PAPKE NOT WANTED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1125, 2 November 1911, Page 11

PAPKE NOT WANTED.

’FRISCO’S DRASTIC ACTION. It .is horribly disconcerting when one is expecting to pat one on the back- to run into a volley of abuse and a metaphorical slam on the jaw. And surely nothing could be more annoying to a boxei’ returning from

abroad and anticipating his elevation to a heroic pedestal, than to find himself branded as a faker instead, and informed that his room is much preferable to his company in a section of the c country where the largest purses are given for glove contests. But that is just what happened to Billy Papke, middleweight champion of the world, who would-be dictator as to scaling time for all boxers belonging to the class of which the late Stanley Ketchel was the acknowledged leader.. Papke naturally supposed that his services would be frantically sought for by jealous rival promoters throughout America, and he lay back contentedly in an easy chair waiting for offers and indulging in mental calculations as to the size of the guarantees he would demand from the native sons. Then without any warning the pipe went out and Papke’s nervous system received a shock that he has not yet rallied from. The shock was administered in a dispatch from ’Frisco which stated that the board of supervisors had held up Coffroth’s permit for August until assured that Papke would not be one of the contestants. The supervisors weren’t a bit bashful about announcing their reason for such drastic action. On the contrary they declared with brutal frankness that Papke belonged in the list of the undesirables on account of the very unsatisfactory nature of his bout with Joe Thomas, at Frisco, May 19, 191 O .: The complaint is that Papke allowed Thomas to stay until the sixteenth round of the battle, when he could and’ should have knocked him out much sooner. Papke’s failure to whip Thomas in quicker time was the cause of a good deal of unfavourable comment all over the countrv. On form he should have disposed of Joe in very short time.

Thomas had long; since seen his best days, having been, defeated by several men of inferior calibre. The match was looked upon as an easy thing for Papke, in San Francisco the sports held this view, and the majority expected that Papke would stop his man in five or . six rounds at the outside. Therefore, when the principal poolroom, where a book on fights is made, offered even money that Thomas would stick 15 rounds, there were iff any takers. Some of the wise ones suspected • a raw deal, and, held aloof from the lure, but a goodly percentage of the bettors fell for the “come on” against the probability of Thomas being on his feet at the close of the 15th session. When all the newspapers of a big city join issue in declaring a fight to be rotten, you can depend. upon it that they come pretty close to telling the cold truth. Such was the attitude assumed by the San Francisco press in regard to the Papke-Thomas affair. It was conceded that Papke could have won without any trouble during the opening rounds, and that it was only with infinite pains he succeeded in nursing Thomas along up to the beginning of the sixteenth. It was Papke’s last appearance in Frisco. He declared his innocence, of course, but the damning fact of Thomas’ knock-out coming immediately after the limit set by the pool-room had passed m’ade it look rather black for him. If it was merely a coincidence, it was a truly remarkable and ’unfortunate one for Papke, to say the least.

A few, months after his fight with Thomas, Papke went abroad on the trip around the world from which he recently returned. He gave the Frisco sports plenty of time to forget and forgive, but it appears that they possess extremely tenacious and unforgivable m'emories. One hears a good deal about the “native son” feeling and prejudice there undoubtedly runs in favour of the home man. But after all, does not a similar state of things exist wherever boxing flourishes? It’s only human nature. The very fact that San Francisco roasted Papke for not disposing of Thomas sooner, showed clearly that the native son was completely outclassed on that occasion. If there had been a chance for Thomas to win the Frisco papers would not have overlooked it. Papke’s excuse that the San Francisco supervisors and promoters are sore on him, becanse he did not give them first call on his services and accepted a date before a New York club, is a mighty flimsy one. The trouble with the Spring Valley man is that he overestimates his importance in the scale of things pugilistic. It may not be generally known that Tom Burrow®, world’s champion clubswinger, who is at present in Auckland, is a boxer of much ability, but it is mostly as a boxing instructor that he has been connected with the profession. During his lengthy career as an athlete Burrows has trained many boxers of note, among them being Frank Slavin, who he specially prepared for his great battle with Peter Jackson at the National Sporting Club, London, in 1892, this proving one of the fiercest fights ever held. Burrows also trained Dan Creedon, erst-champion middleweight of Australia and England, and Tom Williams, ex-lightweight champion of Australia. Another great fighter in Jim Hall was also at one time under the charge of the famous club-swinger. During a visit to the States llurrows trained Hall in New Jersey for his big fight with Fitzsimmons at New Orleans for the middleweight championship of the world and a purse of 40,000 dollars in 1894. Burrows was at the time touring America with Tom Williams, who fought “Mysterious” Bill Smith at Coney Island, the latter scoring a knock-out in the second round after a fierce encounter.

