THE FIGHT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 6495, 25 April 1888, Page 3

THE FIGHT.

Bowd Onb. Slavin started to force the fighting.and hit out boldly, getting one or two good blows in. Xaing was, nowever, too smart for him to get full advantage and did not much hurt. Some heavy exchanges were made very soon after the men faced each other. Laing was very nimble on his feet, and dodged the blows well, sa that the Australian^ long reach was not always effective. Slavin kept following his man up, and put in several good blows, though Laing occasionally countered some intended for him, and gave as good as he received. Laing was smiling all through the round, and took what punishment he received very well Slavin towards the close of the first spell gave Laing an upper-cut as he was dodging that rather astonished him, but the next attempt at a body blow Laing stopped ■beautifully. When time was called, neither of the men hod suffered in any way, EOTOD Two

who' also tried a little in-fighting, getting one or two face blows well in. Erorn the (aWondition of Slavin's skin, too, it was easily seen that he was getting some punishment about the body. Sl&vin got a good hit on Laing's nose that gave iim first Wood. Shortly after this tho men got locked, but Chaafe soon separated them, and a fresh start was made immediately, after which Laing forced the fighting for a little, and both of them were getting decidedly groggy on their pins, Slavin perspiring freely. Slavin at this stage appeared to lose his temyer a little, and hit out rather" wildly, ifith the result that many of his blows did not do their work. Laing keeping cool, got one in with his left, but Slavin stopped one very nicely just after, and then the men got locked again, both being along ■way from fresh. Slavin, however, managed to force Lain&on the ropes towards the end of the xoundjbut not having strength enough left to do anything had to let him go. Both jnen retired to corners much exhausted, '

Botod Thbbb,

Laing opened the ball, and seemed a little fresher, but after a few blows he had re» course again to dodging. He dodged one of Slavic's left handers well, and got in his right, but it had no strength in it. Both men continued during this round to hit rather wildly, in fact their defence was of the loosest possible kind, and Had either bees tip to the work severe punishment could haro been given. Laing seemed then to bo getting the worat of it while Slavin was recovering and got in some effective body blows which put Laing up against the ropes and which he could not reply to. Laing ivas at this time bleeding profusely from tho dose, but when sponged down for Sound Fora

lie oame up apparently fit, smiling as usual. Both men continued to lunge out •wildly, Slaiin getting in some effective body blows, while Laing appeared not to be able to stop him. A blow on the mouth from Shvvin's loft, followed by seme severe blows left Laing, when time was called, irith considerably tho worst of it, Round Fivb.

This round opened with, some very savage all round fighting, but both men ware a long way_ from giving full effect to their olowb. Laing got in one or two nicoly planted blows, but they had not strength enough to do any good. Slavin foDowed lis body blows, continuing to punish Laing jretty severely about the ribs, but he was Sitting wildly and did not make the best use of hia chances. Both, men were fighting to gain time for recavery, but Laing having 'a^SL caught a very nasty blow on the left -.eye, ■which laid open a scar of about a couple /W inches was not ablo to see Tvell for fully half the round. Ho was also greatly fatigued, and though he showed some nice form when landing one on Blavin's right jaw, he did not get it home. Blarin did not seem to know howto get; at Laing's neck, but he hit iim on the nose and mouth, frequently. At the close of tho round it was hard to say which would win, though indisputably Laing was most knocked out . Thb Sixth ahd Last Roukd. The fifth round, it should be, remarked, closed with cries of "Foul," a3 the men were locked, and Slavin had^Jbit Laing a eevere blow after time was called. The referee, ' however, disallowed the foul, and ordered the fighVto go on. The last round opened with some desperate fighting; but Sl&Tin's long reaoh, weight, and superior stamina were now coming into full play. Ho kept peppering away at Harry's body,' and Laing, though holplcss in his hands, took his punißlunent well. The Tound had gone about half its course when Xaing, who by this time was bleeding very freely, and'.oopld hardly hold up his hands, ■was knocked down a left-hander from SUvin. He came up to time at the closo of the ton seconds, but vros put down again in jiTsry few second* after, and his second then threw up the sponge and removed his jnan at tvrenty minutes to four, ' We ought to Bay that Laing'(who seemed to give in very suddenly) was seriously adTiised by Dr Earlo to-diay not to enter the ring, as he was not in fit condition.