THE OLD AND THE NEW.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1123, 19 October 1911, Page 11

THE OLD AND THE NEW.

BOXERS’ CHANGED CONDITIONS.

A veteran of the ring in chatting over boxing reminiscences and bewailing the conditions that prevail in the game to-day compared with those of twenty or thirty years ago, dramatically described the disadvantages under which pugilists fought in the good old days: — “We used to have the police after us when I was a boy, but we pulled off some fine fights without the “blues” getting on the scent, and the boys were fighters then. They could fight and knew a little wrestling with it, and we didn’t stand for any of this clinching and hugging, pushing and embracing business that is now palmed off on a misguided public as the real thing.

“We fought ‘down the river’ of a cold, bleak and frosty morning, maybe, or we brought, off the little mill in a secluded barn by candle or lantern-light late at night, and the fighters didn’t have any use for bandages or those eight ounce pillow slips they call gloves. There wasn’t any band to play “See the Conquering Hero Comes” and “Sing me to sleep,” and we didn’t have any nicely-arranged cushioned seats at the ringside, with livered hirelings to bring drinks and see you get your own chair and no one else’s“We used to breed real fighters in those days, and the pug, had to be a good 'un before he got backing for even a “fiver.” Now it is purses and how much for the loser? if you please; or if it isn’t that it is this here win lose or draw business, just as if the mugs expected a man to try his hardest when he got the same money whether he won or lost. They have nicely padded floors to the rings, too, with some lovely soft spots to fall on! “Some of these boxers puzzle me. With everything nice and easy, half •of them are afraid to stand up to a good man, and if they get a decent punch or two they retire, and its ‘I don’t think I’ll fight any more tonight; I’ll draw my money as my wife is waiting for it at home, and I hurt my hand anyway?’ Ever hear -of so' many ‘broken’ hands as you do

now, and again in a week’s time the ‘broken’ hand will be all right again and these ‘champions,’ ‘bless ’em, will be looking for soft marks.

A cable from London states that Jack Johnson has refused to box Bombardier “Wells” in Paris. This means that the match will be definitely dropped, and the following verse, taken from an old negro ditty or jubilee song just about sums up the position in regard to Johnson and Wells:— Jack Johnson found a snow-white lamb, Snow-white lamb, Snow-white lamb; Jack Johnson found a snow-white lamb, Astray in London town, Hoo-da! Hoo-da! Astray in London town, sp * *

At the present day it appears to be a case of “When black meets black then comes the tug-o’-war,” for in the absence of good white boxers the negro fighters must find opponents by quarrelling among themselves. It transpires that “‘Boston Tar Baby” Sam Langford made bold to call one of his coloured brethren, Joe Jeannette by name, a quitter and dared him to meet him in a long battle. Jeannette’s wrath was naturally stirred, and Sam and Joe are to settle their dispute in the hempen square in California shortly.

Jimmy Clabby and Arthur Cripps will meet at the Sydney Stadium on November 18.

Bill Lang is not satisfied with his last match against Lester, in which the decision went against him, and a further contest has been agreed upon, to take place shortly.

On Saturday night next, at the Sydney Stadium, Hock Keys and Hughie Mehegan will meet in a match for £lOO a-side and the lightweight championship of Australia. The championship carries with it a handsome gold belt, given by Mr Hugh Mclntosh for the “cock o’ the walk” in the lightweight division.

An attraction in Melbourne during Cup week will .'be a ten rounds bout between the veteran boxers, Dan Creedon and Starlight.

On Saturday, October 28, Ad. Wolgast, world’s lightweight champion, will box a ten-rounds match with Matt Wells, the English lightweight, in New York- Wells has been very persistent in his desire to meet the champion, and is confident that he will keep Wolgast hard at it.

Bill Rudd, who is well-known in New Zealand boxing circles, gave Sydneyites a big surprse the other afternoon, when he knocked but Rangi Burns in one round. Rudd sent the Sydney man to the boards twice, the second time to be counted out.

Jim Barry, the American heavyweight, who has fought Sam Langford on six occasions, has been booked for Australia by Mr Mclntosh, and will arrive towards the end of the year. Barry has met most of the leading heavyweights, including Al. Kaufman, who knocked him out in the 39th round; Jim Flynn, with

whom he fought two draws; and Sam M'Vea, to whom he lost on a foul, in the 15th round, at Paris, on June 26, 1909.

Tommy Burns is on his way to Sydney in the R.M.S. Makura, and some interesting developments are expected when the ex-champion arrives on Australian soil. It is said that Burns is visiting Sydney, not with the intention of instructing his protege Jack Lester during the big fistic carnival which is promised, when all the leading heavy-weights assemble in the Commonwealth, but with the object of continuing the equity action that he has instituted in connection with the division of the moneys won by Lester in boxing contests. Burns, who is not only a skilful boxer, but a shrewd financier, may be prevailed upon, however, to come to a fairer arrangement with Lester, whose future in the pugilistic world would seem to hold forth great possibilities from a monetary point of view.

