BOXING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1166, 15 August 1912, Page 13

BOXING.

tommy burns re-enters RING.

WINS CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP. RICKARD BADLY OUTCLASSED. Tommy Burns, ex-heavyweight champion of the world, has at last demonstrated that he was in earnest when he declared his intention of reentering the pugilistic arena by facin°- Bill Rickard within the ropes on Thursday last at Saskatoon, Saskatchawan.in a battle for the heavyweight championship of Canada. According to a Vancouver cable Burns played with his opponent until the sixth round, when he cut loose and went out to finish the fight. He dropped his opponent once for the count of nine, and on his rising shot him down again for eight. It- was then apparent that Rickard had rib chance, and Sheriff Calder stopped the fight, the decision being awarded to Burns. Rickard did not show even second-rate form. Burns’ defeat of Rickard, however, cannot be taken seriously as an example of a great boxer coming back to form even though the “Canadian Wonder” has been in retirement for nearly five years, as Rickard is purely a raw heavyweight, who had little chance against so experienced and quick a boxer as Burns. That Burns trained carefully for the bout is evident by the fact that he entered the ring weighing 13st 31bs, which is but lOlbs above his fighting weight. Rickard weighed 14st 91bs, but as Burns has always given away weight in his contests it was no new experience for the ex-champion to be handicapped in this respect. Now that Burns has made good in his first contest since he lost the world’s championship to Johnson in Sydney on Boxing Day, 1908, it is almost. certain that the Canadian will be clamouring for a return match with the giant negro at no distant date. Allowing for the fact that Johnson is not the formidable opponent he was when he licked both Burns and Jeffries, it would be an entirely false impression to imagine for one moment that Tommy Burns would at the present time have any greater chance of lowering the Galveston negro’s colours than formerly. As an actual fighting machine Burns may be dismissed without serious consideration, as though he still retains much of his speed and cleverness his stamina has not escaped during his lapse from the fistic game, and it is extremely doubtful if he would survive twenty rounds either with Langford, McVea. or Jeannette, leaving Jack Johnson out of the question. While not by any means at his best when he

met Johnson —the constant training during the trying heat of Australia undermining his health —-Tommy Burns, weighing just a trifle over 12st, would probably have been found equal to administering a beating to any other heavyweight in the world at the time except the man with whom he stood face to face in the Rushcutter’s Bay Stadium, and were it possible for him to regain his then physical powers nobody could doubt his ability to clean up Langford, McVea and Co., but not so Johnson. Burns would in all probability find it an impossible task to knock-out such hardy customers as the present pair of negro- fighters in Sydney, but given his old stamina, he would outbox either of them in a twenty rounds’ contest. As to the matter of takingpunishment, Burns would lack nothing in this respect as it is one of his greatest qualities to withstand the most severe punishment without turning a hair. His memorable fight in London with Gunner Moir may be taken as an instance in proof of his capacity in this direction, as when the Gunner had him to all intents a beaten man Burns made one of the most remarkable recoveries in the history of the ring, finishing up by giving the Englishman an unmerciful licking in the tenth round, in which Moir went down for the count a badly battered and beaten opponent. Burns will always be remembered in boxing circles as the busiest world’s heavyweight champion that the ring has ever known, as during the time he was in the profession he took on all comers as fast as they came along, with the result that he amassed a comfortable fortune. Despite his smallness in stature compared with the usual type of heavyweight, he gave proof of his grit when unlike the general run of white boxers who purposely side-stepped Johnson, he met the coloured man in Australia, only to relinquish his hold upon the championship crown. Burns’ action in meeting Johnson has since been criticised by many authorities as a fatal mistake, but the courage of the fearless Canadian in fighting the black gladiator is none the less worthy of admiration. The probabilities of a further match between Johnson and Burns are very vague, as the main difficulty would be to come to a settlement regarding the terms for a contest. When Burns fought the black in Australia he, as holder of the title, received £4500 for the match, while Johnson’s share of the gate receipts amounted to £l5OO (£4OO of which was advanced some weeks before the fight for his training expenses). With Johnson now champion, he fully recognises what the reversal of positions means

to him from a financial viewpoint, and not so long ago he said that in the event of Burns seeking a return match he would fight him under the same, terms as the Sydney contest, -viz., the •title holder to receive £4500 and the challenger £l5OO. Burns’ enterprise in matters financial is too widely known to lead one to believe that Johnson’s offer will appeal in any way to the ex-champion, and it would, therefore, appear that a probable Johnson-Burns fight is just as remote a possibility as ever, notwithstanding the fact that Burns’ defeat of Rickard last week will occasion the usual talk in boxing circles the world over as to the likelihood of the “Canadian Wonder” attempting the task under which two “White Hopes” in Jeffries and Flynn so hopelessly struggled with certain defeat staring them in the face almost from the first sound of the gong.

