GENERAL NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1244, 19 February 1914, Page 28

GENERAL NOTES.

Milburn Saylor, the American lightweight, who recently defeated the Australian champion, Hughie Mehegan, is to meet Herb. McCoy at the Sydney Stadium on March 7, and should the latter defeat the visitor there can be no question that McCoy is a superior boxer to Hughie Mehe-

gan, whom he is intent on meeting for the title. « * * * Two old rivals in Johnny Summers, ,ex-champion welterweight of Great Britain, and Arthur Evernden, again met in combat the other evening, the venue of the contest being the Rushcutters’ Bay Stadium, Sydney. The fight created little interest, as it was generally regarded as a certain victory for Summers, and such it proved to be, as the Lonsdale belt holder fought cleverly throughout, outpointing Evernden and gaining the decision farly easy after a rather unexciting contest. * * * “I want to see a fight,” said Jessie Lonnen, the piquant pantomime boy of “ The Forty Thieves,” at present being played in Melbourne. “No, 1 don’t intend to dress myself up as a man, or go in disguise. I make no bones about it. I shall simply book a seat in the ordinary way—l suppose you can book a seat if you want to —and see the show right through to the finish. No, I don’t consider that a woman who admires this fine, manly sport, shows any sign of masculinity. I am an ardent admirer of boxing, just as I adore rowing, swimming, tennis, golf, walking, and other pastimes. I see nothing demoralising in boxing, and, as a matter of fact, I have had the gloves on more than once and enjoyed a smart

little encounter or two. I am waiting my chance to have a look at one of the contests at “Snowy” Baker’s West Melbourne Stadium. Then I shall be happy.” * • « Battling Simmons, the English middleweight, who visited New Zealand in search of matches early last year, is at present in Melbourne. He recently knocked out Godfrey and Jim Lyons, and at the time the last mail left was hot on the trail of Bobi Whitelaw and Jim Hall. ¥ 9 V Mr. R. L. Baker has arrived in America and is losing no time in getting into communication with th© world’s lightweight champion, Willie Ritchie, with a view to arranging a match with Herb McCoy, the successful Australian lightweight, the fight to take place in Sydney. That McCoy carries the confidence of his Australian supporters is borne out b|y the fact that Mr. Victor Foy has offered to put up a side-wager of £5OO on behalf of the Victorian boxer. Considerable interest is being centred in the American lightweight, Milburn Savior’s knock-out record in the Commonwealth. So confident was the American of his knock-out capabilities that he wagered a good amount that he would win three of his four en-

gagements by administering sleepproducers to his opponents. He has already fought two battles in Australia, and has knocked out in turn. Alf Morey and Hughie Mehegan. His third opponent was Eddie Newhouse, but the result of the contest, which took place in Brisbane, is not to hand at the moment of writing. Even should he fail to hand out a sleep wallop in his encounter with Newhouse, he still has a chance to fulfil his boast, for he meets his fourth opponent, Herb. McCoy in Sydney on March 7. The last-named will doubtless prove his toughest opponent, and it is unlikely the sturdy Victorian will fall a victim to the American’s knockout punch, or less likely that he will be a beaten man before he enters the ring, as was the case with Dave Smith when he met Eddie McGoorty a second time and Bombardier Wells when he made such an inglorious display at the National Sporting Club, London, in the return match with Georges Carpentier. The haunting memory of a knock-out blow undoubtedly unnerved both Dave Smith and Bombardier Wells and brought about their speedy defeat. * * * Following his match with Johnny Summers on Saturday, Tom McCormick will probably b|e pitted against the American, Ray Bronson, at the

Sydney Stadium on February 28. A week beforehand Bronson is to meet Frank Picato in Brisbane. ❖ * * * After leading for the greater part of the way, Kid Lewis defeated the Frenchman, Paul Til in the twelfth round at the National Sporting Club, London, the other evening. The battle was for the featherweight championship, and attracted :a big crowd. The first five rounds were fairly even. Til was inclined to hold and was warned. The Frenchman persisted in his holding tactics, and in the twelfth round the referee disqualified him and stopped the contest. Lewis was much the cleverer of the pair, and was ahead on points. $ 9jC $ & Latest news from Sydney is to thei effect that both Dave Smith (Australia) and Jeff Smith (America),, who are to fight in the N.S.W. capital on Saturday next (February 21), are making excellent progress in their training operations, and a great battle is anticipated when the pair face each other within the ropes. * • a * Bill Lang, the ex-heavyweight champion of Australia, has been named as a likely opponent for Eddie McGoorty. Should the giant Victorian come back to form, the battle would be of an exciting character, for despite receiv-

