BOXING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1083, 8 December 1910, Page 12

BOXING.

A SEQUEL TO THE GREAT FIGHT.

As those who have witnessed the Jeffries-Johnson films, now being presented to New Zealand audiences by Messrs. McMahon Bros., are aware, the big fight came, very close to being a fake, this having been explained by Mr Al. Forrest, who was present at Reno, and who gives some vivid impressions of the contest. The drugged and poisoned excuse for Jeffries’ defeat having been effectually disposed of, the latest is that Johnson double-crossed the former champion after agreeing to allow him to win. This is the explanation of an old time pugilistic impressario of prominence who was, several years ago, closely indentified with Jeffries and other champions, but whose name is withheld for the reason that he is not now interested in fistic affairs. According to this man it was the black fellow’s strategy which enabled him to draw Jeffries into the ring and beat him. According to this well-informed person, Jeffries refused to fight Johnson five years ago. Delaney couldn’t induce Jim to meet the negro under - any circumstances because the latter was too dangerous. He (our informant) knew what he was talking about when he said that Jeffries refused to sign articles for the fight last July until he had received assurance from the negro that the latter would lie down and lose. Johnson, knowing that he could not make Jeffiries meet him under any other conditions, finally agreed to throw the fight, in return for which he was to receive seventy-five per cent, of the purse. This agreement was made at the secret conference in Hoboken last December, but Johnson never had any idea of living up to it. He just wanted to get Jeffries up to within forty-eight hours of fighting time, when it would be too late to crawl out of the mill.

“I read ’ a story some short time ago” (writes our informant) “to the effect that Gov. Gillett, of California, drove the fight out of that State because he knew that Johnson intended to .lie down; also that the fight was decided on the level at Reno because Gov, Dickenson threatened to stop it if there was anything wrong. All true, but as a matter of fact Johnson secretly never had an idea of purposely losing, and I know it to be true that the negro conveyed the information to Jeffries through Rickard on July 2, the Saturday before the fight, that the battle would be strictly on the square. “This may be denied, but there is proof, That was the reason for the sudden back-sliding of Jeffries in point of condition. He had been banking on a lay down by Johnson and did not expect the double cross; had trained enough to look fit and those on the inside were ready to bet unlimited money on the sure thing. But when Johnson called everything off there was a panic in Jeff’s camp and some of the latter’s closest followers sent telegrams from Reno to friends in. various cities . advising them not to bet or to hedge. Johnson’s unexpected shift was the reason why there was a new split in the purse.

“Rickard was kept on the jump to prevent the match from falling through right up to the last moment after Jeffries knew there would be nothing doing. Talk about the alleged drugging of Jeffries is absurd. He knew forty-eight hours before getting into the ring that he was up against it and so did Berger and Corbett. Delaney didn’t agree to handle Johnson until he was sure that the negro would fight on the level. Then Delaney was sure of Jeff’s defeat and advised many persons to bet on the black man. Jeffries was double crossed and that was all there was to it. Johnson knew that he couldn’t come back and adopted this trickery to secure the match. If the men ever fight again and are on the level Johnson can win in a halfdozen rounds. The trouble with Jeffries all along was that he thought he knew it all. He wouldn’t listen to the advice of level headed friends and made a terrible mistake when he turned away from Delaney. If he had placed his affairs in Delaney’s hands I doubt very much if Bill would have allowed him to fight. But Jeff had so many persons around him who were money mad that he was allowed to walk squarely into sure defeat. In short, Jeffries was misguided and was led into a trap, of which he. knew nothing until it was too late!”

R. Shima, the well-known Japanese wrestler and jiujitsu exponent, has accepted a challenge from Joe Gardiner, the English lightweight wrestler, for a match in Sydney, the stipulation being that the £lOO side wager must be put up before the match. Shima has also signified his willingness to meet Alec. Bain, the Scottish wrestler, in a jiujitsu match.

The contest between Billy Papke, the “Illinois Thunderbolt.” and Dave Smith, which 'is to take place in Sydney on Boxing night, is attracting considerable attention in Australian sporting circles.

It is stated that Pat O’Keefe, the popular Irish heavyweight, who acted as sparring partner to Tommy Burns, during the latter’s visit to Australia and New Zealand, has been appointed boxing instructor to the Irish Guards in London.

Referring to the late Stanley Ketchel in the columns of the “Referee ” W. Naughton says: Ketchel’s wonderful natural fighting talents were quickly recognised. He was compared to Fitzsimmons, on account of his employment of the shift punchbut it is doubtful if Fitzsimmons, iA his palmiest days, ever kept an’opponent guessing the way Ketchel did with his swaying, twisting motion his undulating shoulders, and his feet almost aligned, there was no telling which side the fearful shift was coming from, and when it landed it was certainly a deadening smash. If Ketchel had only conserved his nerve force and stamina, there is reason to believe that he would have become not only the hope of the white race, but its reliance in the maintenance of pugilistic supremacy. A gamer lad never peeped over a glove. Many of the men who have reached great heights in the pugilisic profession have shown unmistakable signs of trepidation in their early fights; but to see this fellow Fnvs « V. ing 7 as tO know that he hghtmg for the excitement it afforded him.

cont est between J. Mitchell (holder), of Millerton, and W. Rudd (challenger), of Wellington, for the heavyweight boxing championship of New Zealand was decided at Westport on Saturday night and resulted in a victory for the Wellingtonian in the third round. Rudd had the best of the first round, while in the second he scored with a number of punishing hooks, and succeeded in sending his man to the boards for eight seconds and then again for nine the - V ? ng MitchelL The opening of the third round signalled the end of the contest, as Rudd went in at his man and sending him down for six seconds, a moment later he repeated the dose, the Millerton man this time being put to slumber.