GENERAL NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1243, 12 February 1914, Page 28

GENERAL NOTES.

Joe Woodman, manager for Sam Langford, has definitely announced that the Bostonian negro will retire from th;e fistic game for good in another year. Woodman made this statement recently, and felt confident at the time that Langford would give up the ring for good before 1915 4 Sam has always been a great fighter, better than most heavyweights, and it is too bad he did not get the tb strefigth and science with Jack Johnson. The latter never had any great liking for

Sam’s game, but now that he needs money and can see it in a match with Langford, he is willing to go ahe ! ad with it. Johnson has lost his “pull,” even the French Boxing Federation having voted to declare his title of champion vacant, and calling upon all boxing promoters to arrange for 'a series of bouts to create a new champion. But as to Langford’s form again, it might be said that Samuel will hardly ever get back to 180 pounds, where h|e should be to be in the best of shape, for when he met Joe Jeannette he scaled a pound under 200, and to take off 20 pounds is no easy task.

Sam Langford is to-day apparently the most dangerous of the dreaded coloured heavies. The , discredited hero of the Reno burlesque is passed the age when scrappers can hope to retain their old-time form, even if he had, not still further handicapped his vitality b’y. a course of living which woujd undermine the constitution of a cast-iron dog. Langford has clearly demonstrated that he is the master of Sam McVea, and Joe Jeannette is beginning to show the effects of the many batterings he has been subjected to drring his long service between

the ropes. In all of his recent contests, Jeannette, while victorious, exhibited a marked degree of langour and a loss of punching power which seemed to indicate that he is travelling on the down graue. Also, Jeannette is over the 32 mark and his age is commencing to tell on him. Langford is only 27, right in his prime and wise to every trick and angle of the game. It’s hard lines on Langford, this drawing of the colour line, but a mighty lucky ruling for the present crop of uncouth white hopes of the heavy brigade to work under. For, viewed in any light, the Boston Tar Baby looks good enough to go through the entire bunch with ease. They called him “Beggar Sam” before he left New York for Australia’s sunny shores in 1911, and to all appearances : he may have to beig harder for matches now than he did in the past.

Johnny Summers has not yet left Sydney for the Old Country, and has been matched with Matt Wells, the contest to take place on February 14. Thus Wells will make his debut in Sydney as a welterweight, and in view of the difficulty hjd experiences in getting down to the lightweight notch, he will doubtless enter the ring against Summers a stronger and fitter man than was the case when he lost to Herb. McCoy a few weeks ago. Wells and Summers will each weigh( 10 st 71b ringside,, and their meeting

should result in an exciting Wattle, as the winner is to be pitted against Tom McCormick. Summers will naturally be extremely anxious to defeat Well's and so secure a match against the man who relieved him of the welterweight championship, without which he does not relish the idea of returning to England.

Hughie Mehegan has apparently lost that form which characterised his contests prior to and during his visit to England and America, for his reverse at the hands of the AmeriMilburn Saylor, is another unexpected defeat that has to be entered up against his indifferent record of the past few months. Mehegan frankly admits that he is not boxing with the speed and vigour which was associated with his displays against Freddie Welsh and Matt Wells in London, and is already considering the advisability of taking a much needed rest from active participation in boxing contests, after which he will proceed to America, where he has the promise of a couple of important matches. Should he box up to his true form it is probable that he will be given an opportunity of testing his strengtli and skill against

Willie Ritchie, the world’s lightweight champion.

The fact that Hughie Mehegan suffered defeat in his contest with Milburn Saylor further strengthens Herb McCoy’s claims for a match for the lightweight championship of Australia, but it is unlikely that Mehegan will be induced to enter the ring now that he is convinced that he is not at present in a condition to do himself full justice. Were he to lose the title to McCoy, Hughie Mehegan would no longer command a great deal of attention in the Australian boxing world, for he has failed to display anything like the form expected of him and has consequently proved a big disappointment to his followers, who have supported him in each of his recent engagements.

The prestige of English boxing received another rude shock in Paris the other evening, when P.O. Curran met Sam Langford and was beaten in two blows by the sturdy negro. The white man was obviously in a funk. Only two blows were struck, Langford landing a left and right on the jaw. The spectators clamoured to have their money given back to them, and Curran was wildly hooted.

An American cable conveys the news that Arthur Pelkey, the wellknown heavyweight, was knocked out by Kid Kennetts in the sixth round of

a 20-rounds’ fight at Bakersfield, California, recently. The knock-out blow was a left hook to the head, following a right uppercut. Kennetts led in every round except the first, and he wias not hurt. Pelkey carried no sting in his blows. He weighed nearly 15st, as against Kennetts’ 13st 31b. The lightweights Herb McCoy (Victoria) and Milburn Saylor (America) have been matched to fight at the Sydney Stadium on March 7.

