THE SPORT OF BOXING

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1933, Page 12

THE SPORT OF BOXING

A GREAT FRENCHMAN NICKNAMED “FIGHTING ORCHID.” CAREER WRECKED BY BLACK MAN.

(By

“Ringsider.”)

In the little mining town of Lens, in France, in 1908 a fourteen-year-old boy made his choice of a career. And because he was physically a weakling, reared in an environment that was both poor and repressive, his choice must be accounted a strange one, for it called for, above all things, strength of body and grit without limit—pugilism. Not the pugilism of his homeland, z la savate, with its hand-feinting that paved the way for the deadly and undignified kick, but the pugilism of the Briton, hard, but clean and wholesome. How that youngster strove for and won, in association with a manager staunch in his loyalty to his charge’s cause, the highest honours and became a popular idol, a fashion-plate, nicknamed the'“Fighting Orchid,” is one of the ring’s romances. It is the story of Georges Carpentier, whose fistic prowess of bygone days in recent defence of the fair sex at a Continental resort is recalled by a cable recording the incident. Georges Carpentier was born on January 12, 1894, commenced his fighting career in 1908 and retired in 1926 with a record of 109 contests for 39 points wins, 48 knock-outs, J 3 Tosses and 5 draws. Falling into the hands of Francis Deschamps, who became his guide, philosopher and friend in all matters pertaining to his chosen career, Carpentier made rapid progress. The frailties of his frame were concentrated upon; built carefully to strength, and hours spent upon hit, stop and footwork. In a country that held but a minor place in the world of Queensbury fighting, Carpentier because of his earnest application and determination to succeed soon made his mark and in turn won bantam, featlier, light, welter, middle, light-heavy and heavyweight titles of France. In typically lavish and mercurial fashion the French nation acclaimed its fighting son and Queensbury rules. By 1911 he was contesting with notable figures from overseas in his homeland. Glancing through Carpentier’s record the following strike one as bouts outstanding:—l9ll, v. Harry Lewis, won, 20 rounds; v. Dixie Kid, lost, 5 rounds; 1912, v. Willie Lewis, won, 20 rounds; v. Frank Klaus, lost, 19 rounds; v. Billy Papke,

lost, 18 rounds; 1913, v. Jeff Smith, won, 20 rounds; 1914, v. Joe Jeannette, lost, 15 rounds; v. Gunboat Smith, won, foul, 6 rounds. In January, 1913, at Ghent, Belgium, and again in December, 1913, at the National Sporting Club, London, he knocked out the Briton, Bombardier Wells. Joe Beckett, British champion, received scant mercy at his hands, going down in the first round on two occasions. After the war Carpentier journeyed to America in search of the world’s heavyweight title, held- by Jack Dempsey. As a preliminary he fought, with the lightheavyweight title ,of the world involved, Battling Levinsky, and won in four rounds. He was defeated by Jack Dempsey for the heavyweight championship in four rounds in 1921. In 1922 at Paris he lost his light-heavyweight crown to Battling Siki, the Senegalese terror, in the sixth round. On a second trip to America in 1924 he lost to Tom Gibbons in a ten-rounder, and was knocked out by Gene Tunney in 15 rounds. In 1926 Georges drew with the American Eddie Huffman and lost to Tommy Loughran. He then retired after a ring career of 18 years. In the life of Georges Carpentier, the “Fighting Orchid,” there is an occasion that will forever remain fresh in his and his country’s memory—his hopeless but amazingly gallant endeavour to . wrest the world’s highest honour from the great and rugged American, Jack Dempsey. Carpentier’s effort before 90,000 people who paid 1,626,580 dollars entrance money failed because his physique and not his spirit crumpled under the smashing body blows of his far more powerful opponent. If the spirit of the Frenchman remained unbroken through his bout with Dempsey it was hopelessly shattered in his bout with Siki, the black man z whose association with the sport is best forgotten (he perished in the underworld of New York at Hell’s Kitchen, in 1925). Carpentier sought to show the world that Siki was a crude, swinging savage and for four rounds he succeeded.' But his condition failed him and in two rounds the black thrashed him into a state sickening to behold and won from him the world’s light-heavyweight title. And if France still remembers the greatness and gallantry of Carpentier at his best it also remembers his humiliating downfall, and is loath to forgive. Taranaki Championships. The Hawera Boxing Association is to be congratulated on the manner in which it conducted the Taranaki amateur championships on Friday evening. Expenses were kept down to a minimum, with the result that there was a profit which assists in sending the Taranaki team to the New Zealand championship meeting at Blenheim next week. To assist towards that end the Hawera football gymnasium committee donated the rent of the gymnasium. The initiative of the Hawera Association in presenting certificates which can be framed and kept as a permanent record instead of presenting the usual cup, also found favour.

