BOXING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 8 August 1912, Page 13

BOXING.

answers to correspondents.

DH. Rutlie’s Island. —The fight between Jem Corbett and Charlie Mitchell took place at Jacksonville on January 25, 1594, and resulted in a decisive victory for Corbett in the third round. The third round was fearful. Mitchell came out bravely and tried to clinch, but Corbett, stepping back, let fly a crashing righthander that smashed Mitchell’s nose. Mitchell still endeavoured to come on, and Corbett drove another stunner on to the same spot. Mitchell fell Almost bereft of senses he had but one idea left—to get up and fight. Slowly and with great effort he hauled himself up by the ropes and then tottered forward. Once more Corbett was on him with a bound, and once more the fearful right smashed him. Mitchell leaped convulsively into the air, then pitched head first on to the boards. He quivered and lay senseless. His seconds carried his bodv to the corner. He was fearfully shaken. Corbett left the ring laughing.

LANGFORD OUTPOINTS McVEA.

THEIR FOURTH BATTLE. The famous coloured pugilists Sam Langford and Sam McVea met at the "Rushcutter’s Bay Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday in a twenty rounds battle, when, after the contest had gone the full limit, Langford was adjudged the victor on points. The fight opened the boxing season in Sydney, and the winner is to be matched against Jack Johnson. This meeting of the two Sams caused interest to run very high in Australian boxing circles, as it was regarded as the final test as to who is really the better boxer of the pair. When they first met in Paris in April of last yeai' they fought a draw, the fight lasting twenty vigorous rounds. Both men, however, were equally dissatisfied with the verdict given by the referee, Eugene Corri, while opinion was divided among the ringsiders. The films of this battle were shown throughout New Zealand about July of last year, and as far as could be noted the rounds appeared to favour Langford. The coloured pair were not brought together again until Boxing Day last, when they met in Sydney. On that occasion McVea,, ’who .already had won three fights in Australia, was in better condition than the Bostonian, who, owing to a delay in catching the Vancouver boat, did not have sufficient time on his arrival in the Commonwealth to properly prepare himself for a world’s championship battle. The stipulations of the contest were to the effect that a clean break be insisted upon by the referee, and that infighting be barred, these conditions favouring McVea. The fight again went the full twenty rounds, McVea, despite an injured right-hand, gaining the decision on points. The result of the contest bore out the general contention among fight critics that McVea is more of a boxer than the Bostonian, his main weapon being the “cat’s paw” left. The little Boston negro is a fighter pure and simple, and, like the majority of Americans, can assimilate punishment to an extraordinary degree. Some trouble was experienced in arranging a third match between the coloured heavies, McVea being not at all anxious to meet the man he vanquished. The contest, however, took place on Easter Monday, and, as is generally known, enabled Langford to reverse the verdict so decisively gained by McVea on the occasion of their former meeting; in fact, the “Boston Tar Baby” displayed such marked superiority over McVea in Easter Monday’s battle that it was hard to account for the latter’s easy points decision in their first match in Sydney. The Easter battle was all that an expectant public could desire, both men being in. the pink of condition, and thev fought hard through twenty exciting rounds. The decision in favour of Langford, though a great surprise, was universally accepted by the 12,000 ringsiders, and McVea in extenuation of his defeat pleaded staleness. The fourth and last fight between Langford and McVea in Sydney on Saturday settles beyond all doubt that Langford is the better all-round pugilist of the two. despite his four inches disadvantage in weight. Both men were trained to the minute, and McVea cannot, therefore, make any excuses on the score of physical condition. For the fourth time the pair travelled the full twenty rounds route, which makes it apparent that

neither is capable of knocking the other out, and further advances the argument that a negro’s head is infinitely harder than a white man’s, hence the success of coloured heavyweights in the roped arena. Langford, who, prior to his arrival in Australia, was boomed everywhere as the best heavyweight next to Jack Johnson, failed to bear out the great opinion held of his boxing powers until his last two battles with McVea, which may now be accepted as proof that he is McVea’s master at the fighting game. Sam Langford, who possesses an abnormal reach, cannot be viewed in the light of a likely conqueror of Johnson, as compared with the gladiatorial Galveston negro, the Bostonian lacks a great deal in stature, the disparity in weight and height being very marked. Langford’s two consecutive victories over McVea, however, will bring him into prominence as the man likely to step into Johnson’s shoes when the champion quits the ring forever.

