SUMMERS AGAIN BEATEN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1246, 5 March 1914, Page 28

SUMMERS AGAIN BEATEN.

A SENSATIONAL KNOCKOUT.

McCORMICK’S QUICK VICTORY.

Johnny Summers committed suicide last night. He cut the throat of his reputation by the manner in whic lie fought (writes W. F. Corbett m the “dun”). No sooner had the gong sounded than, like a greyhound freed from the leash, he bounded after his game, and one of the fiercest and longest-sustained rallies seen at the Stauium resulted in the man Who provoked it being knocked out in 2'Bin 19sec. after the battle began. It was the most thrilling thing possible Though the crowd looking on got nothing in length for their money, they had more excitement by far than the previous battle between the same pair provided, spite of the fact that it went the full time—2o rounds. Summers’ action demonstrated that he knew from experience it was no use pitting his skill against McCormick’s, and he tried another way of lighting, with disastrous results for him.

Weights were announced: —McCormick, lOst. 5%1b.: Summers, I Ost. 3%1b. x „ What happened proved that summers could not have gone to work in a manner more calculated to give himself to the enemy had he intended doing so. McCormick was plainly flabbergasted at the suddenness and ferocity of Summers’ onslaught. The welterweight champion of England thundered after his clever rival in a manner that carried us all off our feet, it was so absolutely unexpected. Summers battled in the way we saw him fight a few weeks ago during the last 10 seconds of every round. Back to the ropes near the south-west angle McCormick retreated before the fury of the attack, and, apparently after he had made a few retaliatory drives, the only way of meeting the onslaught that suggested itself to him was to cover up. This, however, did not protect the whole of his body, it sheltered the face and the upper structure as low as the chest, but left the abdominal section and the ribs open to a succession of left and right drives and hooks, hair-raising in the speed with which they were delivered. As far as could be judged by a hasty glance around the enclosure every individual in a not. over big house, with its unusual long stretches of empty benches, was on his feet roaring. Summers pounded away and fought with tigerish fierceness. Soon McCormick pounded too, but Summers’ blows were the more frequent and better directed, though their effect upon the other fellow was not as great as might have been expected. McCormick evidently has a

remarkable capacity for punishment. In a thrice the scene shifted to the middle of the western boundary, and the milling was as stirring as ever—each displaying as much anxiety as the other to be embroiled. Here Johnny swung a torrid left, which jerked Tom’s head to the other side in a manner that made it seem McCormick might not be able to endure much more, but he steadied quickly, and presented a rock-like front as the strongly pugnacious couple worked across to McCormick’s seat, and then to where the other man had taken up his position. Still the force and the pace continued all fire and determination.

A second or two later the middle of the ring was the place of conflict, but only lor a few moments, but during that brief space McCormick landed left and right on a head which appeared to be offered to him. Summers had his hands down the while. The heat of the thing began to tell on Johnny first, he backed to the vicinity of his chair, hotly pursued by a foeman whose eyes gleamed the combative instinct within him. Still Summers faced his man, fighting on the retreat.

After making a couple of steps to the left to get out of his corner, johnny back-moved a sinister hook and bumped the ropes slightly, but sufficiently to be thrown a few inches forward. Quick as a flash, McCormick, who was in close at the moment, whipped a right jolt to the jaw, and Summers pitched headlong to the boards, where he remained in a most peculiar position, exactly that Waldemar Holberg struck when knocked out soon after his arrival here. Summers was on his knees with his forehead resting against the boards so closely and immovably that it might have been rivetted there, and remarkable coincidence, he went down, as near as I can remember, on the exact spot where Holberg fell, and from the same position. It was as true and as clean a knockout as 1 have seen, but the man responsible found a clear opening, though he had to be mighty quick and resourceful.

The great bulk of the spectators applauded but there were many hooters —those who always kick when a contest is short, no matter how “sweet” it may be. Arthur Scott, as usual, filled the position of referee.