ing a beating in his most recent battle with Dave Smith, Bill Lang has many creditable contests to his credit, having met Sam Langford, Tommy Burns, Bob Fitzsimmons and Bill Squires (from whom he wrested the Australian championship) during his career as a boxer. The Olympia Athletic Club, Sydney, has been advised by cable that Tommy Burns has decided to visit Australia as manager of a team of b/oxers which will include Arthur Pelkey, the well-known heavyweight, and Fritz Holland, an American middleweight. It will be remembered that Pelkey was recently defeated by “Gunboat” Smith in a match for the white heavyweight championship of the world. Bill Lang and Colin Bell will most likely be the American’s first opponents on his arrival in the Commonwealth. # ♦ ♦ ♦ The New Zealand featherweight, Frank Ellis, defeated Cliff Thomas on points at the matinee at the Sydney Stadium the other day after an interesting contest in which the Maorilander displayed marked skill and cleverness. English boxing followers are priding themselves that they have at last unearthed a youth capable of wresting the European heavyweight championship from Georges Carpentier, and so

avenge Bombardier Wells’ lamentable failure. The hope of Great Britain is none other than Bandsman Blake, whose victory on points over the "Dixie Kid” at the Ring, London, on New Year’s Day is mainly responsible for the optimistic view Englishmen are taking of the boxing s ; tuation. Their line of argument is based on the fact that the "Dixie Kid” scored a victory over Carpentier two years ago. The absurdity of this reasoning needs little explanation, for Carpentier since then has not only built up his frame so as to make his presence felt in the heavyweight ranks, but has shown a phenomenal improvement in skill and general ringcraft. In fact, it would b,e a matter of difficulty to find a boxer in the world to-day that has improved to the extent that the young Frenchman has. However, should Blake be pitted against Carpentier, it w ; ll doubtless be a sorry day for the British bandsman. In view of the prominence that has been given to Bandsman Blake by the Home papers, it is interesting to note the following reference to his qualifications by an English boxing authority:—Actually Blake is not a heavyweight; he is only a middleweight. He turned the scales at list 101 b on a recent Thursday afternoon, and if they had shown several pounds less, no one who say h.’m strip would have been surprised. He has just attained his majority, and if he were a world-beater, he should bie a Samson. Instead, he is far more of the Apollo type. One could not wish to see a cleaner, better built, healthier and handsomer youth. His legs, body, and arms are most beautifully muscled, his middle-piece is well protected by natural armour, his eyes are clear and bright as those of a child, and his head is as honest as his heart is courageous. In physique he slightly resembles Bill Squires when Bill first entered the ring; but h's muscles convey a suggestion of rigidity, and more than a suspicion of absence of elasticity. They do not flow sinuously and snakily beneath his clean, white skin. They bunch, they look hard and harsh. You know that means that a man thus equipped mast necessarily be slow in his movements. Bandsman Blake is no better and no worse than his physical make-up. He is a lusty youth, full of grit and determination, with no intuitive boxing instinct, but a good deal of carefully, laboriously acquired skill. ♦ Charles Ledoux, the French boxer, who recently defeated Billy Beynon, the British champion, at Cardiff for the bantamweight championship of Europei, has fought fifty battles during his successful career and has only tasted defeat on four occasions. s * * * Pat O’Keefe, the Irish heavyweight, who is well known in this country, and who whilst in Auckland stayed with the well-known sportsman, Mr. John Lennard, of Waihou, Auckland, should have arrived in Sydney by the time these lines appear in print. The London journal .“Mirror of Life” contains the following interesting reference to Pat O’Keefe’s visit to Australia: —“Despite his manifold good looks, and his undoubted charm of manner, Pat has for many years persistently and successfully side-stepped matrimony, but little Cupid, who is not even as heavy as Jimmy Wilde, hit Patrick where Adrian Hogan didn’t, and we have it on secondhand, but still very reliable, authority, that the future Mrs. O’Keefe is waiting for Patrick in far away New Zealand. That shows how you can be deceived by a man. Everybody thought Pat old enough to know better; but there is no knowing, and when Cupid gets them right they all take the count. Seriously, though, O’Keefe has backing against any man in England at list 61b for £2OO to £5OO, and if he can get a contest for the championship and Lonsdale belt, would be willing to return next season.” The announcement is also made that Les O’Donnell, the clever heavyweight boxer also intends joining the benedicts, be : ng engaged to a young New Zealand lady. » * * * Two more boxers have arrived in Sydney, both of them Americans. Their names are “Montana” Dan Sullivan and Charlie Horn, and both belong to the heavyweight division. Sullivan has a good record, having fought three drawn battles with the clever American middleweight George Chip, defeated Denver Johnny

O’Keefe in the 15th round and knocked out Frank Mantell, who beat Billy Papke at Sacramento. Sullivan beat Mantell twice, before the latter defeated Papke and afterwards Charlie Horn, who is but 22 years of age, has the distinction of having met “Gunboat” Smith in a ten-rounds’ contest, but lost the decision. In a return match with Smith, however, he gained the verdict. Horn beat Jack Lester at Bakersfield (Cal.) on July 4 last year, after fighting 20 rounds. The big stranger is not unlike Lester across the eyes. Porky Flynn and Horn boxed a four-rounds’ draw at San Francisco, where Horn subsequently put Jack Guyer, Denver’s white hope, out of the business. Frank Moran, the red-headed heavyweight, whom they are talking about matching with Jack Johnson in Paris, got a decision over Horn, after the latter had fought several rounds, with a broken hand.

