BOXING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 21 May 1914, Page 30

BOXING

Mr. C. B. Cochran, a London fight promoter, has offered a substantial purse for a fight between Colin Bell and Bombardier Wells, Gunboat Smith, or Carpentier, Bell has already been matched with Wells, and on his showing against the British champion will depend his chances of securing matches either with Gunboat Smith or Carpentier.

Pat Doran, the Victorian heavyweight, who is well known to Aucklanders, has been matched to fight Charlie Horn, the American heavyweight, who is one of Tommy Burns’ boxing team, at the Melbourne Athletic Pavilion on the 2 6th of the present month.

In an interesting article written in the “Sun” by Mr. W. F. Corbett in which a comparison is made, between the boxer and the fighter as a magnet of attraction to those who attend boxing matches, the writer «ays the fighter in the roped arena is always a much greater attraction than the boxer pure and simple, no matter how clever the latter may be. Some who come under the last-mentioned heading are undoubtedly fighters in their hearts, but they have to be cornered before they will show it. If they cannot be cornered, and the test of the gaff is consequently not applied, then they are content to be boxers all through, which is right and proper, and why the art of boxing is acquired. No boxer should be blamed for refusing to run unnecessary risk, but unfortunately he often is.

Continuing Mr. Corbett refers to the case of Frank O’Grady, the lightweight boxer, who has been engaged by the Wellington Boxing Association to meet Jim Hagerty early next month, as follows:—Look at the position oi Frank O’Grady—a clever boxer, undoubtedly, with feet and hands, and yet he is much longer out of work than are several inferior boxers, more eager to mix the fighting, because they cannot rely upon their measure of skill. I have seen O’Grady fight like a tiger cat when hotly pressed, but directly the situation was relieved he once more fell back upon his cleverness and continued to baffle and beat a more pugnacious, apparently, adversary. That was boxing and why boxing is taught and learned. Not many peop’e would pay to see xhibitions of boxing only—it is the fight which attracts. I would go a long way to see a display of the science of the ring, but I would go much further to see the same two exponents fight.

The Freddy Welsh-Leach Cross fight at Los Angelos last week Ployed a. very tame affair. It went the full 20 rounds, and Welsh was given the decision on points. More than half the time the men were on their, teet was spent in clinches. Both attempted ineffectual infighting, and neither landed more than one or two telling blows. During the eighteenth round the arena resounded with cries of “Rotten,” “Fake,” and “Make them fight ” Welsh forced the fighting in the latter half of the twentieth, and finished much the stronger.

Georges Carpentier, the French pugilistic marvel, speaks English slightly with a perfect accent, has had 72 contests, been champion flyweight, bantam, light, welter, middle, lightheavy, and heavyweight champion of France. His first contest was at the age of 13, when he weighed 1001 b. With the first £lOOO made in boxing he bought a home for his father and mother, sisters and brothers, in the north of France. He owns a fortune, three motor cars, a beautifullymodelled body, a handsome face, and a strong personality. He is the recipient of a daily pile of letters from Admiring hero-worshippers, is courtea bv men, women and children, young, middle-aged and old, rich, medium and poor has many sweethearts, other things, perhaps good, bad and indifferent; and all this at 20 years- old.

Jim Hagerty, lightweight champion of the Dominion, has accepted the terms offered him by the Christchurch Sports Club for a match with Peter Cook, of Christchurch, on August 11. The match will be for a purse of £5O, and will involve the lightweight championship of New Zealand.

Carpentier is one of the greatest boxers living, and is almost certain to become world’s champion in a few years, says Pat O’Keeffe. The Irish heavyweight says he remembers getting a left punch on the body in the first round of their recent contest at Nice; the rest of the bout he has no recollection of. He doesn’t remember going to his corner at the interval or being knocked down, and credits the French boy with having a very heavy punch.

Dick Smith, the English boxer, and Georges Carpentier have been matched to fight in Liverpool on May 28 for the cruiser-weight championship of England.

Bombardier Wells has apparently set his heart on turning the tables on the French boxer, Georges Carpentier, and should he feel satisfied with his display against Colin Bell at the end of next month, he will again fight Carpentier.

