BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 18939, 12 May 1923, Page 13 (Supplement)

BOXING

(By “0.M.”). Frank Padget’s Nightcaps class is probably the most flourishing in the province. Fly-weight Jaggers and the two Prendevilles, light and middle-weight, are training on well, and should give a good account of themselves at the championships next month. Parker, the young Timaruvian, who took the light heavyweight title from McCleary, of Christchurch, last week at Timaru, evidently pursued the right tactics. Although giving away a few pounds he carried the fight to the title-holder on every possible occasion, the latter’s ringcraft and elusive-

ness running second at the finish to Parker’s vigorous methods, amidst scenes of great enthusiasm. The Christchurch Press writer, Miles, is, however, quite sure that McCleary won. Frank Padget took a team out to Tuatapere last night, the boxing programme being followed by a dance. Jack Dempsey started training in March, boxed two rounds each with three different men, and roughed it ten minutes on the mat with Johnny Myers, of Chicago, claimant of the world’s middle-weight wrestling championship. Sports writers, who witnessed the champion’s work, said he was “very fast,” weighed only 14st 3lb, and could easily get into ring-condition in a short time.

I understand that W. J. Sycamore, instructor to the Excel School, is on the lookout for a pro. fight under any Association. Ex-feather-weight, champion of the province, Sycamore is an aggressive two-hand-ed fighter who, in form, would give the crowd a run for their money in any company.

That there was a good deal of discussion over the result of the Siki-McTigue fight in Dublin, is apparent from English exchanges to hand. The negro enjoyed a useful weight advantage and did most of the leading. McTigue, who distinguished himself by fine defensive fighting, fought from the 13th round on with a broken thumb. One writer naively describes how McTigue’s win was received: Siki and his manager were, naturally, dissatisfied with the verdict, on the announcement of which one of McTigue’s seconds dropped to the floor in a swoon.

A Mexico message dated March 31 says that Sam Langford, after many years of fighting, has finally won a championship. He was crowned heavyweight champion of Mexico this afternoon by knocking out Kid Savage, holder of the title, in 1 minute 15 seconds with a right cross, followed by a left hook. Savage was out for twenty minutes. Langford is leaving for New York, where he expects to train to meet Firpo. At the Kingston Police Court in England in March, Joe Beckett, the boxer, was summoned by Mr A. A. Marks, president of the Bookmakers’ Protection Association, for using abusive language at Hurst Park Racecourse on March 10. Beckett, who arrived at court in an expensive motor-car, was defended by Mr Walter Frampton, who said his client, seemed to have assumed a fighting attitude towards Mr Marks, and to have used abusive language. Beckett later sent a telegram expressing his regret, and Mr Frampton read his apology to the court. Both parties being agreeable to the course suggested, the magistrates allowed the summons to be withdrawn, the chairman, Mr W. Negus, remarking, “I suppose he” (Beckett ) “is not a dangerous man.” Mr Frampton replied, “No, he is only dangerous when he is well matched.” THE BIG FELLOWS. Luis Angel Firpo, the South American heavyweight, is climbing up the ladder and unless he makes a mis-step 'his year may be found among the chammoua. In March he bought the veteran Bill Drennan, who is a chopping block for most of the heavyweight. aspirants, and knocked him out in the twelfth round. Brennan was in a state of coma for ten hours and then went to the hospital with concussion of the brain. Firpo seems to have fought a game losing battle and to have got his victory from a powerful hit made possible by Brennan’s collapse due to lack of condition. Talking of Firpo, one New York boxing critic says:

