BOXING.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 49, 14 August 1915, Page 10

BOXING.

The •following are extracts from the "Referee" upon the Les DarcyEddie McGorty fight fo rthe middleweight championship of the worldsAustralian ring history, was embellished with a fresh, bright, gra-

phic chapter at the Rushcutters Bay Stadium on Satutrday night. That much must be said in honour ot the Australian victor and the victory. But let us not forget the vanquished man, who fought a gallant battle in the spirit of the brave fighter and boxer. Les. Darcy, defending his middleweight world's championship against far-famed Eddlie McGoorty, the American with the venomous punch won by a knockout. Therein is the significance of the victory. It is the first experience of that brand of defeat by McGoorty, and though those who know the calibre of Darcy were not astonished, the feat apparently has astounded many, who, impressed by the sledge-hammer effect of McGoorty's hitting in other contests, had long since regarded him as invincible to that form of defeat. To those of that mind the result is inexplicable. But to others, who see the brilliant quality of Darcy as boxer and fighter, it is merely the case of a great man meeting his master. And there are many who foresaw it; not that they under-rated either the boxing skill! or the stisg of punch in McGoorty, nor yet .his ring-craft, but that they had faithfully assessed the phenomenal skill, strength and fighting instinct of his adversary, a fighting genius. Though beaten soundly, McGoorty fought "grimly- But he has left an impression that he should never box again at the middle-weight limit. He remained in his corner for some tew minutes after the end, and later, seen reclining in his dressing room, remarked at once, "I have no excuses whatever; he is a wonderfully strong boy." Darcy demonstrated that he is a fighter'of remarkable pugnacity and a boxer of exceptional skill, with ring-craft correspondingly astonishing in one so young. Here and there, while his formidable opponent was gasping for wind as they battled in close, Darcy smiledi. But like the snake in the act of charming the bird, his eye rarely shifted from the enemy. Fritz Holland, the clever American middle-weight, commenting on the fight, says: "Les Darcy is the best man in the world. With all due respect to Eddie McGoorty, a good, game boxer, with a mighty punch, 1 feel sure that Darcy would always prove the better man; in fact, I think he will beat anyone.'

Intei-viewed after the fight, McGoorty said: "I tell you, Darcy is a crreat boy. He is clever and fast, and very hard to land on. I have no excuse whatever to offer." Darcy paid McGoorty a high tribute as a puncher, but said he never felt the slightest bit dazed, and felt sure of victory from the word' go. "I never felt so well before, and am as strong now as when I started the battle," he remarked. And he looked it. In discussing with Mr R. L. Baker the absurdity of the suggestion that Eddie McGoorty was not doing his best to win against Darcy, MiBaker remarked that the mere thought of such a thing was an insult to the intelligence of rightthinking men present, who saw tor themselves 1 what happened. Darcy fooled 1 McGoorty's lead, the famous left swing of the latter going within an ace of the Australian's chm in the first few seconds of the opening round. Besides, during the battle McGoorty scored' with left and just as often right to the chin. Certainly, McGoorty missed: very often, but was it not due to some clever move by his opponent? Mr Baker said: "If the American appeared to fight badly, it was due to the Australian's superiority. In any case, what before the contest and while the men welre in their dressing rooms might convince the sceptics that all was fair and above-board 1 . "In company with Captain Rice and my brother Harald, I went to each man and informed him that if the slightest suspicion: arose to lead the referee to suspect that they were not doing their best, the bout would be declared 'no contest,' neither would get a cent, and other compii-

cations would follow. As it came to my ears that betting on the result had 1 taken place at the different racecourses during the last ek or so, all bets would, in such an event, be declared off. "Toi this McGoorty replied: 'If you think anything like that is going to happen, this is the time to act. Get into the ring before we start and declare all bets off,' or words to that effect. "I did not dlo so," added Mr Baker, "and in vieAV of what happened I a mglad I did not, as I am positive McGoorty was beaten fairly and squarely by a better man." Of course he was. It was a splendid battle. And, no matter under what conditions they ever meet again, Darcy will demonstrate his superiority.