A London caole conveys the information that Dick Burge, proprietor of “The Ring,” has received a cable from Frank Coffey turning down his (Burge’s) offer of £2OOO to fight Bombardier Billy Wells. Coffey refuses to make the trip, and says there is big money for him in America.

Two French boxers in Balzac and Jean Poesy, who were in Australia last year, are doing well in the pugilistic game in their own country. Last month Balzac outboxed an opponent named Eustache in a twelverounds’ contest at the Pala ; s de la Boxe in Paris, and gained a deserved verdict, the general opinion being that he showed an improvement in skill and speed. Poesy met Gaston Clement in a fifteen-rounds’ match, and gained the decision on points. Poesy’s display was not up to his usual standard, and a lack of condition marked his re-appearance in the ring.

Not satisfied with the referee’s verdict, which was given against him c'n points in his recent match with Joe Jeannette at Premierland, London, Colin Bell has issued a challenge to the famous coloured boxer for a return match for £lOOO a-side.

A London cable announces that Georges Carpentier, the French boxer, met with an accident last week, when he caught his ankle between his motor car and the kerb and injured the tendons. It is probable that his fight with Gunboat Smith will have to be postopend.

Joe Jeannette met Kid Jackson in a contest in Paris the other night, when he knocked his opponent out in the seventh round. In the opening rounds Jeannette frequently connected with a left hook to the jaw, and then. fought for the body.

Arthur Pelkey, the American heavyweight, who was the star attraction of the team of boxers ( brought out to Australia by Tommy Burns, has signified his intention of returning to the States straightaway, and by the time these lines appear in print will probably be aboard the American mailboat. Pelkey has only fought one match in Australia, that in which he was defeated in the nineteenth round by Bill Lang, so that his visit to the Commonwealth has proved an extremely disappointing experience.

According to a New York exchange, dated March I’7, Jack Read, the Australian lightweight, made his New York debut on the night of the Packy Hammey-Fallan fight, and he had a difficult time getting beyond the second round. In this chapter Bennett landed a pair of right hooks on the Australian’s jaw and he went to the canvas, taking the count of nine on each occasion. The first knockdown was not caused by an unusually hard punch, but Read decided to take the nine seconds. On the other occasion, about a minute later, he was floored hard and needed all the time allowed. He saved himself by clinching during the remainder of the round. Read showed quite a little cleverness in driving short jabs to Bennett’s face, but his hitting was light, and after his two knockdowns in the second round he seemed to lack confidence. Bennett forced matters all the way, and Read. continually backed around

the right to get out of the ranges of his punches. • ' • « »

A boxing match of world-wide interest is that arranged to take place in Paris shortly between Sam Langford, the sturdy negro pugilist, and Gunboat Smith, the American White Hope, who enjoys the distinction of being heralded as the world's best white boxer. The match will be fought for a purse of £3500, and will be of exceptional interest in view of the fact that a few months ago the “Gunboat” gained a newspaper decision over Langford in America. It is with the idea of avenging that defeat, which, it must be mentioned, was recorded against the Bostonian negro when he was totally out of condition, that Langford has signed articles to meet Smith in a return battle, and their meeting should be productive of a sterling encounter.

The return battle between Milburn Saylor (America) and Herb. McCoy (Victoria), which is set down for decision on May 30, is being eagerly looked forward to, and much speculation is being indulged in regarding the probability of the Australian again taking the count at the hands of the successful American lightweight, who numbers among his victories in Australia a win over the British welterweight champion, Tom McCormick.

Hughie Mehegan, Australian lightweight champion, has been matched to fight the English boxer, Kid Lewis, at the Rushcutters’ Bay Stadium, Sydney. on June 6. The Englishman, who arrived in Sydney last week, comes with a big reputation, and will probably be matched with Milburn Saylor, the hard-hitting American, who is undoubtedly the best lightweight in the Commonwealth to-day judging by his series .of knock-out victories since he first set foot in that country.

