PRIZE-FIGHTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13681, 25 August 1908, Page 5

PRIZE-FIGHTING.

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD

BURNS BEATS SQUIRES.

Press Association-By Telegraph Copyright Received-' 9-10 p-m-, August 24th.

SYDNEY,' August 24.

The tight for the championship of the world trae the absorbing topic to-day. It 'dvetsbadXjwed l tlie great white armada, and the great review of the naval and military forces. The stadium • was a. huge structure erect-ed specially for the occasion at: Rjishfcutters' Bay, . and . was capable of sealing 18,000, peiGou-s. It presented «i n-vnark-■abie sccn.e. It was constructed in. the form of an amphitheatre, with a. 24. feet ring in the centre. It-, was cipwded to the u'lnost capacity. The. reatts, rahged in terraces . round tdxe fighting platform* were peopled! with an excited audience. Trains tilled 1 with Newcastle people, miners predominating, to see their townsman (Squires) face the invincible Tommy Burns, created an ihipression that G'oalr opolis must be • a deserted city. The. weather was perfect, and the stadium was "bathed in "sunlight, the fight being timed for 4 o'clock. .

Burns won the choice of positions. In the first round .SquiresV shaped very fairly, and frequently wenfc for Bfcrns' head,, but that portion of thfe'American's anatomy seemed the least vulnerable. The meu clinched frequently, and three times iii rapid: succession ; 4he referee had to separate them. Squires was leading most of the time, an<l seiit his left to the lieadfour or five ; times, whilst Burns was making principally for his opponent's body. Squires was now lighting really well, and appeared to have slightly the best of the round, landing Burns solidly tlii-ee times oh the ribs.

,In the second round Squires' again started attacking with a straight left to the head. Bums got his right on Squires' ribs, and the Australian responded, bursting, blood from the American's nose. The Australian went at his opponent willingly, and had'''Altogether; the best of Bums, "brought Jus footwork. uAoi play, but even than Squires continued to keep his" blows oif. and be the aggressor.

In the third- round the meii were at clinches early. Squires got one in tha ; t ■tent Burns' head «back with a click. Bjirns, however,, displayed extreme cleverness iii dodging blows. Burns clinched and' landed Squires a heavy right upperexit oh. the chin. Squires, however, got in, several 'hea\y head blows.. In- infighting Burns was much the better man. As-, the round closed Squires drew blood from the American's mouth. • In til'e fourth round Burns went to close quarters, and gave the Australian a very bad tiiii®, bringing blood from his' hos9 and iniouth. The men were now fighting at a -terrific pace. After a couple of brisk mix-ups Squires got his left on his' opponent's iibs and right on to his jaw, staggering" him. Both. men were displaying trouble on their faces, but Squires appeared to be the fresher of the two.

Jn the .fifth round* spurred oil by success, the Australian went in and got- his left on BUius' jair. Despite' his punishment the American .kept) right up ..to his. man. Squires dodged round -the ring with his opponent after him, - the- latter .doing the attacking. As the found closed Squires landed a. heavy right to the jaw, and the crowd was delirious with, delight. lii the tiixth round both men weakened, Squires had narrow escapes ..'-of r • being kilocked ' out,," but got several blow's t , or., to Burns' neck,- but- the champion w;> fighting with more success. Both men were bleeding freely. ■ In the seventh round Squires Jiad Bums dodging round the arena; they then clinched, Squires, get-ting a blow in which rattled'Burfe, : ; wlio was having ii.itliei a bad 'time, but displayed great capuily. for receiving, punishments...... 'lhe , uimd ended: in Squireii' favour.

In- ths eighth round Burns received - a teirific blow on the. face, Squires haying morej success in the. clinches. .. ),.Squires continued to be 'aggressi« in the ninth - round; then, suddenly, 3>vrns hiioked liis left; to his opponent's arid gettibg " to. close/ quarters' piim, uelkd hi 111 viciously. Bunk, hooked, !iiv lsft on Squires-V jaw, followed .with ''he light on the cllinr aiid the fighting was leu-.lu. The, referee, had all liis work tut ,ou.l to get theiu apart an .'the clinches. Burns demonstrated his superiority and punished Squires'- body, the latter's ribs showing Up. scailet with the heavy punching.'Pfspite "the fact that Burns was bleeding from several points on-his face, lie seemed to- regain his strength and fought strongly. In the -tenth round Squires fetched Burns, -oi •, powerful blow ;on the side 'Of the 1 head, but Burns compelled Squnes to break ground and landed' him a terrific iigiib 'swirig that sent the Australian. back a." few', feet. , Theu . .Bii,rns attackfid the body with great vigour, and had his opponent in- 'sore, straits. Squires left ey.S was "blackened. . The. Australian sent, in a dozen fast: blows which somewhat dazed Burns, but the Australian could not shift hiiu off his feet.

In eleventh round Squires got in 'three staggering blows on the neck,, and hd&jchances seemed..better. •

In tlie ■ twelfth found'- Squires' blows lost their force, but by a blow in infighting the Australian evened matters a bit.. The thirteenth . round - opened qilietly.Burns livened matters up by drawing blood from Squires' cheek, and' in . the rally the American landed the Auelralian right on the chin, and Squires went, down to a sitting posture. He remained there nine seconds; he could' have got up, but availed himself of the rules. When on his feet again .he rushed after Burns and punched', him hard on the cheek. . - Burns replied villi his right, and Squires weijt dotvn for eight seconds. . Burns,. now-, had him at his mercy, si ruck hini heavily on the cheek, and brought., his right hard on- to- the Australian's neck; and before Squires had time to fall his left got him. ion the side of the eye. Squires stink: ;and failed to rise again. He ultimately ;mude an effort to get up, but was counted oiit as he: : rose. •■■ Tlie ■ superintendent ; oi police then slopped 1 the proceedings.