It is not generally known, but it is none the less true, that Pal Brown, the bonnie young Minnesota boxer, was in a very bad way after the beating Hughie-Mehegan gave him in their return match in Melbourne (says a writer in the Sydney “Spor s man”). He landed back in Sydney in a state of collapse, the ambulance man who was called was for running him off to the hospital; but Jack Dougherty smuggled Pal away while the man went for the ambhlance car. The lad’s ears, that in his own l|and compelled him to forego a sure thing, just previous to sailing for. Australia, were severely injured again, while the long continued' training and the depression caused by three successive ‘ defeats had fairly got the boy down. He had picked up again by the time the* steamer left, but I’m afraid we won’t see his smiling face here again for many a long day, if ever.

Bombardier. Wells secured his second victory since his defeat by Georges Carpentier, when the other night he decisively beat the French

heavyweight, Pigot, at Cardiff. Pigot was heavier than Wells. He was of compact physique, with a stronglydeveloped chest and abdomen. He looked a dangerous customer. Pigot opened the fignt by making a nuni-e.' of terrific lunges ,at Wells’ stomach. Wells side-stepped the lunges, however, and then attacked with several left jabs to the face, two right uppercuts, and a right to the stomach. The Frenchman fell' to the floor, while the referee started to count in French. Pigot ; rose slowly, but regained his feet only after the . fateful “ten” had been counted, and Wells was declared the winner. Pigot vigorously protested that he did not understand the referee’s French counting. Wells was anxious to continue, the fight, but his seconds seized him and thrust him through the ropes. It was a decisive victory.

The English welterweight, Tom McCormick, followed up his success against Johnny Summers by outfighting the Danish boxer, Waldemar Holberg, in Melbourne in a battle for the welterweight championship. The contest wias witnessed by close on 9000 people, who were greatly disappointed with the match which terminated in the sixth round, the Dane being disqualified for foul tactics. A great fight was expected, but McCormick had Holberg at his. mercy from the start, the latter being vigorously hooted by the audience for hitting low on several occasions. Holberg

persisted in hitting low when they came to dose quarters, and it was out of one of these execrable exchanges McCormick writhed in pain, and the referee held them apart while he again cautioned Holberg, who proffered his glove in apology. McCormick shook hands, though there was a roar from an occupant of the ringside chairs, “ Never mind shaking hands; fight!” The Englishman then fought with a will —as far as the pain he was undoubtedly suffering would allow him—and Holberg’s stock was down to zero. As the gong stopped the round, Mr. Alger, McCormick s manager, called out, “If you don’t stop this I will,” significance being added to the threat by his subsequent conversation with plain-clothes police present. Holberg opened the sixth round in his catch-as-catch-can style, McCormick punching him off with solid, double-handed work. Then the apparently inevitable fouling recommenced, and when Holberg landed a particularly painful one, particularly low down, Referee Fullalove stopped the contest, ordered Holberg to his corner, and pointed to McCormick as the winner.

That very capable welterweight and real good fellow, Harry Lewis, has, I regret to say, finished with the ring for good at the early age, too, of 27 (says an English writer). Lewis twice visited England, and had many contests in Paris. He was always accompanied by his wife, a genial little lady, who was ever his manager and match-maker. And now she cables that Harry is paralysed for

life, and has to be wheeled about in a chair. All, I am sure, will regret to hear of such a painful end to so ■line a career as a boxer. It is not so long ago that Lewis stopped our middleweight champion, Jack Harrison in. three rounds at the National Sporting Club, and his match with Johnny Summers at Olympia will be readily remembered. One of his best performances was his victory over Larry , Temple, the black, who Was over here eleven years ago, and in the State's defeated that wonderful fighter Joe Walcott. It will be recalled, too; that Lewis was run down by a taxictab at Ludgate Circus, and severely injured,, for which, he was accorded £.750 damages. Returning home he was beaten by Joe Borrell, but his defeat was attributed to his mishap in London, and now he is incapacitated for life, which, as I say, all will regret to hear, for Lewis was a good sort, and a lot above the average p fessional.

The English lightweight champion, Freddie Welsh, continues to do well in America, his latest success being a newspaper decision obtained over Carl Fisher at Cincinatti in a ten-rounds’ bout.

The New Zealand Boxing Council have intimated that owing to lack of interest no further action would be taken in the matter of holding a conference at Auckland.

The Wellington Boxing Association have decided to- arrange a tournament in connection with the Citizens’ Carnival in the Empire City.

It will be remembered that several weeks ago Bob Fitzsimmons, exheavyweight champion of the world, appealed against a court decision in New York forbidding him to again enter the boxing ring in public on the grounds that he was too old to participate in a boxing match with safety. A cable just to hand announces that the New York Supreme Court has refused the application of Bob Fitzsimmons for an injunction restraining the New York Athletic Commission from preventing his participation in boxing exhibitions. The Commission, when Fitzsimmons had signed up for a contest, after deliberation decided that the one-time great fighter wias now too old to re-enter the ring. Fitzsimmons is 61 years of age.

