GENERAL NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1245, 26 February 1914, Page 29

GENERAL NOTES.

The arrival of Arthur Pelkey, the American heavyweight, in Australia and his “discoverer,” Tommy Burns, is eagerly awaited by boxing enthusiasts on the other side of the Tasman. However, it need hardly be ment’oned that Pelkey, to use an Americanism, does not “cut much ice” with fight fans in the States, his most recent defeat at the hands of “ Gunboat ” Smith being the subject of much caustic comment by American boxing critics. It will be remembered that Tommy Burns made no secret of his opinion that Pelkey would account for “Gunboat” Smith, but once again the predictions of the world’s ex-champion were much astray. But Burns, although a great fighter in his time and therefore supposedly a good judge of fighting material, is apt to wax a trifle too enthusiastic over his dis

coveries in the boxing line. It was Burns who at one time boosted George Memsic’s cl a’ms to recogfiition as a star lightweight, and pointed out the Chicago Bohemian as a sure future champion of that class. But Memsic slumped disastrously and never came within several miles of the goal. Also it was Tommy who made himself responsible for the debut of Jack Lester as a “formidable white hope,” and aided in the shipping of the said young man to Australia, where Burns confidently predicted his protege would clean up everyth ; ng in sight. Instead of cleaning up, Lester was sent to the cleaners, being whipped in turn by Johnny Thompson, Bill Turner, Jack Howard

and Langford, and going over thq knock-out route in each instance. When Burns was booming Lester be was every whit as eloquent in his praises of Jack’s wonderful abi ities as he has been in his recent outbursts of Pelkeyism. ... :t. 4. * It isn’t very long ago since Burns and Pelkey were abusing each other through the press, Arthur making accusations of fake work in connection w th that little six-round go between them iat Calgary (U.S.), and Burns stigmatising Pelkey as a “beastly ingrate,” or words to that effect. Then came a reconciliation, and the present partnership between the pair, a sort cf mutual admiration party w’th Burns as chief spokesman, and Pe key playing chorus. The ex-heavyweight champion doesn’t hesitate to declare that by dint of long and steady practice with him Pelkey has developed the best left hand ever possessed by a pug, not even excepting t h at of the dusky gent who robbed Tommy of first chop honours. Pelkey made his debut in New York on May 27, 1911, when he appeared in the heavyweight tournament promoted by

O’Rourke. He made a good showing among the other novices, and was said to have had much the better of Palzer to whom first honours were awarded. But on being offered a second chance with Palzer he refused to accept for reasons best known to himself. New York expert opinion classed Pelkey as a big- strong chan who could punch hard and wasn’t lacking in gameness, but with everything to learn from a scientific standpoint. a W * Jit Between his appearance in the Gotham tourney and the traei-, bout with Luther McCarty which resulted in the latter’s death, Pe'key accomplished nothing of consequence in his

profession, for the bout with Burn 5 had too much of a “business arrangement” air to be taken seriously, and a couple of other contests with mediocre performers brought him no fame. The McCarty battle didn’t last long enough to furnish a line on Pelkey as he is to-day,, and wasn’t even a proof of his ability to hit hard, for there was no conclusive evidence' that Luther’s demise was due to the effects of a blow administered by h’s opponent. Lastly his defeat by “Gunboat” was anothe? mediocre display that has to be entered up against his indifferent record.

Abe Attell, for 12 years king of featherweights, was asked the other day to give h’s opinion of the featherweight champion,, and said: —“Johnny Kilbane, the pre sent leader of the featherweights 4- , is one of the best mitt artists that ever held the title. He has been deeply criticised by many for not meeting good men, but these are scarce among the feathers at the present time. I was made the target of abuse because I fought whenever and whoever I p’eased, provided the money was in sight for my

efforts. The fight game isn’t what it used to be years iago. It was a sport then. To-day it’s business. The reason for this is that there are too many in the game and some of the boys fight for a paltry sum, making it almost impossible for a real fighter to get big purses. Naturally a majority of the lads will get disgusted with the money they are getting and will go into retirement. If this be the case, then the big fighters will be in a position to demand large sums for their services. I intend to be in the best of shape when I meet Kilbane again, and I feel perfectly confident that I can make a successful ‘come back.’ ” * ,* * * Georges Carpentier has announced that he is prepared to fight Sam Langford in May, and the match has thus been definitely arranged. Carpentier’s contest with Kid McCoy takes place on March 14 in Paris.

Willie Ritchie and Ad. Wolgast, former champion, will meet some time in March in a ten-rounds no-decision contest, to take place at Milwaukee (U.S.). As the fight will not be refereed, the world’s lightweight title will be jeopardised only by the possibility of a knock-out. Sporting writers are wondering whether this acceptance of Ritchie’s is another dream of the champion’s, and they are speculating as to whether he will really fight, or whether he will hurt another toe or foot.

A recent cable announced the fact that “Snowy” Baker had concluded terms with Willie Ritchie, champion lightweight boxer of the world, to visit Australia after he Queets Harlem Tommy Murphy in their twice-post-poned match, through ailments with which Ritchie was troubled. On the date originally set down it rained heavily, and the fight in a roofless structure was consequently not to be thought of as a money-getter. Postponed till next day, an undreamt obstacle stood in the way. Ritchie’s nose had suddenly become too bad to permit of his facing the ordeal, and he produced a medical certificate to that effect. This was after he heard it was necessary to weigh again. Something went wrong with one of Ritchie’s legs before the date to which the contest was put off came round. What the nature of the affection was the cable man did not tell us (remarks W. F. Corbett in the “Sun”). Australia will be glad to entertain Ritchie. He is a good fellow, and a clever boxer. We will welcome him also because we have some material to pit against him, and one man, Herb McCoy,, may make the American’s feathers fly a bit. But I will never feel sure about seeing Ritchie this far from home until he actually arrives amongst us. Those high-up American boxers take a whole lot of catching. What the deal will cost Mr. Baker has not been made known, but I would stake guineas to gooseberries that it is in the neighbourhood of £3OOO and expenses.

Dan Dailey, the American heavyweight, who loomed into prominence chiefly as a result of scoring a knockout victory over Al Palzer, has, since defeated Fred McKay, of Winnipeg, Canada. The bout was stopped in the fourth round because of Frank Klaus, who refereed, on orders from Sheriff Judd H. Bruff. McKay was helpless. In the third round Dailey floored McKay for the count of nine with a right uppercut and followed this up by knocking McKay down again with a blow to the head. The bell saved McKay from being counted out. McKay’s seconds dragged him to his corner and made an effort to revive him, but when the bell sounded for the fourth round McKay arose in p daze. In a second Dailey was upon him and with one punch put him to the floor. It was Dailey’s fight from the start, the Canadian being cn the defence all the time.

There is heated controversy in three countries as to whether Jack Johnson, Jim Johnson, or Sam Langford should be acclaimed champion of the world, while there is Joe Jeannette in the background to challenge any white hope should this doughty trio default. In France itself there is insistent demand that Georges Carpentier shall be crowned world’s champion. This claim is based upon the fact that Jack Johnson has not defended his title, that Gunboat Smith was given a verdict over Sam Langford, that it took Gunboat Smith four rounds to knock out Bombardier Wells, while Carpentier polished him off in Imin 13 sec.