A NERVOUS BOXER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXV, Issue 11785, 23 September 1913, Page 3

A NERVOUS BOXER.

BACK-DOWN AT ELEVENTH HOUR

The disappearance of Jim Sullivan, the English middle-weight boxer, from Melbourne, last Monday week, a few hours before the contest with Bill Carrie was scheduled to begin, did npt "(says the Sydney Sun) come as a staggering shock. Mr Baker might have been prepared for it, in view of Sullivan's behaviour after his defeat by Bradley, which apparently broke him up completely. Indeed, he was all nerves before that battle started. Boxers are, as a rule, very superstitious. When Sullivan's car broke down on the way to the Stadium, just as his car broke down in England while he was going to London from the country to face Papke, who defeated him, he made up his mind that the occurrence meant trouble. Afterwards, Mr Baker could never get hold of Sullivan. If the Englishman was rung up lie would drop the conversation immediately upon discovering the Stadium wanted him. Less than a week ago, Mr 1 Baker was asked if he felt sure Sullivan would face'his job iv Melbourne. "Oh, yes/"' he, "1 think I have my man all right now. " Sullivan probably nerved himself up to the duty until tne last few hours, and then broke down completely. He is certainly a peculiarly constituted fellow, and was never built for a fighter. I Up till six o'clock on the Monday night, Mr Baker had no idea that anything was wrong. At that hour he received the following urgent message from his Melbourne manager, Mr K. Lean:—"Sullivan cleared. Wire instructions. Unable trace him. Boeeived front Sullivan telegram, saying, ' Left Melbourne, find substitute. ' " Mr Lean did not get his information I until 5.;J0 p.m., and at once instituted a search for the missing boxer, but without any success. ! Boxer's Strange Movements. On the following day, Mr Loan, j Sullivan's nianiigcr, told what he knew of the boxer's disappearance. "I met Sullivan,- , '' he said, "by the Sydney express last Friday. I introduced him to Fred Porter aud Dick Porter, who wore anxious to look after his Melbourne interests. On Saturday morning he attended at the Porters' rooms, and went through some iiual training exercises. About ten o'clock yesterday he again called at Porter's and collected his clothes, saying that he was going for a long walk, aud would return at 12.30. That's the last any of us saw of him. We waited at Porter's i'or him until 0.00, and then went to the Pavilion, w-hrjre Carrie, his intended opponent, was also waiting; but as he did not turn up by four o'clock we gave it up as a bad job. I visited his hotel, and was informed that he had paid his bill and taken all his belongings away in the morning, stating that he waygoing to stay at St. Kilda. At 4.00 I received a wire from him, stating: "Please find substitute for self tonight; must, leave Melbourne at once; explain later." The message was lodged at St. Kilda at 4.2 p.m. We have endeavoured to locate Sullivan, but unsuccessfully, and that's all I know." ; ' Got any theory ''' Mr Lean was asked. "Yes. ' l he replied, "but I'll keep it to myself. '' '" To Melbourne sportsmen it seems incredible that Sullivan should back out of a light with Carrie, especially as the latter was giving him half a stone in weight. At any rate, that is where the matter remains, but the promised explanation may clear the mystery up later.