The Ring.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 447, 16 February 1899, Page 7

The Ring.

THE BLACK AND THE WHITE IN PUGILISM.

A recent prize fight in America caused a tre-. mendous amount of discussion in sporting circles and the newspapers, as to whether the affair was a fake or not. The fact that a burly negro was beaten by a white man, said to be the ink-hued one’s inferior m size, seemed inexplicable to many upon any other theory than that the colored bruiser had, in ring parlance, “ laid down.” Such a conclusion is, however, likely to be erroneous. The prize-ring has demonstratod numbers of times that muscle is not the all -important consideration in a physical contest. There are qualities other than strength necessary. Courage is a big factor. Intelligence is also of paramount importance. When a battle between two boxers, one of whom is white and the other black, narrows down to a desperate struggle with the chances even for both, the white man generally comes out on top. This fact has so often been exemplified that it has become matter of faith with the sporting world, which will always bet its coin on the white fighter in preference to tho

black, other things being equal. This is done not so much because of race prejudice, for betting men, as a rule, sink all other considerations in that of winning money.

It is a curious fact, and yet one which is easily explained, that a colored prize fighter who will wage a desperate battle with a man of his own race will make a very-different showing against a white athlete. While the African may be personally without fear, and as pugnacious as a bulldog, he is likely to lose heart before his white adversary. Opponents of the game fistic may declare as much as they please that boxing is a brutal sport, and its votaries debased ruffians, but the fact remains that men of brutal tendencies are invariably beaten early in their career as professional boxers. Brute strength and courage alone will not carry anybody through to the championship goal. In addition to the quality of gameness there must be the power to endure punishment, an even temper, and the determination to do or die. Unless an athlete possesses a considerable amount of intelligence he is, therefore, sure to lack the necessary qualities, and the first time he meets a man of equal stamina and superior mental qualities his defeat is assured.