A PUGILIST’S RECORD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 110, 30 June 1911, Page 8

A PUGILIST’S RECORD.

THE MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. With reference to the world’s middleweight championship and the position of Dave Smith (of Mosgiel), Mr Fake, the well-known Palmerston referee, puts it thus; Stan Ketchell was middle-weight champion and defeated Papke for the honour. Then Papke won in a return match, which proved a hurricane fight, lasting twelve rounds in which he was fortunate in getting a severe blow on his opponent in the hist round. A third meeting was arranged and Ketchell won. On the killing of Ketchell the title reverted to Papke. Dave , Smith fought and defeated Papke in Sydney Stadium on points. For a return match Sniitn was very ill and had to i>o dosed with strychnine to enable him to light. He was again winning all the way on points till the "sixth round, when he wont to sleep from the effect's of the drug and didn’t wake till the following morning. Though tiiese fights were said to I>e for the middle-weight championship of the world, neither wore legitimately so because Papke was on each occasion over-weight _ (list. 111 b instead of list 61b, 'which is the Aiistralian limit). On .the socoiid occasion he forfeited £IOO on that account. Had Smith won on the seef ond occasion lie would have been world’s middle-weight champion, because bo fought at list 41b, largely on account of his sickness. The New Zealand middle-weight ■ limit is list 41b. Smith beat two others of the' American party in Sydney, Jimniy Clabby in 20 rounds and “Cyclone” Johnny Thompson in 20 rounds. .At the same time he beat Starlight in 7 rounds, Rangi Burns in 9 rounds, George Reidy in 20 rounds, Reg. Dempsey one round, Billy McColl i 3 rounds, Albert Scanlon 9 rounds, Jack Blackmore 5 rounds, Pat O’Keefe 17 rounds, Arthur Cripps 20 rounds, Ted Whiting 13 rounds. From his four lights with the Americans he netted £1720.