely groomed, immaculately attired, and jumped with <joy as m the vestibule he gazed on the besieged ticket-boxes and "heard 'the clink, clinic, clink, • which makes .them think." It did HIS lieart good ! Messrs Laurenson and' LudiWig were m their respective places at the ring-side with the watch and the dinner gong;.

The most conspicuous, and at the Same time the most unobtrusive, individual of ali the galaxy of o fficials iwas "Bods" Sampson, accepted on all hands as thR very man to act as referee, a fact to which a sad feature is attached, viz., the enforced absence of Dr. Napier-McLean, the Wellington Association's usual referee. The Doc. is a strict man with the combatants. They know it and take no risks, and it is because the Doc. js sharp and summary and doesn't stand for nonsense that he is popular with all. It's a treat to hear the Doctor stand up to the multitude imploring for silence when the "scrappers" are "scrapping," and to cheer or hoot as the fancy seizes it when he gives his decision. It's cheerful t o hear Dr. McLean say as he stands up, "You're all able to referee a fight, but you don't know the points of the game." The man wn o then hoots is made to feel ashamed of himself.

On the whole, "Doddy" acquitted himself with credit, though "Second" 5s just a wee bit inclined to think ithat Bill Hannan's knock-out of Tim .Tracy saved . "Doddy" from trouble of a sort. Had Tracy survived round 15, what would have been the Jverdict ? His verdict would ha.ye Ibeen Hannan's, and whether Hannan's or Tracy's, what a roar there Kvould have been. Hannan won on a knock-out, and that put the matter (beyond doubt— until November 9, iwhen the pair again shake hands and box on at Auckland. It. will be (worth seeing. The Association was In luck from -the first, Frankie Ellis, the clever >ittle amateur feather-weight, with a record of 16 wins and- two losses, the demand for whose services are too great for the supply by Ellis, was put up against Willie Ireland, a Dulkv little 8-stone twelver from Waipawa, and from the gong he made it hot, showing the possession of a corking right, which will win him rfory m the future. He gave Ellis, a rattle or two m the first round but Frankie wasn't, out or it. »•

out-boxed him, and fooled and fiddled him, and m the middle of thesecond act he punched the Wtvipawa. boy to helplessness, whereupon the referee interfered, and Ellis added -another scalp to his belt. If Bill Hardy and Wally Rogers did nothing else, they kept the crowd from contracting cold feet. The pair were scheduled for eight rounds, and eight rounds it went, and ended m a verdict for Rogers, who has got the punch but lacks -timing judgment. As for Bill, he showed plenty of style, and it's evident that some of the capers he cut jare patterned from Papke, Clabby I and Co. Bill isn't "a hope" of any class, still the performance put upby him stamps hrn as a humorist if nothing else. Then came the interval. A few minutes before entering the appointed tryst, both Hannan and Tracy weighed, and, by a coincidence, each fetched the scales at 9.12. Each got a cheery welcome, and, after the usual preliminaries of tossing for t gloves, corners, etc., and the introduction, Tim "light-weight champion of New Zealand," Bill "of Australia," and a challenge by Arthur Kelly/ through the referee, to meet the winner, fated to be his former victor, Hannan, the pair stood m their respective corners and waited for the gong. At 9.12 Hannan looked a stone heavier than Tim. Bill Hannan is long-limbed and is proportionately built. He is even throughout. Tim is big around the thighs, and does not shine to advantage with a clearly- defined athletic figure, but it's there. It's m his heart where Tun Tracy has the strength,, and that strength is his indomitable, pluck. In what splendid spirits both fought. They shook hands ere a glove was put \ on, they shook once more when the mittens were on, but there was no i smile as the gong cracked. Wonder what each thought. What respect each must have had for the other. Tim the champion up against a boy (Tim is 38, Hannan is 23), wishing to rob him of the title. Hannan was the j first to get to • business with a left swing meant for the heart, but which | -went lower, but Tim's muff was there, | and before Hannan could step back, he got ,a left on the jaw, which was equalised by Hannan's left finding an unguarded spot on Tracy's chest. Tim ! next scored with a right swing tq the face. . Tim tried It again, Hannan ducked, and when erect got a slight right on the face. Tim twice or thrice ; distanced his man with his left, and tucked it under the chin, but the blow lacked sting, and didn't disconcert Billy, who manoeuvred for an opening I and tried his luck with a right uppercut, but there was nothing doing.

