BOXING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13333, 23 March 1911, Page 2

BOXING.

JACK LESTER. “MARCHING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIIV’ ENTHUSIASM AND YOUTH. Vancouver, March 19, Jack Lester, the protege' of . ‘Tommy Burns, has sailed for Sydney, where he will meet Bill Lang on Easter Monday. Lester ~has fairly broad' shoulders and, clean-built legs, but none of the earmarks of pugilist. He is not dismayed by the prospect of; having only a few days on land to stretch Jus logs before being called on to fight. ■ After Loster left, Tommy Barns said: “He has got Johnson on the brain, and thinks he sees himself marching to the championship. I figure out that ho has an even money chance with Lang.” Lester is not yet 20 years of age, and is said to be a natural fighter of the whirlwind type. His ring career i started in 1908 in Canada. Following is his record:—l9oß: Sunny: Jim, k.o„. Fcrnie, 8.C., one round; Billy Cadmau, k.0., Coal Creek, 8.C., two rounds. 1909 —Arthur Warren, k.0., Fcniie, 8.C., four rounds; Bobby McKicick, no decision, Coal Creek, 8.C., 10 rounds; Andy McFadden, no decision, Taber, Alta., 10 rounds; ■ Dan Scott, k.0., Coleman, Alta., II rounds; Charley Robinson, ■ k.0., Coleman, Alta.,' six rounds; Ned Choeley, no decision, Spokane, three rounds; Tom Carter, no decision, Spokane, four rounds... 191(1—Cat Eye, k.0., Cle El urn, four rounds; Cal Eye,- k.0., C'lc Elum, seven rounds; Lilly Dcmington, k.0., Cle Elum, four rounds; Leo Croft, draw, Tacoma,. ID rounds; Fritz Holland, draw, Ellensburg, K; rounds; Jack Fitzgerald, k.0., Sic Elum, one round; Slick Merrill, no decision, Cle Elujn, eight rounds; Oscar Mortimer, k.0., Tacoma, two rounds; Jack Tippetts, draw, Tacoma, 10 rounds; Ed. Hagen, no decision, Tacoma, 10 rounds. The following are Lester’s measurements: —Chest, normal 391 in, expanded 43Jin; waist, 32in;' thigh, 24-in; calf, ISJin; forearm, KH-iriV upper arm, normal 13in, tense 14.jiu; neck, 17£ in; weight, 1901b; height, sft loin; reach, 73in. A CLEAN, HARD BATTLE. McFarland beats moran. NEW YORK, March 20. “Packy” McFarland, the American light-weight, and Owen. Moran, of lingland, met to-night in a ten-round contest at the Faimount Club. McFarland out-pointed bis opponent at every stage. It was a clean, hard-fought battle throughout, and McFarland fully demonstrated his superiority. Neither man was much punished till tbc seventh round when the American rained a shower of heavy blow,fa on Moran. Although he was palpably out-classed Moran fought pluckily,. A HARD FIGHT. * COSTA GIVEN VERDICT OVER RUDD. AN ASTONISHING DECISION. Joe Costa, the Sydney light-heavy-weight, and Bill Rudd,' ex-amateur champion of New Zealand, fought before the Gaiety Athletic Club last night, says the Sydney Sun of Thursday last. Rudd won handsomely, but the decision was given to Costa. The cause of this extraordinary action on the part of the referee is unaccountable. Had there been only a small margin separating the men at the finish an excuse could have been offered on his behalf. But as it was nothing can be said in support of his decision. Rudd won almost from the initial bell. With the exception of a couple of rounds, in each of which he was nearly scut to sleep with a right-hand punch, lie was on top practically all the way. And yet the referee turned round after the final bell and called in favour of Costa. As one man the large audience rose and howled down the announcement that gave the man who should have lost the fight the big end of the purse.

As far as the fight itself was concerned it was a good one. Not that it was a clever exhibition, by .any means. But there was some sort of excitement in every . round. In the opening terra it looked as if ' Costa would be competent to bring bis skill to bear to such an extent as to be able to stand his man off and wear him down gradually. He had natural advantages that should, have, made it possible for him to do so. He gave his weight as list Bilb, but he must have been a stone heavier. He towered over the New Zealander, and had a much more lengthy reach, but with all these things in his favour the keeping- off of Rudd did not last long. In fact, there was no keeping Rudd off. Although he did not display any skill in his attack, he exhibited willingness and determination that enabled him to do a lot of damaging work. Like a torpedo bearing down on a, battleship ho tore in. The bulk of his adversary did not worry him in the slightest. The 'heavier the punches he received in boring in the more he seemed to appreciate the work. Costa did not appear capable of hurting him. But all the time Rudd was worrying the big fellow, and handbig cut a fair measure of punishment. The New Zealander went very close to having the count put over him in the fifth round. While lie slackened up in his work, Costa came to ligh, and measuring nicely, scored with a right cross to the jaw: several times. Then Rudd broke loose, and whirled his arms about in wild fashion. Costa seized the opportunity, and smashing his right to the jaw, had Rudd rocking. But the New Zealander, looking

very weatherbeaten, saw the round out, and san limply into his chair. The other session in which Rudd had a narrow escape of visiting dreamland was the seventeenth. Costa’s right hand was the cause of the trouble again, but this time it caught Rudd in the wind. The New Zcealand, doubled up, and was.clearly in a bad way. But he clung on - like a leech, and went to his corner looking very sick. ' During the other portions of the encounter Rudd was the prevailing factor, in the sixth round he split Costa’s left eye with his right, and afterwards did all the leading. He did not experience much difficulty in lauding over the Sydney nan’s injured eye, and after a couple of .‘ounds there was a large-sized “mouse'’ iver the optic. Rudd worried hi in every ound, and had Costa looking very worried ind tired. In this way he piled up the points until the credit given to Costa for the two efforts which went so close to lending the New Zealander down for the lount had .given place to a substantial advantage in th.e other direction. There was lo doubt in the minds of the audience vhen the men wore called apart to allow if the announcing of the decision. Rudd ad won, but to everybody's astonishment the declaration was in Costa’s favour.