Jack Johnson has announced that he is ready to sign on for a match with Joe Jeannette on Labour Day, at Madison .Square Gardens, if he can get his price, which is £6OOO. He has refused £4OOO. According to the statement made by Billy Gibson, manager of the Madison Square Gardens Athletic Club, Johnson says that he would easily be able to get £4OOO for fighting almost any sec-ond-rate man. Johnson added that the promoters would have to act quickly, as he would want to begin his training immediately. The coloured champion is now at Chicago, where he has added another to his pugilistic triumphs, by knocking out a negro chauffeur who was attempting to steal a tyre from his motor car. The champion said that he had to act in self-defence. He had the thief arrested. * :J: J? Not only is oxygen used by track athletes as a means of reviving their lung power, but the use of the stimulating gas has been tried on one or two occasions with varying success on fighters. The most notable instance, perhaps, was when Joe Jeannette and Sam McVea fought 49 rounds at Paris in 1909. On the occasion of this fierce battle both men had oxygen in the corners, and when they began to tire it was administered to them. McVea didn’t appear to benefit much from the gas, but it had a most stimulating effect on Jeannette, who rallied toward the close, finished with a tremendous sprint and knocked Samuel out. * * * * Billy Papke, world’s middleweight champion, is evidently determined to remain in the boxing game for a while yet, as, following his defeat of Marcel Morceau, the French boxer, he has agreed to fight Eddie McGoorty 10 rounds at Kenosha, Wisconsin (U.S.) on Labour Day. Eddie McGoorty is a middleweight who possesses great speed and ring cunning, but, like Papke, he is putting on weight fast, and he should experience just as much difficulty as the champion in reaching the recognised middleweight limit in America, viz., 158 pounds ringside. Some months ago when Eddie McGoorty endeavoured to secure a match with the famous Italian middleweight, Hugo Kelly, the latter told McGoorty that he would have to defeat hrs friend and sparring partner, Jimmy Howard, before he could be accounted worthy of meeting Kelly. McGoorty straightaway met Howard, and fooled all the wise ones who thought he did not carry a knock-out punch in his glove by rocking that boxer to sleep in less than two rounds. s*e * Ad. Wolgast evidently is not to be drawn into a second match with the Mexican lightweight, Joe Rivers, until the champion considers he is in real good fettle, as Rivers has signed a contract to meet Joe Mandot, of New Orleans, on Labour Day, at Los Angeles, the date on which it was proposed to stage the WolgastRivers return battle. Mandot has come ahead with big strides of late, and 'among his most notable performances is his recent victory over Owen Moran, of England, in eight rounds. Notwithstanding that Joe Rivers was knocked out early this year by Johnny Kilbane, the present featherweight champion, he has redeemed himself by sending two wellknown liahtweiebts in Frankie Conley and Jack White to slumberlar

while his meeting with Ad. Wolgast caused his stock to boom in American fight circles. A curious coincidence in connection with the forthcoming Rivers-Mandot battle is that whereas this contest was to have taken place on July 4 the WolgastRivers match was substituted, while in place of the proposed return battle between the latter pair for Labour Day it has now been decided to put on the postponed Rivers-Mandot fight. Hi :f: * The action of Carl Morris, on whom so many hopes were centred in regard to the restoration of the heavyweight championship to the white race, in going back to work at the throttle of his engine caused quite an element of sadness to obtrude itself even in the strenuous sport of the squared circle when the news flashed over the wires acquainting lovers of the glove game of the giant fighter’s decision. The shock given the rank and file of the glove wielding brigade by the receipt of these dire tidings can scarcely be overestimated, judging by the following paragraph which is taken from an American exchange to hand by the last mail. From the champions at the top of the heap to the preliminary dollar-snatchers, and mixed ale pugs, roosting at peace in diverse barrel houses there existed but one feeling, that of unqualified dismay and disgust. It was a cruel shattering of old and revered traditions, a deadly blow at the framework and foundations of fistic society. A fighter—and a “White Hope” at that —deliberately and with malice aforethought going to work! It was too, too much. Such an action on the part of a recognised member of the fraternity of visage-biffers had no precedent and could not be ‘ condoned. A burglar delivering a lecture on the sacredness of personal property would have been nothing to it. On all sides were heard expressions of horror and righteous indignation. Meanwhile Morris sits sulkily in his cab, a horrible example of a good man gone wrong. Instead of the lights of Broadway the signal lamps flicker before his eyes, and the hoarse commands of the uncouth brakeman to “back up,” “go ahead.” or “cut ’em all loose,” fall coldly on the ears once deafened by the shouts of assembled thousands at the ringside in the big town. U: « * Al. Balzer is now being boomed in the States as the one white man likely to give Johnson a tough fight since Jim Flynn failed so badly in his impossible task. Balzer has proved himself to be one of the best nil-round white boxers in America, a.'ffi would appear to be the only “White Hope” in sight at the present time with a chance against the negrc Bossessed of great strength and apparently unlimited capacity for absorbing punishment without betraying any ill effects therefrom, the lowa farmer might do worse than take a chance with the champion. He would rank as second choice, of course, but the old adage of “Nothing venture, nothing win” holds good as far as he is concerned, and if he only managed to stick the ten rounds with Johnson his pugilistic stock would boom in skyrocket fashion. New blood is most emphatieal-lv what is needed in the ranks of the white heavies. The pale-faced veterans have all been tried and found wanting, and everyone who has the interest of the boxing game at heart is longing for the appearance on the scene of some husky, ambitious youth who is not afraid to risk his skin in a forlorn hope. * * * * Tom Sharkey, the iron man of the ring in his time, commenced much as Balzer has done. During his early career the sailor battered his way into public notice by disposing of a lot of second and third raters, and leaped suddenly into the limelight of fame by knocking out Joe Choynski. A couple of months later Sharkey astonished the fistic world by giving Jim Corbett, then heavyweight champion, an awful man-handling in a four-round session before a ’Frisco club. The bout was declared a draw, but Corbett had all the worst of the going and was a very badly used up fighter at the finish. It was a big surprise party for “Pompadour” Jim. He had not participated in a genuine ring contest for nearly two years, and it is likely this fact had much to do with his poor showing against the hardy tar. However that may have been, it was in the following year that he lost his title to Fitzsimmons, and a subsequent meeting with Sharkey resulted in a victory for the man-of-war’s-man. That first four-round tussle with tough Sharkey may be said to have marked the beginning of the end for Corbett, seeing that