“It is reported that Rickard has an agreement with Firpo to the effect that he can match him with Jack Dempsey for the world’s title any time within the next twelve months. Tex has it in mind at present to match Luis Angel with the winner of the Floyd Johnston—Jess Willard bout, which is to take place at the new Yankee ball park in Hay. In the event of Firpo winning this contenst with either Johnson or Willard, Rickard thinks that a Dempsey-Firpo match in Buenos Aires late in the Summer would be the cat’s pyjamas. . . . Firpo has courage whatever other fistic attributes he may lack. He is crude and knows little of boxing. He is adept in the use of a right-hand uppercut. His left hand is of little use. He is easy to hit. He probably always will be. It would be silly to match him with Jack Dempsey, at least in this country. They might fall for it in South America. That is their privilege. If Firpo wants to get anywhere he should keep fighting. That is the only way he will improve. A real test for him would be a bout with Jack Renault, the Canadian heavyweight, who toppled over George Godfrey.” In the meantime Dempsey has a fifteen round bread ticket bout arranged with Tom Gibbons. JACK DEMPSEY. HIS DEVELOPMENT AS A BOXER Jack Dempsey’s early career was full of incidents and experiences that should prove encouraging to young fighters, says C. F. Mathison in the New York Herald. Harry Wills has reached his full pugilistic growth and has nothing to learn, and he is the only negro heavy-weight with sufficient ability to warrant a title match. When Dempsey first appeared in this city in 1915 and put up his hands in a few of the local clubs, a prediction that he would later on wear the heavy-weight crown would have evoked derisive laughter. Dempsey looked like anything except a champion. He was a scrawny looking youngster and his boxing was redolent of amateurism. His work in the ring was far below that shown by Firpo in his bout with Brennan, and Dempsey also lacked the aggressiveness of the South American giant. FOUGHT DRAW WITH NEGRO. The writer’s first view of Dempsey in action was when he faced John Lester Johnson in a decisionless bout of ten rounds in John the Barber’s Club, now known as the Commonwealth S. C.„ 135th street and Madison avenue. Incidentally John the Barber was Dempsey's manager at this time and proudly proclaimed that Dempsey was destined to capture the title in the near future. John Lester Johnson was also in his infancy as a boxer and had but recently suffered a knockout at the hands of the fat Sam Langford, the finishing punch landing near the base of Johnson’s spine at a time when the victim was in full retreat, with his back exposed 'to enemy fire. Johnson made the mistake of thinking that he could outsprint the Tar Baby in a six lap race in a twentj)-root ring. Johnson and Dempsey were well matched in size and skill and the bout lasted the limit, neither man having a decided advantage in points. Each laid claim to the unofficial decision and while the negro had a shade the best of the encounter, yet the records merely announce that there was no decision. DEMPSEY’S RIBS DAMAGED. The negro was more effective than Dempsey, for a pair of the latter’s ribs were damaged by Johnson’s body blows. Dempsey at that time proved to be a one-handed battler. His defence was by no means good, and in attack he swung his right. Johnson’s defence was superior to that of his opponent and the negro escaped serious damage.

Among other contests Dempsey engaged in on his first visit to New York were ten round bouts with Wild Bert Kenny, the amazing Andre Anderson, and Dan Ketchell of Bridgeport, Conn. Kenny and Anderson stayed the limit of ten rounds each, but Ketchell was stopped in the fifth round.

Dempsey followed up these by no means brilliant exploits with a knockout in the first round by Jim Flynn early in 1917. This reverse has been explained as a defeat due entirely to a “business” arrangement with the Flynn delegation, and this seems to have been substantiated later on when Dempsey stopped the redoubtable Flynn early in the opening round. FROM NOVICE TO CHAMPION.

Thus it can be seen that although Dempsey’s early performances in the ring were mediocre and by no means suggestive of future greatness, yet he has developed into one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of the ring. He also gained the distinction of having been sued more than

any other pugilist. When he decided to sever business relations with John the Barber and sign a contract with Jack Kearns, Dempsey was compelled to dodge law suits in nearly every State in the Union. Reisler followed the boxer all about the United States, serving summonses and complaints at every stopping place but the boxer got the decision at every hearing and Reisler finally abandoned the attempt to win the title in the courts.

Shortly after Dempsey placed himself under the management of Kearns the boxer improved in hitting. Previously he had punched only with his right hand, using his left almost entirely for defence. According to Kearns he strapped Dempsey’s right arm to his side and compelled him to do all his hitting work with his left. This system was continued for months in training quarters, with the result that Dempsey developed terrific hitting power in his left. STRAIGHT LEFTS FELLED WILLIARD.

It was with a staggering left hook to the face that Dempsey sent Williard to the floor seven times in the first round at Toledo. It was a terrific left hook in the pit of the stomach that took all the fight out of Fred Fulton at Harrison, and it was a left hook to the body that started Carpentier on the road to defeat at Boyle’s Thirty Acres. While a left to the face or body is Dempsey’s favourite blow, yet his right for the ribs and jaw is very effective. He shoots the right straight for the mark, in sharp contrast to the overhand right that Firpo swings at the head. Dempsey’s weight is behind each punch, while with Firpo his big arm and hand are used as a club. The South American will need to change his style of hitting before geting into the right with Dempsey. As the champion stands to-day he is a master of every known method of ring attack, modern or ancient. He uses the left straight or hooked and he shoots the right straight for jaw or body. Dempsey appears to have discarded the swinging right he used against John Lester Johnson, and is to-day the most accurate and effective hitter in the heavyweight class.