, Each had the other sized up for round two. .Tim's left got home on (SS^h h ___ the face, and Hannan fa^BSs^ whipped m a left on *9EQ|^i the ribs. This led tc, a rally. Tim was bus- . tied, and a left on his jaw made his eyes flash as his left connected lightly to Billy's face. Bill got busy on the body and socked a vicious left to the ribs. They got m close, and Hannan received a caution for a breach of the two hands free rule. Still, 'it was nothing out of the way. They were at it at close quarters when Tim got a right on the back of the head, and being followed up promptly went down (it looked as if he slipped) but was up at "one," and got a left on the jaw that told. It was early m the third round that Tim slipped m to Hannan, hit him hard over the heart with a right, and got away from Hannan's swings. Tim flattered his supporters by the manner he fought Hannan. Three or four times his left got home to the Australian's face, and the latter looked bewildered.- It was nothing else but Tracy this round.

In the next, Tim got to work early, his straight lefts, which lacked devil, getting home on Hannan's face and neck. Then Hannan cut loose. He drove Tim to the ropes and banged at him, but the boy was hitting wildly, and, m a melee, got a hard right home on Tim's face. Tim again got his left to the jaw, but there was no force m the blows. Once he whipped m a terrific right uppercut, but Hannan got out of danger, and bucked m swinging right and left, whereupon Tim valiantly retreated, though he stopped m his tracks and stopped an avalanche with a left to the face. In the fifth round Hannan varied his f swings. He feinted with the right, and, fooling Tim, shoved a left to the jaw. He followed this with a right to the ribs, stopped a left with his face, and advanced to the attack undeterred by Tim's left jabs, which found Hannan's chin every time. Tim used his right more effectively, and scored two or three times, though Hannan was doing himself justice andpuncning hard.

The pair metaphorically buckled on their armour as they left their cottiers for the sixth round. Tim's left shot out like a darting snake; it missed, and he was just able to cover up and stop a right uppercut that meant mischief. Tim scored with a light left, missed with a right swing, and was sent back by a left hook to the face. They then got together. Give and take punching followed. It was Tim's straight left against Hannan's .right cross, and the cross told. Twice that right landed and a left hook made good. Tim scored m turn. He used a right with effect, and scored one, two, three, with a right and left. It was anybody's round, and m a rally Tim got it fair on the jaw, a left swing — a pet. Hannan fooled Tim once again with a feint, and Tim got it again on the face with a left.

Tim's straight left got home early m the seventh. Hannan missed with a left swing, and Tim got m with a straight right, the effect being, to stagger Billy, who closed m and let fly. Tim had the best of tRe deal, if anything, and uppercut effectively. Twice Hannan's left landed. Once more Tim's straight left got home, but again that left had no power behind it. Hannan then took a hand. His left swing caught Tim on the neck, and then followed an exhibition of clever blocking on Tim's part, his arms being red through warding off the powerful punches that Hannan sent m. Tim got a right on to the jaw and followed up. v Here, they punched each other like fury, Hannan's blows being more effective because of their force.

If the fight had to be decided on points, Tun's lefts ought to have piled up a big heap. Everywhere he put that left out it got home, which meant one of two things. Hannan had no respect for the left, or else he knows nothing about it. Tim got that left home three times, Hannan's right on the ribs being a weighty argument, while ft right from' Tim to the heart equalised tilings. Hannan missed with a left hook, Tim's left scored*, while a vicious swing from Hannan just grazed Tim's side. Hannan commenced to worry Tracy at this stage, and m a hot exchange of blows, the West Maitlander came out on top.