A memorable encounter is expected in Sydney on May 23, when the famous American middleweights, Jimmy Clabby and Jeff Smith, will clash in a battle for middleweight supremacy. Although the contest is advertised as for the world’s middleweight championship, the claims of Eddie McGoorty will have to receive consideration before the question of the rightful champion is definitely settled. Nevertheless, the meeting of Clabby and Jeff Smith will throw considerable light upon the situation, and it is safe to say that the winner will fight McGoorty for world’s middleweight honours.. Should Clabby succeed in defeating Jeff Smith as is anticipated by the majority of close followers of the boxing game, his meeting with Eddie McGoorty should prove the star boxing atraction of the year in Australia.

The presence in Australia of the trio of crack American middleweights, Jimmy Clabby, Eddie McGoorty and Jeff Smith, should, without doubt, result in the middleweight championship question being settled to the satisfaction of all. Although George Chip aid one or two other middleweights in the States lay claim to the title it has now generally been acknowledged that the priority of claim rests with the notable trio of middleweights at present in Australia, and whichever of the three proves master in the series of contests in the Commonwealth will be fully entitled to the honour of world’s middleweight champion.

Milburn Saylor, the clever American lightweight, has now been in Australia for four months. His Australian record is recent, but is worth printing, to let his prowess be seen at a glance: —January 3, k.o. Alf Morey, Sydney, 14 rounds; January 24, k.o. Hughie Mehegan, Sydney, 11 rounds; February 7. l.f. Eddie Newhouse, Brisbane, 6 rounds; March 7, k.o. Bert McCoy, Sydney, 18 rounds; March 28, k.o. Nat Williams, Sydney, 2 rounds; April 18, k.o. Tom McCormick, Sydney, 10 rounds; April 25, k.o. Nat Williams, Melbourne, 7 rounds.

Pat Bradley, the American heavyweight, who has been boxing in Australia for the past couple of years, has taken his departure for the States, but anticipates being back in the Commonwealth in- about four months’ time. Bradley, who has been suffering from a broken nose, will secure the services of a leading surgeon in the States, and though he is not certain whether he will participate in any contests during his absence he is hopeful of benefitting a great deal from his trip, which is undertaken specially for the purpose of renewing old associations in the land of the Stars and Stripes.

Referring to the world’s championship battle which is to take place between Jack Johnson and Frank Moran, the American heavyweight, in Paris on June 27, an English writer says: — Jack Johnson intends serious business. You can dismiss the story of a £7OOO purse as polite fiction. No American millionaire is parted from his money quite as easily as that, but it is still on the cards that Johnson, if he wins, will make that much out of the fight. I say if he wins advisedly, because he has let himself get hog-fat. Moran, the Irish giant, is very poor trash as a boxer, but he can (stand and he has a really solid right punch. There are those who aver that the match is a frame-up. These things happen in France. It is a very expensive country for the fight promoter, because apart from the usual incidental expenses, he has to pay blackmail to a section of the press, super-tax upon all his picture posters, and a charity tax upon the tickets sold. It is calculated that France only has about 12,000 thick and thin supporters of boxing, the great majority of whom are in Paris. Johnson will, therefore, have to have a bumper house if he is to make the profit of which he has boasted. In any case, he must be needing some money, even though he has just bought a very high-power swagger car of the latest design. The pugilist who does that either has money or wants to look as if he had it.

A London cable early this month announces that Bombardier Wells, owing largely to his manifest unpreparedness for his recent contest with Bandsman Rice, whom he defeated on points, has begun sculling under Barry in order to recover his lost capacity for punching. He has suspended all contests for two or three months. If his training be successful he hopes to meet Carpentier. The Bombardier’s decision to undergo a course of sculling may be attributed more to a desire to harden his abdominal muscles and so withstand the body blows which have always proved his undoing than a successful means of developing his punching powers. Carpentier knows Wells’ weak spot, and on both occasions they have met he has brought about the defeat of

the British champion by concentrating his attention on the Bombardier’s body. Wells fully recognises that unless his body presents a more solid bulwark against the Frenchman’s attack no longer can he expect to gain a victory over the French boy boxer, and sculling practice should play no small part in enabling the British champion to assimilate more easily the punishment inflicted upon him in the shape of severe body blows. It is unlikely, how r ever, that the Bombardier has any intention of suspending all contests for more than six or seven weeks as he has signed articles to meet Colin Bell at the end of June.