—with the exception of a very suspicious exhibition with Kid McCoy, in which the latter was accused’ of doing a “flop” act —Jim’s colours were never again hoisted in token of victory. * * * * The Northern Boxing Association will hold a carnival in the Town Hall on Wednesday next, August 14. As usual, the energetic secretary, Mr F. H. Burbush has completed arrangements for an exceptionally good programme, and some interesting encounters should be witnessed between the leading fistic exponents in Auckland. The 15 rounds professional contest for a purse of £5O and expenses between the well-known Wellington welterweight Denny Murphy (who fought Billy Hannan, the Australian boxer in the Wellington Town Hall last night) and George Olsen, the crack Auckland boxer, who displayed much cleverness in his recent victorious contest with Frank Holt. The contest will carry with it the welterweight championship of New Zealand. * * * ek The well-known Northern Union footballer and heavyweight boxer, “Charlie” Savoury will make his reappearance at the Northern Boxing Association’s Carnival on Wednesday night. Savoury has not boxed in public since his return from the Old. Country with the Australasian League team. He is a greatly improved boxer since the time he entered the ring at the footballers’ boxing tournament held in Auckland some two years ago, and is considered the best heavyweight in Auckland to-day. Not only is he much quicker in his movements, but is a far more skilled exponent than when he first made his bow to an Auckland boxing audience. & ❖ * * H. Gilchrist, the Ellerslie bantam, is to meet the Auckland champion, B. Payne, at the tournament in the Town Hail next week, and a very even go is anticipated between these crack exponents. Although Bayne won the championship in Auckland last month many consider that Gilchrist, when in good boxing trim, is his superior, and the contest should, therefore, be a. lively one. w T. George Menzies, the clever Auckland lightweight, has been matched against S. Whalley, who represented Auckland in the lightweight class at the recent New Zealand championships. Whalley is a vigorous young boxer with a promising future, and his meeting with an experienced boxer of Menzies’ calibre is being looked, forward to with interest. M. Dwyer, the Auckland heavyweight, was to have been Savoury’s opponent, but owing to an injury to his hand he is unable to fulfil the engagement. At the time of writing the Northern Boxing Association are negotiating with F. Baker, of Tariugamutu, King Country, with a view to matching him with Savoury. Baker is 13 stone in weight, and won the heavyweight championship of the Waikato at the tournament held in Hamilton last month. * * * The Manawatu Boxing Association are endeavouring to arrange a contest between G'eoffrey Watchorn, of Palmerston, and S. Mitchell, the Auckland middleweight champion. Watchorn was to have represented New Zealand at the Australasian championships, but finds it impossible to make the trip across the Tasman. * * * 3F The New Zealand Boxing Council who have decided to send a trio of representatives across to Australia to compete at the Australasian championships, offered the trip to S. Mitchell, of Hamilton, on the condition that the Northern Boxing Association defrayed the whole of his expenses. This unreasonable offer was rightly refused by the Auckland body, since in the case of the three southerners all expenses are to be paid by the Council. Mitchell, who resides in Hamilton, is a member of the Waikato Boxing Association and as at the recent conference in Wellington it was decided that the Hamilton body should no longer be under the jurisdiction of the Northern Boxing Association, the latter association have referred the matter of Mitchell’s Australian trip back to the New Zealand Boxing Council recommending them to communicate with the Waikato Association on the subject.