Ad. Wolgast, the champion lightweight, and “Packy” M’Farland signed articles to box ten rounds in New York on September 27. Wolgast has agreed to allow M’Farland to weigh in at 135 rounds. Owing to the concession in weight the lightweight title is not to be considered to be at stake. Wolgast demands £4500 as his share. * * * * According to Ernie Zanders, the American middleweight boxer, who has just arrived in Australia under engagement to Hugh D. Mclntosh, the best of the “White Hopes” in America at present is a big fellow called Jess Willard. He stands 6ft 6in., and weighs 2381 b., and is built in proportion all the way. He has had only about six fights, and he’s won all of them on knockouts. sjs fl: Further boxing items will be found on page 4, including an appreciation of that one-time famous Sydney lightweight, “Griffo,” who is at present tasting the bitter dregs of poverty in the United States. # fl: * * Johnson’s announcements since his battle with Flynn regarding his future plans have been of so contradictory a nature that it is hard to foretell whether the world’s champion intends to retire from the ring or take part in further engagements. Johnson is stated on reliable authority to be new worth £40,000, the greater part of which is said to be well invested. This may not, however, be accepted as a reason why he will retire shortly, as the champion’s spendthrift ways and his none the less ardent desire to reap in the shekels plentifully while the hay shines are two strongfactors which cause him to remain in the fighting game as long as he has confidence in his ability to whip the present aspirants for world’s championship honours. The other day in Chicago Johnson announced that he would hand over his title, and let Sam

Langford, Sam McVea, and Joe Jeanette fight it out. This report had hardly flashed across the wires when Tommy Burns publicly stated his intention of having a finger in the pie in the event of Johnson’s retirement being authentic. * It only needed a few days for Johnson to change his mind, for as the result of a business interview with Aiderman A. L. Tearney, of Chicago, the champion agreed to fight Langford and McVea in Australia. Johnson told Hugh Mclntosh’s representatives in America that the offer of 40,000d01. was acceptable if he were given 5,000d01. training expenses and three return tickets to Australia. A sum of 10,000dol. was deposited to bind the contract with Aiderman Tearney. Johnson refused to affirm the report,, but added that he would enter ring as a personal favour to Tearney. It is therefore now regarded l , as certain that the champion will saib for Australia and meet his coloured brethren in a series of ring encounters. * * * * R. H. Cronn, manager for Tommy Burns has offered a cheque for £2ooo' to be posted as a side bet and to bind a match for Burns with Al Balzer, Kennedy, Bombadier Wells, orany other heavyweight, barring Johnson. ❖ ❖ fl: Latest advices from San Franciscoshow that Al. Kaufman, the big Californian heavyweight, received a bad handling in a contest recently with Miller, a huge Roumanian. The contest went the limit of four rounds, and no heavyweight fight witnessed in San Francisco in years ever aroused more interest than did this terrific battle of the giants. Miller surprised the spectators by his aggressiveness, and it was owing to his slashing style of milling that he gained the advantage over his more-experienced opponent. From the first tinkle of the bell Miller crowded Kaufman, and nevei’ allowed him to get set for a punch. Both men came up with fire in theixeyes for the final round. No time was wasted, and, fighting head to head foi’ the full three minutes, the bigfellows surely gave the fans a rare treat in the slugging line. Miller’s superior weight enabled him to do the forcing, and he generally managed to get Kaufman pinned against the ropes where he did some effective body work, taking much steam out of the heavyweight, who at one time had been looked upon as a future champion. Kaufman’s seconds continually tossed water on their man during this period of the milling. Kaufman’s showing was a distinct disappointment. He not only was slow on his feet, but he also failed to take advantage of innumerable chances to score decisively when Miller was off balance, due to missing Al. with his wild swings.