HILL v. SPARGO

NZ Truth, Issue 578, 15 July 1916, Page 11

HILL v. SPARGO

_ Referee Scott's Surprising Decision

For the post year the Sydney fans 'have been asking when they were going to see the new Victorian star featherweight, Bert Spargo, m action, says "Truth's" Sydney . Stadium ringside rep. This boy only started to box m public m 1914, less than two years ugo, and his first important victory was beating Dodger Ryan m 10 rounds. His first really "big" fight was that with the brilliant Frenchman, Marcel Lepreux, on Ma/ 24, 1915, m Melbourne Studium, which was won by Bert on points. Then Mr. Baker sent him to Brisbane, where be knocked out Frank Barrett m six. and George Pearson m live rounds. He lost on points to Charlie Simpson m Melbourne, but knocked out that wonderfully hard and dangerous lad, George Taylor, m 13 rounds; won on a foul from the clever Now Zealander, Frank Ellis, got a points decision at the end of 20 rounds over Jimmy, Hill, but not at featherweight limit, arid won on points from Charlie Simpson, thus reversing the previous decision. Jn,1916 ho lost on a foul to Hill, under championship conditions, on January 29, by hitting tho champion as he was m the act of rising from about the fifth knock-down m the fifth round, thereby throwing away what looked like a certain victory. On April 15 Spargo outpointed tho brilliant English champion feather, lUew Edwards, who, however, knocked htm out on May 18, m the 14th round. As his last fight with Hill was a moral defeat for the champion, and as he had outpointed Edwards, who had knocked Hill m 13 rounds, It looked, up to the scoond meeting with Edwards, as though champion Jimmy would be an easy thing for the brilliant boy from Bendlgo. But, as stated, on the occasion of their second meeting the Welshman treated Spargo as badly as he had treated Hill, while Jimmy, going to Brisbane, showed his best form by badly beating brave and dangerous Wave Geikle all the way m twenty rounds; so lhat a match between Hill and Spargo for the 3st

championship, looked good from both a business and sporting point of view. Sam Gray, Spargo's new trainermanager, the clever boxing tutor who so long and successfully handled Herb McCoy, brought Spargo over a week before the event. He was dead m earnest this journey. "Sparkling Spar--1 go" stands sft 4in and Jimmy Hill sft sin. „ There was a very good house when the principals appeared; probably 5000 being present; but it would have been bigger, no doubt, if the 'bookmakers, inspired apparently by, some inside information, had not been so eager to lay Hill, : during -the. afternoon..; That these gentry thought, they "knew-.something."., anyway, ? was OiShown very glaringly when,- after <-Hill had beaten Spargo pointless for, the rfirst five rounds, supporters ,-\ of . the- local man had 3 to 1 on Spargo "actually, thrust upon them. As Hill won practically every round of the fight, barring the tenth, which they cut equal, and as Spargo showed how well aware he was of the state of aifairs by his frantic endeavors to land a knockout punch m the last few rounds, . especially the final one, by what means or method of reckoning referee, /.Scott arrived at his amazing conclusion it is impossible to say — for certain. 'Anyway he had his view entirely to himself; not one solitary onlooker shared it with him. Sam Gray, dejected and ''pouri" during the last few rounds, and fair down m the depths when he saw the hopeless futility of Spargo's last desperate effort — for the boy was quite strong and fresh up to the end, but simply could not land effectively on Hill, who wore equally well, was twice as fast and altogether too clever — hopped up as if he'd been touched on the tail with an electric wire, when Scott placed a band on each head, while Spargo himself actually laughed outright. The amazement and utter, com temptuous disgust expressed by Hill's face and gestures was mirrored all round the huge arena, while the very people, who were best served — i.e., had their money saved — by the referee's act, could only guffaw m blank astonishment and amused amazement. Hill has got tbe reputation of being "difficult"; touchy to handle, and "uncertain, coy and hard to please." When one looks back over his record, one finds excuses a-plenty for him. He was disgracefully robbed of his rights m at least three of his important engagements before he first appeared at the Stadium; he has been "messed about" worse than any crack boxer and good draw was ever messed about before; made a tool and catspaw of; and here, when he won so absolutely that some bettors had actually paid over on him, and scores made for the exits as early as the 18th round, he gets— a draw! ! ! Any wonder if Hin is a pessimist?