It was while at Aidershot in the capacity of instructor that Tom Burrows found most time to devote to boxing, and a tribute to his capable tuition is the fact that he turned out quite a number of army men who distinguished themselves within the roped square. One of his pupils was “Tiger” Smith, who won the middleweight and lightweight championships of the British Army, and later was matched against the famous negro pugilist, Sam Langford, to whom he suffered defeat in four rounds. Other soldiers at Aidershot who profited by Burrows’ teaching and came into prominence in army circles as the result of their fistic abilities were Capt. Ley, who won the heavyweight championship of the Army, Capt. Myers, who carried off honours in the middle-.

weight division) Lieut; Tudor, who was Successful among the lightweights, sind Capt. Johnson, who won the championship of the British Army in the officers’ class during 1895 and 1896; 1

Burrows has had considerable perience in South Africa, both as a soldier and an athlete. During the. South African war, when the troops, were stationed at Kronstadt, Capt. Thompson asked Sergt. Burrows to arrange a boxing entertainment for the soldiers. A Dutch reformed church was at once commandeered, ft nd soon converted (into a boxing arena, a roped platform being speedily erected. A wrestling match beSergt. Burrows and Sergt. Morley was one of the attractions on. the programme, while the boxing competition organised among the soldiers, was won by an exponent of ,the name of Day. Elated by his success Day entered into a match with Burrows, whom he considered he would stop in eight rounds, but the latter stayed the distance easily. The popularity of the tournament gave promise of a boxing boom in the Dutch settlement of Crohstadt, but operations fell through in a not altogether unexpected manner. A big boxing entertainment was arranged for the Saturday night, but an official despatch came through to the effect that De Wette, the Boer leader, was at the Lace, diamond mines, and immediately all thoughts of the boxing show were thrown to the winds, each man being solely occupied with his duty to his country. ♦ $ * *

With the exception of the theatrical profession, few people engirdle the world to, such an extent as does a famous athlete, and Tom Burrows is a notable example of the latter class. He has swung clubs in almost every country inhabited. by the English speaking race, and has at some time or other come into contact with nearly every athlete of note during the past twenty years, having been acquainted with such men as Peter Jackson, Jim Jeffries, Corbett, Fitzsimmons, Hackenschmidt, Sandow, Tom Sharkey, Jack Johnson, and others too numerous to mention. When in America he . took a keen interest in boxing, witnessing many sterling Contests, including the exciting battle between Tom Sharkey and “Kid” McCoy at the New York Athletic Club; In this memorable fight McCoy appeared to have Sharkey at ms mercy, but the powerful sailor-boxer, despite the severe punishment he received, revived himself for one great effort, and sent in a crashing blow, McCoy falling to the floor like a sunken ship, to be counted out. While in the States Burrows was much impressed with Tommy Ryan, the American middleweight, whom he regards as one of the greatest fighters that ever donned a glove. Burrows took part in a number of wrestling bouts in; America, one of his principal mjatches being against Andrew Carroll, whom he defeated in New York for 500 dollars aside.

