GENERAL NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1247, 12 March 1914, Page 32

GENERAL NOTES.

The aboriginal boxer, Jerry Jerome, is shortly to participate in a series of contests at the Sydney Stadium. Jerome has been out of the game for a considerable time, owing to the Queensland Government authorities being over considerate for the welfare of the black man, but they have now acquiesed to Jerome’s wishes to enter the pugilistic arena, and he is now under the capable charge of the negro boxer Peter Felix, one-time champion of Australia.

Little is heard nowadays of the American middleweight boxer Billy Papke, who for several years held the world’s middleweight championship. Papke recently signed an agreement to meet the clever American middleweight George Chip in January, but had the misfortune, during training operations, to fracture his hand, and the bout was consequently called off. This is the second occasion on which Papke has broken his hand, for it will, perhaps, be remembered that a similar accident happened to him in a battle with Frank Klaus in Paris twelve months ago.

Tlie lightweights Peter Cooke and Jim Hegarty will meet in a fifteenrounds contest at the Greymouth Boxing Association’s tournament on March 14.

Packy McFarland, the famous American boxer, who has been engaged for three contests in Australia, recently incurred the displeasure Of

the Wisconsin State Boxing Commission, who passed, suspension on mm tor ’‘slovenly'’ boxing in his recent contest wnn jack antion, of Chicago, at Milwaukee. it is interesting to note tnat tins is me oniy occasion on wnich ivicJb ar±ana nas been censured for his work m tne ring, out tms can have little bearing on ms Australian engagements, ror his successiui ring career is sufficient to make his for incoming visit one of the biggest atti actions ever arranged in connection with boxing in Australia.

Regarding Packy McFarland s meeting witn jack Britton, tne contest was a no-decision one and was fought in the presence of 6000 spectators, who protested loudly at the unsatisfactory nature of the bout. McFariand hau tne oetcer of live rounds, wmie iour were even and one was Britton’s. Both in the eighth and mntn rounds tacky had Jack groggy, but was unaole to put him out. Britton at times foiugnt Mcranand to a standstill, and even outooxed nim, but this was oniy m nasnes. The crowd jeered tne boxers during most of the contest, ana there were numerous cries of ” Put ’em out,” “stop the bout! ’ McFarland's stiff lefts to tne jaw, his ciever blocking, ana Britton s wild swinging gave Packy tne lead at the ena of tne second round. Both men were jeered as they went to their corners at the end of the third round. Neitner man seemed to be anxious to nght. The crowd was far from pleased with McFarland’s showing during the third and fourth rounds, but in the nfth round McFarland showed some of his mever box.ng ability, and in tne sixth cleany outpointed his opponent. Packy also uad the better of the seventh round and the eightn was even. The fighters were hissed repeatedly for their slow and uninteresting work. The men woke up in the ninth round, both exchanging heavy blows to the body and jaw. Britton was in a bad way at the end of the round. The tenth round was even, with McFarland landing at the close.

Harry Stone, the American lightweight, who is at present on the way to England after a successful stay in Australia, has been promised a match with Britain’s lightweight champion, Freddie Welsh, who is hot on the trail of Willie Ritchie, world’s champion. Stone is also keen on securing a match for the championship with Ritchie, and his recent points’ victory over Matt Wells in Australia, together with his two defeats of Johnny Summers, has brought him into wide prominence in the United States, where he enjoyed little fame, despite his many excellent contests prior to. undertaking the voyage to Australia. His most notable achievement in America was his ten-rounds bout with Abe Attell at a time when the former champion was at his best. The bout took place at Saratoga, and the critics were almost unanimous in the opinion that Stone had won. Stone also held his own in a ten-rounds no-decision bout with Jack Britton, and got a decision of a draw in a fifteen-rounds bout with Leach Cross at Baltimore.

The much-boomed English heavyweight, Bandsman Blake, was, following ms deieat of the “Dixie Kid,’’ was considered to nave an excellent cnance of depriving Bombardier Weils or the ciiainpiunsnip or Great Britain, was given ins opportunity at the National Sporting Ciub, London, last weeK. Tne result of tne contest practically aoes away with Brake's pretensions as a heavyweight champion, tor tne Bomoaraier disposed of mm witn a knock-out in tne fourth round. Tnus wells has successfully aetenaed nis British heavyweight tiue, and at present there appears little cnance ot any of the neavyweights at nome removing him from ms pedestal. Maybe that tne Bombardier wifi now be tempted to have a tnird attempt at measuring strengtn and skill witn the rrencn marvel, ueorges Carpentier, who ,seems to ee wells’ cnief stumbling block.

At latest Bob Fitzsimmons was appearing on the films at tne picture tneatres at noine m a drama of love and pugilism, specially written by R. n. Davis, editor or ' Munsey’s Magazine.” in tnis picture representation Oid nob meets ms son, Bod, jun., in tne ring ana knocks out the bearer of his name witn latneny care, ifoung bod is built along lines similar to tnose pi ms latner, out is bigger, in spite of the fact tnat he is just 17. cob, sen., announces on tne nim that ne is training his boy for the ring, ana expects him to be even a greater iignter tnan inmself. The play is entitled “ A Fight for Life,” and is a two-reel leature. The story centres about a young college athlete, who wins fame as an amateur boxer, but gives up sparring because or tne opposition of his nancee. When his tatner dies, however, and leaves nim penniless, he secretly enters tne professional ring, and as “The Unknown-’ defeats all-comers. He is about to meet the champion of the world when he has to choose between tne battle and his affianced, and ne cancels the contest and marries the girl. Years pass, the wife is dying and the young husband has neither money nor work. He learnt of a chance to win a lot of money by “staying” ten rounds with a noted boxer, who has offered so much a round to all-comers who can last with Him. Young Fitz plays the pugilist. He and his manager recognise “The Unknown,” and, fearing defeat and financial loss, they “dope” the “comeback” amateur. Here is where old Fitz, who has been the “Unknown’s” friend and trainer throughout the picture, comes out strong. He takes “The Unknown’s” place in the ring, knocks out the challenger and wins the money. This he cheerfully hinds over to the young husband, who is thus enabled to tjake his invalid wife to a more favourable climate, where she entirely recovers.