Eiddie McGoorty, the American lightheavyweight, will only remain in Australia another five Weeks, as he intends taking his departure for London on March 18, for the purpose of meeting Bandsman Blake at the National Sporting Club. McGoorty’s manager

has already cabled Home his willingness to put up a side-wager of £5OO, but has not yet received a reply regarding the bet. McGoorty should have a brilliant career before him, as everything points to matches being plentiful for the young American. It is regarded as certain that McGoorty will meet Georges Carpentier during Dublin Horse Show Week. * * * ® Commenting on the team of boxers which Tommy Burns has engaged to bring out to Australia, the American papers say that in it the ex-world’s champion has Lee Johnson, a negro featherweight; Louis Rees, a lightweight, who points proudly to the fact that he once whipped Bud Anderson; Fritz Holland, a welter, who keeps breaking his hands; Charley Horn, a heavy; Dan Sullivan, a middleweight; and poor, pummelled Arthur Pelkey. * * » * Fighters of the slugging, boring-in type do' not last long in the fighting game. Their contempt for the hitting power of their opponents causes these bjoys to suffer damage that saps their vitality and eventually leaves them

unfit to train properly or to do themselves justice in the ring (says an American authority). They get so that they cannot think fast enough, and as a result they do not know what to do next when in action. As a consequence these game fellows get badly battered, they carry tin ears and lop-sided brains.. Some of them talk in a rather lop-sided manner, and otherwise show the effects of the abuse they have stood. Battling Nelson stuck it out longer than most of the give-and-take fellows. He had a marvellous constitution, and took enough beatings to have killed many a stout boy. Wolgast did not last long; Sammy Trott did not go far; Jack Redmond fell by the way-side from the effects of the lacings he sustained. And there are several of the old-timers who are spoken of as game ones, who have gone dippy, some in the asylums and others being taken care of by friends or relatives. $ * * * The pugilist who lasts in the game and becomes successful is he who combines good boxing with fair fighting — the combination boxer-fighter (continues the writer). The boy who knows how to avoid punishment, and at the same time land upon the other fellow often enough to win the decision, is the boy who enjoys a lengthy career in the ring. If he acquires the knack of putting up a good lively battle in which he does his share of mixing as well as of sk'lt’ul boxing at long range, he becomes a popular favourite. Willie Ritchie is this sort of a performer, and when he gets to fighting more frequently he will become a popular champion. John L. Sullivan was never disfig ’rod for he could box as well as fight, although we frequently hear him referred to as the Boston slugger. This was because of his size, undoubtedly, for John was clever at the game of lead, stop and get away. He was an adept .at countering, and he never failed to drop his man when he landed a clean counter. . Every youngster in beginning to take boxing lessons should pay strict attention to the defensive end of the game; every capable teacher insists on this, for it does not pay to neglect it and court abuse and disfigurement. ¥ * » • Jim 'Driscoll, the famous Cardiff featherweight, turned up in London the other afternoon with a false face and a perturbed heart, the former because of the hirsute growth under his nose, the latter on account of the unauthorised challenge that was issued, purporting to come from somebody willing to wager two to one on Dr isocoll against his successor to the featerweight championship,, Kid Lewis. Driscoll announced in the “Mirror of Life” after his match with Owen Moran that he had retired for good, and that it was no Patti farewell is shown by his firm determination to stay in well-earned retirement, a wish his myriad friends and admirers will respect. Lewis said he would like to bjox Driscoll and was out for all the two to one money. Both were at the Ring on Monday afternoon when Driscoll stated to an interviewer that he had never been consulted in the matter. Had he been such a senseless announcement would never have been made public. Referring to the terms of the alleged challenge Driscoll said that if he wanted to box all the money put up would be at evens and that he would find all the backing necessary. Some of the “interviews” published recently were so much fiction from the writers’ imagination, as only one pressman took the trouble to see him personally and Jim was kept well “informed” by the papers of his statements about being ready to box Lewis. Driscoll can well be pardoned if he feels somewhat “sore” over the whole business, which is no fault of Kid Lewis or any of his friends, but Driscoll has retired and he says there will be no “come back.” There the matter must rest. * * * * Word just to hand from Sydney states that, acting on the advice of Dr. Cedric Bowker, Jeff Smith will not meet Dave Smith, as was proposed, on February 21. Jeff’s hands are not yet in such a condition that he can afford to risk further injury to them. It is probable that Jeff will now have McGoorty for his first opponent, early in March.