HOW M'GOORTY LOST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 135, 14 July 1914, Page 10

HOW M'GOORTY LOST.

CLABBY BADLY FOULED. From the reports in the Sydney papers it is evident that Jimmy Clabby, America's clever middle-weight, had all the better of his contest with his compatriot, Eddie" M'Goorty, at the Sydney Stadium. Unfortunately, the battle terminated at the eighth round •through M'Goorty fouling his opponent. It appears to have been a deliberate foul—to save the contest going into the record books as a win for Clabby by a knockout or on points—for immediately before M'Goorty had been warned by referee Harold Baker for a similar offence.

Up to that time Clabby had quite outboxed M'Goorty with brilliant work in attack and defence, and his hitting power made M'Goorty suffer. Commenting on the bout, '' Solar Plexus,'' of the Sydney '' Referee,'' says—

"Ah far as it weut it was forceful and clever, with the men as keen as ever men were- in the ring,. M 'Goorty from the word 'go' tried- desperately t.O get in a. k.o. blow, but he,was met by.a man who -is not only a past master in. defence, but a hitter. He turned the tables) on M'Goorty, splitting his lip in the early rounds, and thereafter aggravating it by regular attention from the left. ' f Though Clabby won by- theanost. un-» satisfactory, manner known : to • tiic • game, that is, on a foul, he proved the better man, and, to my mind, would have won in any circumstances, and: probably by a knock-out. • -This may be - deemed a bold assertion, but I make it without hesitation. Clabby was the lighter man, but by superior condition, superior ing, and speed he had his opponent, troubled whea. the. foul occurred,- despite the fact that M'Goorty fought ably and with.sting. "No championship .or any ...other,title hinged on,the result, reven though the .articles of agreement called for. each, man to weigh" list 61b, the .Australian,.. English, and French middle-weight . limit. Neither conformed to the rules, governing boxing in this,, land, i.e., ringside weighing, so" that this particular battle was really one in "which a mid-heavy-weight, I Eddie M'Goorty, opposed a true middle- ! weight, Jimmy Clabby. Eddie M'Goorty weighed 11.6 at 2 o 'clock, and anyone could see that his poundage must have been near 12st when they toed the mark. Each man had complied with the articles of agreement. While M'Goorty just made the required poundage, Clabby was 11.1}."" LAST ROUND. The last round is thus described by the Sydney "Sportsman": — "The amazing nonchalance of Clabby might almost be thought contemptuous indifference and assured superiority; and it seemed to enrage M'Goorty, who rushed out of his corner like an angry bull, hurling a right, as he came within reach, that would, have knocked Jimmy into the lap of Eddie's new manager, at the reporters' bench, had it found that curly head where it was when the wallop started. But it wasn't; the head ducked gracefully and came up in the wake of a left glove that fetched up on M'Goorty's red nose. They halfcircled, and as Clabby stood, M 'Goorty slid his fot forward aitd ; ripped up a heavy left that landed well down on the pelvis. An angry roar from the crowd, which had several times previously gasped loudly when, in at least three rounds, M'Goorty's glove had bumped lown down on Jim's green worsted trunks, and Clabby flung himself back on the west ropes, glaring angrily at, and as angrily addressing M'Goorty; while, shouts of 'Foul!' came from his corner, and the referee, Harold Baker, stepped close and sharply cautioned M 'Goorty. They shaped up again, and instantly the offender's left whirled up to the groin, and the right, slung with great force, landed heavily, fair in the fork. Clabby sat down sharply with a cry of agony, and a roar of execration came from the huge throng that had just previously been enjoying the spectacle of a good light, with the popular favourite well in the lead. "The referee did not hesitate the fraction of a second, but, springing between the men, ,he pushed M'Goortv back, stooped his tall form and placed his hand on Clabby's head as he sat, leaning back on one elbow and writhing in pain. M'Goorty rushed frantically forward, as the referee still bent over the fallen man, offering a hand to help him rise and, waving his arms like one demented, he shouted, through swollen and freely bleeding lips. 4 lt was a straight left: a straight left, 1 say!' "It was maybe lucky that the incensed crowd did not hear that absurd statement, or they might have been roused to danger point.. They were pretty nasty as it was!"