BOXING AND BOXERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16570, 1 November 1921, Page 3

BOXING AND BOXERS.

BOY M’CORMICK BEATEN BY BECKETT. AN UNPOPULAR CHAMPION (Special to the ' 1 Star. ) LONDON, Septem be r 1-5. Joe Beckett beat Boy M’Cormick at the Opera House at the end of the twelfth round, when a towel was thrown into the ring (writes Mr Eugene Corri). Then M’Cormick was bleeding freely from a cut over the right oye, generally had the appeaiane© of a much, punished man, and he suffered from a hurt to his baud. His condition Mas such that his advisers did the proper thing when they surrendered on his behalf, but he himself Avould have continued; and he protostod strongly and with some show of violence against the view that he was unfitted to proceed. However, that was the end of a contest which caused the Opera House to be crowded by many distinguished people. Carpen tier and many oilier famous fighters had seats at the ring side. The A'ictory of Beckett was not popular ; indeed, the majority of the onlookers Mere pro-M’Cormick, and perhaps because of this Beckett was unable to do himself justice. Certain it is that he fought one of his poorest fights, and there M ere moments when M’Cormick, had he been able to punch with auytliing like his usual power, must have won. for he found it easy to hit Beckett with bis left hand whenever he employed if straight, and he enjoyed many opportunities to bring the right over lor -*v knock-out. Beckett seemed to be reduced to such a mental condition that very frequently he was all at sea, just as he used to be beiorc be took the championship from Goddard. His defence was very poor, and easy to penetrate, and the general opinion is that lie iB on indifferent champion, and one who. T fear, will not be able to shed the faults which are common 1.0-him. him. He enjoyed a tremendous ad van tag© in weight; 1 really believe that M’Cormick,"were he so incliued. could do the middle-weight limit, and it was his superior poundage and not his ski'd that took Beckett to victory. In that Beckett is in a position to demand £4OOO win, lose or draw this I understood at as ivhat he «as paid last. Monday—he is one of the most fortunate boxers of this or any other age. Yet he cannot he happy, though no doubt he ie now possessed of a considerable fortune. He has not. got the public with him He does not understand the people; the people lor their part do not. understand him, and it is undoubted that, if M’Cormick had won. those who were at Monday’s contest* would have given themselves over to unrestrained enthusiasm. It would not have taken Aerv much in ha a e brought about a Beckett deteat; tew men belonging to championship class have I seen more perplexed. He was impossibly wild and seldom (ought with anv clear, definite idea ol what to do ;he merely rushed and tore. His display was such that there can be no one who would now pretend that he is move entitled to a coutesf with Carpentier than Cook. If Beckett were to meet the Frenchman again the probability would bo that his fate Avould b e precisely similar U> tho experience be suffered at the Holboru Stadium; he would surely be knocked out in record time. Beckett’s all wrong when he comes to building a defence, and the more I think about it the more astonished am I that he has got hold of the championship. ' As for M’Cormick, he is better than be*was when he met Harold Tkolph and Anme Ratuer, but his improvement is not tremendous j he is certainly not ■' I ,rreat fighter. That he is cleverer ; and more resourceful than Beckett he i abundantly proved, but he has much to ' learn about the art of bitting, and it i is absurd to say that he has tbe quau- ; ties necessary for a man who ventures ! into the heavy-weight division At tbe most M’Cormick is only a light-heavy , he certainly cannot afford to give stones away to any man. This must bo said for' him : he is one of the most courageous men who ever went mlo the ring. He has a very stout heart, and it is possible that, if lie perseveres and does lighting regularly and as

He is after another match with Beckett; he is sure that he can beat him ; but before lie chances his arm again lie will be wise if he- makes sure that he has a knock-out punch. It does not need a, particularly devastating bioiv to lay Beckett low, but at the present I have the feeling that M’Gormick has not the power to knock out tho champion. The optimism that is in M’Cormick will help him to forget very soon that he lost last Monday, and may be he will return to the ring a much stronger man than ho proved to be against Beckett. ft is too early to say what Beckett Mill do next. All the chances are that so far as men of his class are concerned the next really big fight will be done at the Albert Hall on December 2. between Carpentier and Cook, though tbe Frenchman Nilles is very anxious to get into the ring against the champion. But an engagement Avith Nilles would not justify any promoter offering more than a comparatively small sum of money. Perhaps mo shall again hear that Beckett intends to go to America. If ho vent to the States T should say that he ■would not lack for work, and he would certainly get lota of experience. But if he remains at homo where will he find his next opponent? If I were Beckett I should not wait- A-ery long before getting into the ring again. The long holiday ho hod after meeting Moran has don© him no good; as a matter of fact Beckett has gone back. "Would that some young r.an came along and showed that- he is the stuff that real champions are made of. What we most want is to see young fellows Avith a natural liking for boxing learning bow to box before they embark upon the game as professionals. Really, the present dav standard of skill is very low. You could count the number of good boxers and fighters on on© hand. AY© have fewer men entitled to receive hig money For fight ing than perhaps at any other time. There is more than a probability that a'© shall have many Americans over this Arinter. and their presence here will perhaps do a groat deal towards getting us out of the rut in Avhich we a tv. Certain it is that Pete Herman wil! come again very soon, and if Jimmy Wild© would like to engage in a world’s fly-Aveigtit championship it would not he very difficult to get Johnny Bluff over. As a matter of fart it is more than likely that Bluff Avill come this year Avith Herman