Round nine was not characterised by anything of a startling nature, though both showed cleverness m ducking. Pretty well the same can be said of the tenth, though the latter was easily Tim's, as he set a warm pace. In the eleventh, Tim got busy. He successfully evaded a right ■ swing, landed a right on the face, once again got away from some cyclonic .swings, and as Hannan

swung a right which missed, Tim smashed a right to Hannan's face, and down went the boy for live seconds, cries of foul arising because a foolish second m the Hannan corner threw water on Billy as he knelt. Rising, Hannan rushed m, swung his right and got home. Tim replied with interest, and they were at it hammer and tongs when the clang of the gongdecreed a respite.

Up till now it was an even go, or, if anything at all, slightly m Tim's way. ■ The Wellington champion opened" hostilities In the twelfth with a left to the face, Hannan returning it with interest m the shape of a right bang to the jaw. In came Hannan once again, to be sent back with a left that did have something behind it, but he was not to be denied, and came crushing m m cyclonic style, Tracy bowing his head to the storm, and weathering it the best way he knew, which was to smother up. Hannan ripped his right to the middle of the body, and poured them m from ali directions. Tim was rattled, and ducked to avoid, and Hannan brought an uppercut to play, but without avail. Tim now sailed m, and right and left swings forced Hannan to retreat on to the ropes. One right landed on the jaw, a left also scored a point, and while rushing along like an infuriated bull pup, Tracy's left glove forced Hannan's head back; it wasn't fair, and. Tim was cautioned; they shook and fought on, Tim getting another left home, whereupon Hannan came back and retrieved himself by smacking Tim one, two, with left and right.

Round 13, the devil's number, was 'hot Tim scored with a left, and drew Hannan's fire; it was a right, and

Amateur Light-weight Champions Of New Zealand, who disputes Jim Hegarty's Australasian Championship.

got Tim on the head. Hannan did it again, and they stood toe to toe and banged, honors being even. Tim g-ot his left home again, and stopped an uppereut, and thwn came Hannan's turn. He socked a right on to Tim's ear, Tim grot his left to the belly, and Billy smiled sadly, but there was no smile as he came m, hit Tim on the jaw with his right, and staggered back as the result of contact with Tim's left. He recovered himself, banged m a well-timed right swing, and followed it up with a left ditto. Then they gripped and parted. Harinan's left got home, and Tim looked queer. Bang and biff: they went at it, and the gong sounded. .. Tim was still m queer street, and Hannan directed him to his corner. This is the "brutal" boxer of the wowser. Round 14 saw Hannan the embodiment of all that is pug-like. He rushed m swinging right and left, missed with an uppercut, and smashed the atmosphere with a wild right. Tim crept m and sent his left out and. scored, whereat Hannan swung two rights before the storm subsided. Itv was" nothing but Hannan. He swung his right and tried an uppercut. Tim did the same. Hannan' s left twice hit Tim's chin hard, and a right uppercut got home. When the gong sounded they were both exhausted. A bully nght. Round 15. — They shook hands, and playfully gloved each other. They got to close quarters. Hannan swung his right. Tim ducked, Hannan got going. They stood and mixed. Then came the end. Hannan rushed Tim towards the latter's corner. First a left, then a right, both of them swings. Tim tottered, then fell on the broad of his back. "One, two," shouted the referee, and, as the din increased, "Doddy" jumped through the ropes. Tim was trying to recover. At seven he moved, he tried to rise, and at "out" was almost up. It was too late, for the first time m his ring career, Tim Tracy took the count, Hannan, good naturedly, embraced Tim and shook hands. The crowd dispersed, having witnesod one of the cleanest, if not the cleverest, fights ever put on m Wellington.