Taranaki Team for Blenheim. Thanks to the fact that the four Taranaki Associations' are now working together under the Taranaki provincial council it has been found possible to finance a team of sgven to the Dominion championships. That is the largest number that has ever represented the province at a New Zealand championship meeting, except last year, when the Dominion championships were held at New Plymouth and no fewer than 11 boxers from various parts of the province took •part. The boxers of Taranaki by their splendid performances in the ring and their bearing outside the ring have earned respect and have done a lot to place Taranaki on a high plane in boxing. It is a long way from the time that Alan Maxwell, now of Patea, brought the lightweight title to New Plymouth till Tommy Donovan (feather) and Neville Roebuck (fly) brought -two

titles. Since then D. Roebuck (fly), B.

Turner (feather), Childs, Furze, Griffin and others have won several runners-up medals. Last year C. Gordon (Patea) flyweight, D. Roebuck (New Plymouth) bantamweight, and F. Roguski (Toko) middleweight secured three championships, whilst B. Turner (Waitara) and T. Mullins (Stratford) were runners-up in the feather and light-heavy classes. Taranaki’s team this year comprises all the title-holders at Hawera, together with C. Gordon, the New Zealand champion in the flyweight class, who is also the Wanganui bantam champion. He will contest the bantam class. The Taranaki team for the New Zealand championships at Blenheim has, by and large, a sporting chance. Two of the team won championships last year and these appear to have the best prospects of success, though some of the others might spring a surprise. ' V. Gordon, a twin brother of the New Zealand flyweight champion, will contest the division. His best fight to date was in the championship final on Friday, when he defeated T. Loveridge in two of three rounds. His fault lies in a lack of speed for a flyweight but he compensates by terrifically hard hitting.

C. Gordon has a hand which is puzzling the doctors, and unless he can satisfy the Taranaki council that his hand is sound he will not be sent. It will be unfortunate if this fine boxer cannot compete as in speed, punch and science he is one of the best turned out in the province for a long time. He will contest the bantamweight, not the flyweight, which "he won last year. A. Jarvis, the Huiroa featherweight, is

the type of boxer the public likes to see, standing up like Johnnie Leckie. For a self-taught boy his skill and general ring deportment are exceptional, while his defence is reminiscent of Blay in the manner in which he picks off punches at the last moment. He is coolness personified, punches with devil and will fight back when the occasion demands it. With such qualifications and with constant practice Jarvis must develop into a very fine boxer, and it would occasion no surprise if within the immediately ensuing years he will prove capable of annexing that coveted trophy for the most scientific boxer at the New Zealand championship gathering —the Jamieson Belt.

G. Thomas, Eltham, is one of the leading lightweights of New Zealand with recent wins over Caughlan and Wilson. He - has a superb defence, using ; his elbows in a way not often seen nowadays. He is a stratagetist who never signals his dangerous punch, a right cross which seldom misses. He warms up as the fight progresses, but has an inclination to hold. ( F. Hutchens (Eltham), who is Taranaki welter and middleweight champion, is a puzzle. Sometimes he produced a fight. "out of the box” and then next time is very ordinary. He is a slow beginner and nearly always has the worst of the first round. He has a good left with plenty of power.. He also holds the Wanganui welter cham-pion-ship. F. Roguski (Patea) will be defending |iis middleweight title and trying for the light-heavy. He was not seen at his best at the Taranaki championships, being unsettled by fighting a man a stone lighter who had the sympathy of the fans. He still has the fault of standing too square on. Against a mixer he is dangerous, and should he meet this type at the championships he should bring home his title. Alan Maxwell is working great improvements on Roguski, who is a very hard puncher and almost impervious to punishment.