The clever showing of Colin Bell, the New South Wales heavyweight, in his recent fight in London with Joe Jeannette, the mulatto boxer, has led to the Australian being matched with Bombardier Wells, the contest to take place on June 29. The match will be for a purse of £2OOO, the winner to receive £l2OO, and the loser £BOO. The matching of Bell with Wells is an event of particular interest to colonial boxing enthusi asts, and not since' Bill Lang fought Sam Langford at the National Sporting Club, London, has a colonial heavyweight had such an opportunity of establishing a world-famed reputation. In view of Wells’ decisive defeats of Bandsman Blake and Bandsman Rice, two contenders for the British heavyweight championship, his forthcoming battle with Colin Bell will be awaited with no small degree of enthusiasm by English boxing- patrons, who were greatly impressed with Bell’s skill against Jeannette. The Australian heavyweight’s trip to England gives promise of turning out exceptionally well from a financial standpoint, and he must be exceedingly glad that he decided to visit the Old Country. To secure a match with the British champion in what will be his second engagement since arriving on English soil is an event of which Colin Bell may well feel proud, and with the great opportunities that he has at present all colonials will wish the game Moree boxer the best of luck.

The following paragraph, which" recently appeared in the English “Mirror of Life,’’ has reference to a boxer at present in this country, who is anxious to secure matches in New Zealand, viz., Gus Venn, and who has decided to take up the position of boxing instructor in Taumarunui: “Gus Venn, the Cornish featherweight, who started boxing in Pontypridd, but who has been in London during the past few years, left for New Zealand on the Ereuma last Friday. On Thursday night his backer, Councillor Ernie Mogford, gave a farewell banquet in Venn’s honour at Pinoli’s, Wardour Street, W., and about thirty sat down to table, including Ernie

Mogford, Tom Williams, W. Clifford, Albert Smith, Charlie Rose, Duke Lynch (Venn’s late opponent at the N.S.C.), Bert Brumley, Tom Venn, W. Eugene, etc., and, of course, the guest of the evening. Mr. Mogford proposed the health of the guest and Venn was toasted and cheered, the merry gathering singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Gus responded in a neat and modest speech, during which he thanked Mr. Mogford and those present for their kindness, and said he would remember that evening and many others with very pleasant feelings. He said any credit for his boxing knowledge went to Wales, though he was born in Cornwall, and he would always continue to do his best when in the ring. He paid a nice compliment to Duke Lynch, and the “Dook’’ came right back at him with a few “bouquets,” speaking of his fair, clean, game and manly way in the ring, winding up by wishing him every good luck and success in New Zealand. A most enjoyable few hours terminated with the breaking up of the party at midnight.”

Chaiixe Lucas, manager to the clever West Australian lightweight, Fred Kay, who fought Milburn Saylor at Melbourne on Saturday last, has the following to say regarding the young Australian, for whom a great ring career is- predicted:—“lt may be interesting to know where Fred Kay started in the game. He always had the idea that some day he would become a champion, and he spoke to his father about it and asked that he would allow him to take lessons from the old heavyweight champion, Bill Doherty, who was teaching in Fremantle. Fred’s father laughed at the idea, saying, ‘My boy, you must be mad to get such an idea into your head that you would eyer make a boxer. Why, you are 'too skinny. A punch would knock you in two.’ Fred was rather upset, but it made him more determined than ever, so, unknown to his dad, he called on Doherty, and finding it would not be too expensive started right away, and at the end of three months had got on so well that Bill entered him for a tourney promoted by that well-known goldfields sport Jack Cossen. Up till then Fred’s father knew nothing of his son’s doings with the gloves, but so confident was Fred about his chance that he persuaded his dad to go to Perth and see the tourney—never saying a word about himself taking part in it. Dad was placed in the cheap seats so that he would not be able to jump up and pull his son out of the ring. Fred was in high glee at the way things were working. He entered the' ring, well covered up and all smiles, and it was not till the referee called them together that he dared strip himself of the long gown and cap he wore. The old man sat there, never dreaming that it was his own son, and when he made the discovery he was too much taken aback to act, and by the time

he recovered himself Fred had his man so badly used up that the referee stopped the contest and declared Kay the winner. Fred rushed over to his father to see how he was taking it, and to his surprise found him a proud man. After this Kay went on and won the tourney. Fred had two other contests in the West, winning both, He then went to Sydney, where he entered the tourney at the old Newtown Stadium. This he won also. Then came the Olympia’s £6OO venture. Kay met and defeated Armstrong, and Regio afterwards. It was at this stage cf his career I asked Fred to come with me. I had followed his doings right along, and was convinced that he had championship material in him. You know the rest.”