Reports from Sydney state that Sam McVea and Bill Lang are both getting themselves into top-notch conditions for their battle on Saturday week, which is at present interesting Sydney fight followers. Lang’s recent form has been decidedly puzzling, and his match with McVea is expected to provide a real test of his pugilistic abilities- The last occasion on which Lang met a negro, in the person of Sam Langford, he suffered defeat through fouling his opponent, but he is given credit for putting up a plucky fight until disqualified. His victory over Lester, and subsequent defeat by the .young American, are already well known to fight enthusiasts, and much speculation is indulged in as to how he

will fare against McVea. The consensus of opinion is that McVea will prove too tough an opponent for the Melbourne heavy-weight, as in the former’s battle with Lester, it is contended the negro was not extended. Whether Lang is capable of withstanding more punishment than Lestei is a moot question, but probably the latter boxer would command the most admirers in this respect. In. his forthcoming battle with Lang .it is thought that McVea will let himself go, and so show the Sydney fightfans just what he is capable ofShould he pursue this course, and show marked superiority to Lang,, he is certain to have a large followingin his match against Jack Johnson on Boxing Day, should such contest eventuate.

Boxing has received a big fillip in the Dominion during thei past month or so, due mainly to the presence in our midst of the crack Aus tralian light-weights, Billy Hannan and Arthur Kelly. Several exciting contests have taken place for the light-weight championship, and there is promise of further interesting battles before the question is sa.isfactorily settled. The ball was set rolling by Hannan’s defeat of his fellow Australian Kelly, the winner being matched against Tim Tracy, .who was knocked out by the West Maitland lad, the result of such contest creating a mild surprise in boxin* circles. Tracy again su c c Y^ e< LJ? JJ knock-out in his next battle which was against Alf. Gault, of , at Wanganui. Last week at Blenheim

Gault met Kelly, and lost on a foul to the Australian in the tenth round, Kelly slipping to his knees, and Gault striking him, and so losing the decision. Gault, however, outfought his opponent during the ten rounds, and but for an unfortunate! incident, would, barring accidents, undoubtedly have been declared the winner at the end of the fifteen rounds. After these try-outs, for such they may well be called, there are two men who must be regarded as the cleverest light-weights at present in New Zealand —Billy Hannan and Alf. Gault — and a match between this pair would certainly prove the strongest draw. A :Tracy-Hannan contest, which the Northern Boxing Association lately announced for their carnival on November 9th, would fall a long way below a GaulLHannan match in point of interest, and, needless to add, would meet with far greater appreciation from Auckland boxing patrons.

Carl Morris, millionaire lUfer’s giant heavy-weight, who lately received a terrible ‘bartering at the hands of “Fireman” Jim Flynn, made a fairly speedy recovery, and was able to enter the ring against another 'opponent—Tony Ross —on the Bth inst. The battle proved a gory one, both men fighting fiercely, and handing out severe punishment, victory finally going to Ross. Morris’ gameness and capacity for taking punishment were again in evidence, but he plainly demonstrated that his championship aspirations are beyond realisation, and will now have to be content to take his place among the “White Hopes,” who have failed to “make good.” Tony Ross, the winner, it may be remembered, was Jack Johnson’s first opponent after winning the world’s championship from Tommy Burns. The contest took place at Pittsburg (U.S.), and was a ten rounds’ no decision bout, during which Johnson simply toyed with Ross, his superior skill making # big impression upon ring-siders, who at the time were inclined to doubt the negro’s boxing abilities. As an opponent for Johnson, it will thus be seen that Ross falls far short of the mark, while Carl Morris, whom so many counted upon as the one man destined to win the title, has but a very remote chance, indeed, of becoming world’s champion.

Sam McVea has already made many friends in Sydney. He is a huge man, with the true negro face, but he possesses more than the average intelligence of the boxer, and has pleasant manners. He does not pose like Johnson, and is very fond of children, but his smile is not the golden one of false-toothed Johnson. To those who know the game thoroughly it appeared as if he could have beaten Lester earlier during their recent meeting. Indeed, it looked as if he were there to try out the younger man for the distance. A few such encounters would improve Lester’s knowledge, and make him fitter for the meeting with Johnson.

Jack Read, the ex-amateur, lost his match with Cullen in Sydney last week in a curious way after leading on points throughout the greater part of the contest. He had dropped to one knee after accepting a right on the jaw, and was advised by his seconds to keep down and take the full count, but he rose, and then dropped on to his knee again, as their yells continued, without getting a blow. Baker, of course, had to disqualify him. Cullen was showing well at that stage.

Al Kaufman the big Californian heavyweight, after keeping in the dark for weeks since his defeat by Jim Flynn, is once more in the news columns, he having accepted an offer from Hugh Mclntosh of £lOOO and his expenses to fight either Lang or Jack Lester in a 20 rounder in Australia. It looks like a good deal for Kaufman (says an American writer) and as he can defeat either Lester or Lang he has nothing disagreeable to look forward to.

Quite a number of middleweight boxers in America are hot on the trail of Billy Papke for the world’s crown, chief among them being Frank. Klaus, the bear cat from Pittsburg; Wild Bob Moha, 'he original cave man of Milwaukee; Jack Dillon, an Indian cyclone; Jimmy Clabby, a laughing wizard who is eager to joust with all 158 pounders, and Johnny Thompson, the Illinois farmer, who vigorously disputes Papke’s claim to championship honours and sets forward in support on his contention the twenty round decision that he received over Papke m Australia. In addition to the fcre-

going there are a number of husky middles who insist on being considered in the running. Eddie McGoorty of Oshkosh, Hugo Kelly, Chicago; Jimmy Gardner, and Jack (Twin) Sullivan have championship aspirations and their followings are large ones.