HILL v. SMITH

NZ Truth, Issue 606, 27 January 1917, Page 11

HILL v. SMITH

Eaay Win for Jimmy ' : Notwithstanding that a new American boxer was making his debut, and against one of Australia's very cleverest and most popular men, the crowd at the Rushcutter Bay Stadium, on Saturday night January 13, was a very moderate one, probably not more than 2500\a1l told. One reason for this was, no doubt, that many who saw Matty Smith perform m exhibitions were satisfied that he was not m Jimmy. Hill's class ; but a more cogent one was • the, hateful daylight saving caper. As It turned out, the attendance was worthy of the fight provided. Smith proved to be a plucky, tough, earnest little chap ; but ills boxing is below the standard of our preliminary boys. His one idea is to charge m and get a chance for one or other of his swings which look dangerous, and probably would be to a mug, who stood waiting for them and had an unreliable' guard. To Jimmy Hill they were the easiest of the easy, and the feather champion's hardest task was to make the affair look some kind of a match. He blocked, baok-moved, and ducked Matty's whirlies with the greatest ease, while at

close work he had everything his 1 own way ; Smith had no more idea of infighting than a Prussian has of pity. . Hill undoubtly " stayed, m" so i#at he could pile up points without the risk • of knocking out a man he obviously wished to spare as much as possible, compatible with a determination to win. Hill's always great evasion was never . more m evidence. His side-stepping, back-moving, slipping, and decking were as delightful as they were often amazing and amusing. A dozen times, at least, Hill ducked under a swinging: arm, twisted on a pivot, glided cleanly clear of a rush and came up anywhere but where Smith expected to find him. On several occasions when Hill ducked and slipped aside. Smith went headlong into the Topes;. In the 15th roiind Hill ducked arid dodged and fooled Smith dizzy, and finally left him looking so ludicrous that the crowd roared laughing, and even referee Arthur Scott had to bite his lips, and pass his fairy. hand over his face to hide the irrepressible grin. There was a still, funnier incident m the 16th. Hill was as hard to locate as a wlll-of-the-wisp, and Matty got desperate at his ut^er inability to cor-, ncr, let alone 'hit him. As Smith rushed m, with the silly right guard turned palm and inner-arm completely outwards, a most awkwaTd-looking and futile attitude that is his own speciality, Hill flitted backward like a shadow, and as silent and imperturbable. In the fury of desperation, Smith hurled himself through the air — as he did frequently all through — whirling both arms. Jimmy ducked and side-stepped, and so great was Smith's impetus that he turned over m the air; like a comedy acrobat, and landed bump on his lumbar regions and bowed back, fair under the bottom south rope. It was a shame to laugh, but no human rislbles could "be restrained; for his jvery earnestness and fury made the ping 1 look like a piece of very clever, wellrehearsed yet spontaneous and droll acrobatic comedy. ' It would be ridiculous to go into the details of the affair, and a waste of ail-too limited space. Suffice it to say that from first to last Smith never had a look m, that Hill played with him, except to now and then give him a taste of what he really could do if he wished, and that he spared him as a stranger far from homo and with other contests m view. Smith might mike a stirring fight with a man of his own type, a rusher who wouJd take as well as give and who wasn't clever enough to beat those swishing swings.