. The contest between Eddie McGoorty and Jerry Jerome, the aboriginal boxer, attracted a crowd of 3000 to the Brisbane Stadium, and as expected the verdict was gained by the American, who defeated his opponent in six rounds. Jerome, who was enthusiastically cheered, entered the ring attended by Peter Felix. Both men fought at catch weights. McGoorty looked about a stone heavier than Jerry, who looked like a

Lilliputian. The first round was fairly quiet, the American doing all the forcing, and the aboriginal taking most of the blows on his gloyes. McGoorty missed badly with two terrific swings in the * second round. They sailed over Jerome’s head harmlessly. Towards the close of the round Jerry hooked the American behind the ear. The third round was even, McGoorty forcing and Jerry watching for an opening. A red patch showed over McGoorty’? right eye, as the result of Jerry’s attentions. The American shot out some light lefts. In the fourth round, Jerry forced matters, got McGoorty in a .corner, and pasted him good and hard, the American hanging on all he knew, with blood streaming down his face. The interval was very welcome to McGoorty. Hopping about like a kangaroo, Jerome foxed in the fifth round, and towards the end of it smashed a hard left to the American’s body, at the same time making a grimace as though of pain. The sixth round opened auspiciously for Jerome, who met the American hard on the jaw with a left swing. McGoorty tried for his famous hook, but the aboriginal was too elusive, and hopped about ’like a cricket. Jerry was thrown down at the end of the round, but rose at three, when corners sounded. The towel then came in from Jerry's corner. It afterwards transpired that in the previous round he had broken a small bone above the right wrist, and was absolutely helpless. Jerry had been doing well up to then, and looked like extending McGoorty, who at times was clearly puzzled by the black’s crude style. McGoorty several times hooked while holding, and was guilty of wrestling and hittingin clinches.

An interesting motor car non-stop engine test was recently carried out in California. A stock car, which had already covered nearly 7000 miles, was run over a stated route for 72 hours without a single engine stop. During the test the car was available to the public for free rides, and all told 1003 miles were covered. Altogether 184 stops were made to pick up or drop passengers; only two gallons of water evaporated during the test, whilst 52 gallons of petrol were used, equal to 19% miles to the gallon. The lubricating oil used was equal to 125 miles to the quart. Such a run serves to emphasise the reliability embodied in the present day car.

The “Daily Mail,” with its usual advanced methods, has arranged for a test of England’s new air navy during this year that will be of great national importance. Mr. Salmet, the famous airman, is to visit the principal seaside resorts of England, Scotland and Wales. He will be provided with two magnificent passenger-carry-ing machines, equally serviceable for use over land and sea. The machines are the latest and best productions of the Roe workshops in Manchester and the Bleriot workshops in Paris. The charge for transit will vary according to the time and distance of the flights, and it is hoped the scheme will demonstrate the passenger-carry-ing capacity and speed endurance of England’s new air navy to hundreds of thousands whose minds are as yet unfamiliar with the great possibilities of this new service.

Mr. A. F. Wilding, the distinguished tennis player, and member of a wellknown Christchurch family, has, according to an Australian contemporary, appeared in a new character. He is credited with being a keen motorist and with driving a ClementBayard. Mr. Wilding, whose fame on the tennis courts extends from London to Vienna, as well as across two newer continents, is now connected with the Victor Tyre Company, of

London, and acts in the capacity of their Continental representative.

Fishing in the Kakanui River recently a South Island sportsman landed three trout, the heaviest of which turned the scale at 17%1b. The big fellow, which was in excellent condition, was caught with ordinary tackle and live bait, and landed without the aid of a gaff.