Climbing the Pugilistic Ladder.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1096, 13 April 1911, Page 10

Climbing the Pugilistic Ladder.

A RISING CHAMPION. JACK LESTER VISITS AUCKLAND. “I will make a heavyweight champion of you in two years’ time !” Thus spoke Tommy Burns, ex-heavy-weight champion of the world, to Jack Lester, the young Michigan boxer, as he gazed admiringly upon the wonderfully developed Canadian, before whom the best, heavyweights in America have gone down in quick succession. For Jack Lester, though not quite 20 years of age, has already a ring record which but seldom comes to other aspirants for world’s championship honours during the’r whole career,, and in the opinion of the best boxing authorities of the present day this youthful fighting machine is the one man destined to fill the role of conqueror of the famous coloured pugilist Jack Johnson. To name a boxer whose chances against Johnson will be seriously considered by the sporting world, has not been an easy matter since the negro so thoroughly outclassed Jeffries at - Reno on July 4 last, but in taking Lester in hand as a worthy opponent for the coloured champion it may safely be said that Burns is not only fired with a desire to see a white man in possessino of the title, but has fully recognised that his protege is a real fighter of the kind that, with care and the most, modern instruction, can be moulded into world’s champions. Jack Lester, who arrived in Auckland last week by the Talune from the Islands, stayed in the northern city for several days prior to leaving, on Monday, for Sydney to fulfil his engagement against Bill Lang, the Australian heavyweight champion at the Stadium, Rushcutter’s Bay. Lester

will also be pitted against two other well-known heavyweights whilst in Australia, both matches to be promoted by Mr. Hugh D. Mclntosh. The contest between Lester and Lang was