BOXING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 67

BOXING.

The Sydney sports promoter, Mr H. D. M'lntosh, is endeavouring to arrange another boxing contest between Johnson and Burns, to take place in Australia, for a purse of £BOOO, winner to take all. Burns was approached first-and asked if he would agree to moot th© big black fellow two months after his (Johnson’s) disturbance with Jeffries, and Burns readily assented; indeed, he right off signed a provisional agreement embodying the suggestion. Johnson was then communicated . with. Mr M'lntosh undertakes to pay the whole of the coloured man’s expenses should he agree to come, and is now awaiting a reply from Johnson. Later mews states that, regarding a Burns-Johnson match to take place in Australia two months altar the Jeffries-John-son battle next July, Mr M'lntosh cabled direct to Johnson offering the money mentioned whether he won. or lost with Jeffries. . It is reported that a syndicate is offering- a purse of £4-000 to be contested by Welch and Battling Nelson, in connection with the English championship. Thu match will be fought in England. “Tex” Rickard, the promoter of the big fight between Johnson and Jeffries for the championship of the world, states that the contest is certain to take place in Salt Lake City, the capital cl the State of Utah, on July 4. . The State Governor is not opposed to the fight. The seven or eight thousand spectators of the Thorn-Unholz contest at the Stadium, Rusfi.outter’s Bay, .Sydney, on December 29, were somewhat surprised, both at the splendid display by the winner, and the unusually poor showing made by TJnholz. Thorn never, boxed: more cleverly, and that is saying a good deal of a.n athlete who has always done himself credit in public. Fivm pounds lighter his adversary., and lacking the latter’s powerful punch, the featherweight champion was well-nigh perfect in every detail of his work. Very early •in the contest it became apparent that the German, althougli h■ - 1 ook-e-d as woil as over, held either “ staled ” in training, or was short of a gallop. Practically every round was the featherweight’s. The verdict of the referee was promptly given in favour ot Thorn, who was warmly cheered. A cable message from London to the Sydney papers of December 13 stated txiat Jim Corbett had: sailed for N©w_ York for the purpose of preparing Jeffries xor liis match against Johnston. A prominent Parisian promoter of boxing contests has wired Mr H. D. M'lntosh asking him to ascertain from Tommy Burns what he would be agreeable to accept to go to the Freneb capital to meet the big coloured man M'Vea, whom Johnson said, before leaving Australia, was trap next best boxer in the world to himself. Burns was interviewed, with the result that ho .agreed to take'a £ISOO purse and fares for himself and Mrs Burns, provided the date was not put off too far, as he would let everything else go by the board sooner than miss meeting Johnson were the latter willing for another contest. Sid. Russell (13.12), of Sydney, and .Toe Jeannette (13.12) have met at Paris. Ihe contest was productive of some very harci hitting on the part of both men. For tho first few rounds there was not much to choose between tho pair, Russell getting in some very hard hits. Towards the sixth round, however, Jeannette found that he had to pub in all lie knew to stop Russell’s terrible swings, and he lost no time in getting home heavily on the face. For severe! rounds Russell was having- a bad time, but towards the finish he came round, and took bis part at attacking. In the last round Russell looked dead beat, but although Jeannette got home an uppercut, followed by a terrible swing, which sent Russell down, ho rose to life feet after five seconds and lasted out the round, Jeannette being declared the winner on points. Jeannette has in his time fought some draws with Jack Johnson. “If I had. my way I would decide to have the man who is selected to referee my championship fight with Jack Johnson judge the battle from outside the ring, just like they do in England,” said Jim Jeffries. This announcement was made by the big champion after listening to an argument between Berger, Bob Vernon, and Jack Gleason, the California fight promoter, as to whether the referee should be in the ring with the fighters or on the outside. ‘T have always been a great admirer of the English style of having the referee on the outside,” said Jeff., “ for in the first place a fighter in England knows that if he holds on he is liable to be disqualified. In England the referee cautions the man only once. Fearing- disqualification, they do more real fighting than bolding. • I really think they should try the English style over here, for it would result in faster and better fights, and would givethe public a better run for their money. I hate to sec fighters hold on in clinches. J, for one, like to keep fighting all tho time, and if Johnson will do the same the battle ought to he an easy one for the referee > ho won’t have to break us often.” William Court Gully, K.C., P.C., first Viscount Selby, and Speaker of tho House of Commons from 1890 to 1905. died on Sato— I—' 1 —' evening. November 5, at his reside- ’.-rsc-x, England, aged _ 74. Lord Selby, whoso wife prodeo&ascd him by three years, is succeeded by his eldest son, the Hon. J. W. H. Gully. It is interesting to remember that Viscount Selby’s grandfather was one of England’s most famous prizefighters. Ho mad© a fortune out of the manly art and speculation in coal, bought an estate, entered Parliament, and died universally respected.

LANG DEFEATS SQUIRES. SYDNEY, January 17. The Stadium was packed to-day on the occasion of the boxing contest between Lang and Squires. Lang knocked Squires out in the seventh round. Ihc light was tame.