NO WHITE HOPE IN SIGHT.

West Coast Times, 15 June 1912, Page 1

NO WHITE HOPE IN SIGHT.

WHAT BARRY THINKS.

CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA CRITICISED.,

AUCKLAND, June 10.

Three world-famous fighting men— Jim Barry, D. Flynn, and J. Clabby—passed through Auckland yesterday, en route for tho United States.

Barry, interviewed’ by a Star reporter, had , interesting to say about business as ho found it in A3|||gp*fia. After six months spent in Sydney and Mclborno, during which he fought a number of big battles, Barry goes back to his own country satisfied that the black men hold a position at the top_of the tree from which, no white man can oust them. Johnson, M’Yea, and' Langford are, Barry says, the three greatest fighters in the world, and. there isn’t a white man in sight who could defeat any one of the coloured trio. Barry went to Australia as a “ white hope,” and went under to both Langford and M‘Vea. He stood up to each man for twenty rounds, but is honest enough to admit that, even at the. top of his form, he does not think that,ho or any other white man living can hope to get a decision, ovc ; r the throe black men. Barry goes back to America with two ether convictions. Sydney has been spoken of as the Mecca of the, boxing .winld. Tho American hcavwoight adhiiti that tho Australians,, aro right out on their own as sportsmen, but ho thinks the business is being run in the form of a monopoly, and that one man is making a lingo fortune. Barry says that Flynn and Clabby, who rotnin on tho same boat with him, are •’qua'ly glad to got way, and their Australian tour has been a sad experi l ,-o financially. Barry fought two big matches of twenty rounds each for t‘i9 and £35 respectively. Ho was breed into signing articles against Langford and M’Yoa before ho was physically fit to fight, and it was only the result of a big effort that ho succeeded in getting £2OO as his share out of the fight with Langford. For his match with Lang, tho Australian champion, which he won, Barry got a •little over £3O. Other American boxers, he declares, are treated just as badly, and Jack Lester, be says, will probably be working his passage back by the next boat to Vancouver. Dave Smith, the New Zealand boxer, was, he thinks, very wise to get away from. Sydney and make for ‘Frisco, where he, will get ranch better engagements financially. Mehogan, in Barly’s opinion would also be wise to make for tho States, for at present the clever young Australian was doing himself injury by attempting to give too much weight away in order to get engagements.

Referring to the world’s cbinapioiisbip, Barry said that it was impassible to do anything olso than take a pessimistic view of the position. The colored boxers were pre-eminent, and there.was no “white hope” in sight with the exception of Carl Morris of New York. The only thing to do in his opinion, was to draw the colour line, and let black fight black and white fight white. Barry’ lias fought Langford eleven times and M’Vea twice, and was convinced that if M’Vea were only a little more game he would easily defeat Langford, and probably account for Johnson. M’Vea is, in his opinion, tho hardest hitter and tho fastest left hand puncher in tho world. Barry goes hack to fulfil engagements with J. Flynn and D. Flynn, and then retires for good from the fighting game.