New Zealanders, and Aucklanders in particular, will learn with regret that Mr. W. W. (“Bill”) Naughton, the sporting editor of the San Francisco “Examiner,” has been stricken with heart disease, and the doctors declare that his chances of recovery

are poor. Mr. Naughton is recognised as one bi tne greatest aatnorities on Duxuig m modern times, and nis interesLing contrications to tne Sydney • xLbieiee' are widely read througnouc Australasia. He is a native of Auckland, and a couple of years ago took tne opportunity of visiting tne city of iiis boyhood and renewing acquaintance with many of his oid friends.

Particulars to hand of the recent contest at Nice, France, between ueorges Carpentier and Pat O'Keefe sfiow tnat it was a very one-sided anair whilst it lasted. A large crowd assemuied to witness tne French cnampion make a chopping block of U'jtveefe, and though they only saw two rounds for tneir money, they had, at any rate, the thrill of seeing a man reaiiy knocked out, wmcn is more tnan Happened at the National Sporting Club, when Wells went uown. Not having any temperamental idiosyncrasies in his opponent to snape nis tactics, Carpentier opened very cautiously against the wily out ancient U'Keeie. Tnere was some range-iignting, and then a right to the msuman s ear sent him down very nard, so hard that he was beaten from that moment. He got a few lefts on to Carpentiers face, but there was no aevu oenind them, while Carpentier replied with rights and lefts to tne middie which further weakened ins.opponent, in the second round he again sent O’Keefe down with body mows and another terrific swing on i.ne ear. Repeating his attack on the stomach lie got O’Keefe’s head forward, just as he disarmed Wells, and with a left and right hook, delivered t.c tremendous pace and with all the i.rt of his body behind them, Bat fell io sieep for more than a minute.

Jimmy Clabby, the American middleweight boxer, ..will arrive in Sj dney a fortnight before Easter. He will thus have two weeks in which co finish his training operations for ms first battie, which will be against uie winner of the Eddie McGoortyjeif Smith contest. The bulk of his training work is to be carried out on the R.M.S. Sonoma, on which he will have a thorougnly-equipped gymnasium, so tnat he should land in Sydney in first-rate fettle.

Jim Sullivan beat Jack Harrison at the National Sporting Club on February 23, making the pace so hot that the loser retired in the fourth round. Suilivan, wo was recently in Australia, and Harrison are both ex-middieweight champions of England. Harrison held the honour the more recently of the two, but some time ago he handed in the belt,, and had, apparently, retired. He has evidently come forward again. It was Harrison whom Eddie McGoorty knocked out in one round in New York soon after treating Dave Smith that way.

Pat O’Keefe beat Reeve on points at the National Sporting Club the other night after 20 rounds. O’Keefe, using both hands well, drew blood in the first round by landing heavily on Reeve’s nose. ' Ever after the

damaged organ worried the Englishman a good deal. In the third round O’Keefe landed his right flush on his opponent’s jaw, and in his eagerness to follow up the blow he slipped on his knees. The fourth session saw Reeve staggering under a succession of heavy lefts and rights on the jaw. Subsequently the Irishman’s superior ringcraft and boxing told, and he won well. Though slower than formerly, O’Keefe was still faster than Reeve. * * # Sfc

Johnny Summers and Boyo Driscoll are at present on the homeward voyage to England after a lengthy stay in Australia. The trip has not been as satisfactory to either as it might have been, particularly to Driscoll, who returns to the Old Country a much disappointed boxer. Driscoll had reckoned on doing well financial-, ly in the Commonwealth, but bad luck pursued him in the shape of rheumatism, which kept him from fulfilling all but two matches. The young Londoner, however, showed that he was a featherweight of no mean ability, for he won both his matches with Charlie Simpson. Sum mers’ trip must have proved very successful financially, for he fought a good number of battles in Australia, and on§ against Hock Keys in New Zealand, but his record showed no less than four defeats, both Harry Stone and Tom McCormick beating him twice. In consequence of the £atter defeats Summers returns to the Old Country minus the welterweight championship of the British Empire.

Arthur Cripps, the Queensland middleweight boxer, who retired from the ring several years ago, is at present in strict training with a view of meeting Tim Land at Brisbane on March 28. Cripps’ return to the ring will be watched with interest, as n is well on in years and may not find the “come-back” performance by any means an easy task .

Mr. R. L. Baker is negotiating with Charlie White, the crack English featherweight, who has done a bit of fighting in America since 1908, for three fights in Australia.

Freddie- Welsh recently won the decision at the end of ten rounds at Galveston, defeating Frank Whitney, of Cedar Rapids, la. Whitney’s best chances were in the second and fifth sessions, when he slowed the British champion up considerably with two stiff wallops to the point of the chin. After the start of the fifth round it was just a question of how long Whitney would last. He finished on his feet, but it was only the lack of a sleep punch on the part of Welsh that enabled him to do so.

Bob Vernon, who is a staunch friend of Jim Jeffries, recently received a letter from the ex-champion, in which he stated that he has decided to go around the world, but will not do< any more fighting. He further announced that he has received an offer from Hugh Mclntosh, the former, fight promoter of Australia, to give boxing exhibitions at the different theatres in the Commonwealth under his management, and that he has accepted it.