Some interesting decisions were arrived at last week at a meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Boxing Association, when the New Zealand Council informed the committee of the result of the mail vote taken on matters dealt with at the Timaru conference. Returns had been received from the Northern, Gisborne, Wanganui, Wairarapa, Wellington, Greymouth, Denniston, Millerton, Christchurch, Timaru, Otago, and Southland Associations. It has been decided that no competitor shall represent a centre at the New Zealand championship meeting unless he

has resided in that centre for at least a month prior to the date of the meeting; but that he shall be eligible ,to represent any other centre provided the consent of his own associatr. ■

obtained. To the question as to whether a definition of the term “clean break” be added to rules, such term to mean that each competitor shall step back'a pace, the Wanganui and Wellington Associations were o. opinion that two hands free were sufficient to constitute a clean break. It was decided that except in the case of.the Northern Association, the maximum expenses allowed to a professional boxer be £l5, and that an amateur ■ be allowed travelling penses and board, in accordance with the present rule. All associations favoured steps being taken to makel it absolutely definite that no individual shall be .permitted to profit from the promotion of contests or competitions. All favoured, the proposal that the 1914 championship meeting be held in Wanganui.

At a meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Boxing Association last week, when letters were received from the various associations throughout the Dominion in regard to the revision of rules, it was agreed that the weights for the professional championships be as follow:—Bantam, Bst 61b and under; feather, 9st and under; light, 9st 91b and under; welter, lOst 71b and under; middle, list 61b and under;

heavy, any weight. These are now the English and Australian weights. & * * . ’ *

The English mail brings particulars of the recent Sam Langford-Joe Jeannette fight in Paris. The contest took place at the Luna Park Stadium, and was announced to be “Pour le Championnat du Monde.” Georges Carpentier was called upon to enter the ring with the two black men to gratify the idolising instincts of the crowd, and he bowed sweetly to the *adies and waved his hand to the men. The fight itself was a serious affair. The two men had met several times previously, and the utmost good-fellowship has subsisted between them. Jeannette is more a yellow man than a black mjan. His saffron sain is whiter than tnac of many Europeans. He is taller than Langford and built on totally different lines, being lithe, and lean, and springy and lull of nervous . force. He is a most beautiful poxer, pernaps an even cleverer big man at boxing, pure and simple than Jack Johnson, aha ne has tne pluck of a lion. .Langford stripped burly, though not so pulpy as wnen Jeannette gained the verdict against him at the end of 10 rounds in New lock in October. He said afterwards mat he had only had nine days to train, it shows how conndent and cocksure he must have felt that he womd risk nis reputation by Lacing Jeannette upon an insufficient preparation. Jeannette had, too, the moijai strengtn wnich is derived from fixe sympathy of the spectators, as tne greater portion of tne house was there to see him win. it had only hard thoughts and coid eyes for Langford, but tne Boston Tar Baby stood nis cniilmg reception with the aplomo or a graven image. Even during the contest, wnen Jeannette Ended a b'.ow which shook him a bit but did not rattle inn, and tne crowd cneered ecstatically, he mere.y-shook his head m a mournful manner, and put some extra • weight and . speed beni Uu body punches with WiAch he gradually broke 1 down- Jeannette’s detence, and finally his resistance.

Fighting, at. a- distance, Jeannette was the better man on points, but Langford had no intention of letting his opponent run up a score against him' by dainty and artistic shadow sparring. He took control of the light from the opening round. He bored in and insisted upon in-nghting. His swings with both hands were tremendously severe. If Jeannette had no; been possessed of extraordinary quickness of eye and judgment of distance he • would very soon have been taking the count. As it was, whilst Langford was busily uppercutting, jolting, and jabbing Jeannette was also fully occupied with some very hot and fast lefts to the head and rights to the body. But while his left leads finally drew clood from Langfol d s mouth, and in the eighteenth r-ana opened Ils eye, .he body blows did not disturb the pocket Hercules. Soft and paunchy as his waistline looned, the blows delivered upon it never caused him any inconvenience. They made a big sound, they looked very terrible, but Langford never winced, while all the time Jeannette’s vitality was ebbing under his constant attack and fearful fusillade of half-arm blows.

Having established a fairly comfortable lead by the end of the seventh round, Langford slackened off a little. (Probably his lack of training wcu making itself felt, and he . is too astute a general to pump himself out when it is not necessary. Having brisked up by a spell of clinching and futile hugging, he cut loose again in the thirteenth round and sent Jeannette down three times. Tne timekeeper counted four, counted nine, and counted nine again. Poor Jeannette was dazed and groggy, but still full of courage. The gong sounded just in time to slave him from what must have been a knock-out. The interval bucked him up wonderfully, and he got Langford flush in the face in the next round, but the power behind the blow was trifling. Again he tried to get Langford’s stomach, reached it, and apparently discovered that it was tough as a rhinoceros skin. In the twentieth round Langford had him hanging on the ropes gasping and but, possibly for old acquaintance sake, did not send him to sleep.