During his South African tour Tom Burrows met and defeated Victor Sampson, for the welterweight wrestling championship of South Africa, while he also gained a victory over Scoll, the champion Dutch welterweight wrestler. To Burrows belongs the distinction of having staged the first open air fight in South Africa, this taking place at the Ramblers’ Ground, Blomfontein, between Tom Dinghy,, middleweight champion of South Africa, and Turner, for a £lOO purse. Not only did Burrows promote the match, which was won by Dinghy, but he fulfilled the duties of referee. He also promoted the important fight for the 9st. championship of South Africa between Watty Austin and Dan Hyam, which was won by the former. It was while in South Africa in 1905 that Burrows first saw that crack boxer, Arthur Douglas, in action, Seaman Bourne being his opponent in a match at Capetown. Burrows’ efficiency as a boxing referee has been acknowledged by all who have seen the famous club-swinger control a contest, and it is only necessary to mention that when in Brisbane (Queensland) he refereed the welterweight match between Arthur Cripps and Williams, which was won by the latter.

The twenty rounds match between Sam McVea, the clever negro fighter, and Bill Lang, the Melbourne boxer, wh'fch took place at the Sydney Stadium on Saturday night afforded ringaiders another illustration of the sluperlority of the blech over the white, Lang being unable to last two rounds -against the “Parisian Idol.” Though Lang’s defeat was fully anticipated, few thought McVea would dispose of

Him in’such short time, ■particularly as hb’ > had made a very creditable; showing against Sam ’ Langford a vin London.'- Jack Lester succeeded fin weathering the full twenty rounds with McVea some weeks ago though« badly outboxed all through, and as, many claim that Lang Is Lester’s superior, despite the fact , that on the occasion of their last meeting the American gained the decision, the majority of fight followers looked to Lang for a better showing than he made bn Saturday last. : That M<y, Vea fought harder. against Lang than he did against Lester-further particulars of the contest;will no doubt verify, as it ;was apparent to those assembled at the’. ringside when McVea and Lester clashed . that the negro went about his attack gingerly and appeared quite ' satisfied -to -win ’ on points. Against Lang, however, he seems to have gone for a knock-out straightaway, and Bill Lang was forced to take the count ,in the second round. McVea, had the Australian down twice in the second round, Lang being able- <to rise only on the first occasion. Lang is credited with fighting in plucky fashion, but in speed and ringcraft he was thoroughly outmastered. So convincing was the Melbourne man’s defeat that his chances against Langford and Jeannette would appear-to , be-unworthy of consideration. As for McVea, well, his easy victory will mean a great deal to him, and will lend further interest to his meeting with his negro brethren, Langford and Jeannette, the trio apparently being exceedingly well matched.

It has transpired since the WolgastMoran battle for the lightweight supremacy of the world that Ad Wolgast went into that contest with a broken nose. While training for the bout One Round Hogan landed a wild swing

on the lightweight champion’s nasal organ and a physician discovered that a small bone had been fractured. Wolgast induced Hogan to keep the secret until after the fight, for he did not want Moran to know of his weakness.

It is reported that Sid Fitzsimmons, the young Timaru amateur, and nephew of the famous ex-champion Bob Fitzsimmons, has been approached with an offer to go to Sydney and be trained and tutored with the object of subsequently sending him against one of the heavyweights in Australia (writes “Caestus” in the “Canterbury Times”). Fitzsimmons is nineteen years of age, and looks like developing into a thirteen or fourteen-stoner; but, for all that, I think Fitzsimmons’ best friends are those who will advise him to’ ■■ turn down for the present any offer made in the direction mentioned. There is a deal of promise in the lad, but he’s only a growing lad after all, and, so far as boxing is concerned, his recent bout with McQuarrie at Invercargill proved beyond any doubt whatever that he has to go a long way yet before he can be classed with men of the stamp of Thompson, Jim Griffin, Harvey Taylor, Peter Kling, Pooley, and his latest opponent, McQuarrie. Another season with the amateurs will be for his benefit, as he is by no means -set,” and i« his present growing state he wants neither frequent competition nor regular training. He is only a youngster in mind and body, and to send him against fully developed men would be very unwise, to say nothing harsher. I believe Fitzsimmons has a future if he is handled with care and judgment; the one thing not to do is to rush him along in his half-fledged condition.