BOXING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16608, 4 December 1919, Page 4

BOXING.

BECKETT v. APGOORTY. Beckett, who is meeting Carpentior to-uay defeated Eddie M'Gooriy, of America,, at Olympia, Loudon, in the 17 tn round oi a 20-rounds' contest, for a £2OOO purse and stakes ot £IOOO a side. "From every point ot view .(says "Berkley," in the Daily Mail of September 3.) “it was one ot the cleanest, cleverest and most stubborn contests ever seen in England. Twenty thousand people witnessed it. 1 am not surprised that my pen halts and _stumbles in its search tor words in widen to describe last night's mighty fistic combat. 1 dou’t believe there isy an adjective in the language capable of hiti-mg it oil with exactitude, or a phrase that can convey tiio groat moving picture to brain ra anytaiug like its true colours. The only way in which I can convoy to the mind of the reader some idea of what an cpio duel it was is by saying that It eclipsed anything _ and everything in my experience of 30 years' very close association with the ring. No two men could have put up a garner, cleaner fight. From beginning to end they boxed in strictest accordance with the rules, and allliougn on two occasions lucre were slight lesions on the part of both these were due entirely to the excitement and tt;ciuiousncss ot the moment. Naturally one is pleased mat one’s jaugment ot the Eiiglisn eiiampioa has ueeu vindicated,_ but I am sui e mat Beckett wifi be liie hrst to agree that the loser is entitled

to the greater portion oi the praise. APGouny was giving away a stone in weig.it, and ior a certainty be Had not trained nearly so well as might have done. Vet lie fought like one of those pnre-brod bull terriers that never whimpers, never flinches, even when it feels the teeth of Us antagonist penetrate to a vital spot. On last nights performance AlGuortys niche in the history ot boxing will nut be a Jowly one." From the ninth round tho superior condition of Beckett began to tell. His, however, was never an easy job. Sumo of his very best leads were wasted on the air, so quick was APGoorty in getting his head out of danger. But tho. Englishman womd not bo denied. Ho entered upon the 13tli apparently determined to end it as soon as possible. Ho had APGoorty wobbling, bfit the American came up for the next session still full of fight. Then followed tiio best bit of lighting of tho evening. Both men went for tho knock-out for all they were worth, and the result was a rally which made the great house rock with excitement. APGoorty was now plainly distressed, and Beckett was also pumng a bit, although the old gleam was still there, in the 17th round APGoorty went down for a count of nine. By a groat olfort of will ho got tn his feet, only to be dropped by a blow that sent him very nearly over tho ropes among the. onlookers. "Tile battle was over; the British champion had won. Tho Union Jack went above the Stars and Stripes. But much as I admire the winner, I must take off my hat to the loser, who is without any doubt whatever one of the gnmest and cleverest hig men wo have ever seen in this country.”