BOXING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12645, 31 May 1919, Page 10

BOXING.

Tlio match which haa been arranged to take place at Strasburg early in July between Bcrgeant “ Dick " Smith, of England, and Georges Oarpentier, of France, for the light heavy-weight championship of Europe, will bo the first Carpontier haa engaged in since ho • defeated “Kid” Jackson at Bordeaux on July 26, 1914. Tim council of the British Board of Boxing Control has asked the present and past holders of the Lonsdale Championship Challenge Belts to elect from their own number throe representatives to sit on the con noil. I do nob think many persons would care to risk their lives in an aeroplane that had been lying in a. hangar for three years without a preliminary trial (says the well-known English boxing writer, “ Corinthian ”), and I doubt the wisdom of the promoters giving Joss Willard a. bushel of dollars for a match with Jack Dcmsey without his displaying his present form in a preliminary contest. It is not good for the well-being of sport, and neither is it business. Perhaps it is hot air! The cream of the joke lies in the message that tho men have agreed verbally to Vuillard receiving £25,000 and Dempsey £SOOO. Can you imagine anything funnier, unless perhaps accepting tho verbal agreement of the late Central Powers at tho Peace Conference! Jack Green, of Sydney, is now bantam champion of Australia. At Melbourne, on April 28, ho secured tho title by scoring a points win over L. Dawson, of Victoria. EJSWSH ANT) AMERICAN BOXERS COMPARED. From the days of Jem Mace, tho father of scientific gJoro fighting, wo have boldly boasted of the cleanly, upright stance of tho English school of boxing. It was (says tlio well-known English writer, “Corinthian”) the epitome of fair play, and generally considered to bo like Gassers wife. Time was, and that little more than a decade ago, when wo deprecated the American style, and undoubtedly there was every justification for vilifying the methods adopted hy many of the leading exponents, whose names were household words in the Stalls. Boxing, like most tilings on this planet of ours, has its curious cycles, and today it ie> certainly many of tho British boxers who resort to somewhat questionable tactics, whereas the glove artists from across the sons have impressed us with their real artistry of scrupulously fair methods in attack and defence, which are undoubtedly based upon the best traditions of the Maca school. The early emigrant boxers of the American school favoured the upright pose, which is tho perfection of ease and style, and Jim Oorbott, Boh Eit&simmons and Jack M’Auliffe certainly stood straight as a. telegraph pole when in the ringT~as they displayed their skill in exhibition bouts in this country- Then the American stylo underwent an evolution, and the Jeffries crouch becamo the fashion, • which Terry McGovern, Young Corbett, Jimmy Britt, Battling Nelson, Ad Wolgnst, etc., adopted with more or less ■exaggeration. Wolgast was probably responsible for many American youngsters emulating his hillygOat mannerinis, and contests inevitably became' ugly spectacles to witness, and American boxers visiting this country failed to impress us with their rugged, unsoienwo, tearaway tactics. However, the saviour of American boxing was Patrick M’Pnrlnnd, a packer in the Chicago stockyards, who received the name of “ Packer ” on account of his employment. _ M'Farland stood up straight to his work, and reminded one of Bill Baxter at his best. His nnheaten record was the finest tribute to the ideal ho set, in which he has found a strong 00-operator in Alike Gibbons. The splendid improvement of the American brigade has been particularly exemplified during the past few months, and another powerful example was furnished by Joe Lynch in his successful contest with our champion. Tommy Noble. The Irish-Ainerican furnished an object lesson of sound sportsmanship that must prove of incalculable good to the development-of the sport. JACK JOHNSON’S PLIGHT. Jack Johnson is “broke” in Spain, says tho Paris correspondent of the “ Sunday Express.” According to Air Henry Wales, in the Paris edition of the “Chicago Tribune,” ho is fighting ton-round bouts, and is -lucky to grab off 1000 peseta purses. A jockey who has just returned from riding in San Sebastian says that the negro is in evidence everywhere, looking seedy and wearing a shabby old fur coat, which ho boasts cost £IOOO, but he does not say how long ago, and that every little while one of Jack’s or Airs Johnson’s diamonds disappears, presumably going to a pawnshop. A few days ago Johnson fought an interned German U-boat sailor, whom he nicknamed “ Bill Flyn ” of Brooklyn, at Aladrid. In tho first round the sailor worried the negro, but in the second round the German-walked straight into Jack’s stiff arm, turned round three times, and dropped like a dead man for the count. Jack had previously been fighting “Blink” M’Closkey in different Spanish cities. Before “ Blink ” starts he takes his glass eye out of its socket and places it in his corner of the ring. Jack cuts up M’Closkey at will, and the Spanish spectators think it is a great sight when the ex-champion makes his one-eyed opponent bleed at the mouth, eyes and ears. Johnson, announces that he has the recipe for a wonderful patent medicine nerve cure that will remake his fortune. At the same time ho tries to borrow money, explaining that* his agents in America arc holding up his money and saying that he still owns tenement buildings.in Chicago. Johnson says that Americans are trying to induce- him to return to the United States, but that he won’t, because he knows they would grab him the minute ho reached the immigration centre at Ellis Island. Tlie hotel in Barcelona whore Johnson stayed during the time he was running bull-fights there is holding hie ]>ersonai property, including much of his wife’s clothing. Johnson formerly lived at the Rita and Palace Hotels in Aladrid, but is now barred from these houses owing to his non-payment of hills. When ho enters the Palace grill-room or tho bar, where the largest cabaret and dancing ballroom is continually going at full blast, tho head waiters fro quently approach him with folded bills on plates, asking for tho payment of old accounts, Johnson merely waves them aside or “ kids ” them if they speak English.