BURNS BEATEN.

NZ Truth, Issue 868, 15 July 1922, Page 10

BURNS BEATEN.

But Makes Good Showing.

According to the cabled stories of 'the Burns-Lewis fight, Australia's champion went oinder, not because of his being so much inferior to Lewis as far as scientific boxing is concerned, 'but on; account of his being unable to stand up under the Kid's terrible punches. We all knew Burns as a fairly tough cus-, tomer, and this assertion makes it loole as though Lewis is an exceptionally heavy hitter. Burns, .by the way, is no slouch when it comes to punching. While he was training at the Oxford Club] just prior ito his departure for England, Frank burst all -the bags iij the gym., and m the return match with Uren, fought at Melbourne,; proved his weighty punching by stopping his man m ten rounds. Lewis, then, as well as being a, harder hitter than Frank, must also be a very tough gentleman to stand up under such blows as Burns is capable of handing out. . The cables state that 'at long range, Burns more than held his own, and Lewis, no doubt sensing his opponent's skill m the open, accepted every chance to 'clinch. Hei ; e <the Kid, beinga wise old man at the game, did a lot of damage and shook Burns with short, sharp, -but heavy .blows. Frank's lack of experience let him down badly during the infighting^ for Lewis is reported to have paved the way Ito his knockout victory by inflicting a great deal of body punishment. So anxious was Lewis to. keep m close, that he was repeatedly ordered to break, and refrain I from holding and hitting.

After a.bout seven rounds it (was clearly ' apparent that Lewis was the master, but Burns' pluck, and determined resistance won him hosts of admirers. During the ninth Burns was sent to the floor with a hard left hook and took the count to nine. He arose and suffered more heavy punishment before the gong. sounded. During the spell his seconds worked wonders on him, and sent him up looking fairly fresh. He gamely lasted until the eleventh,, when Lewis floored him for the full count .with a heavy right to the jaw.

Reading between the 4ines of the reports cabled it is clear that Burns' showing was thought a great deal of, and it is a pretty safe guess to , hazard that some day Prank will, after gaining more experience and becoming. wise to the tricks of ringcraft, probably turn the tables on Lewis.