GENERAL NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1260, 11 June 1914, Page 28

GENERAL NOTES.

The lure of the roped arena has proved too strong a temptation to Tommy Burns during his present visit to Australia, and unable to restrain himself any longer, the ex-world’s champion has issued challenges to both Bill Lang and Sam McVea. Lang has always been desirous of securing a return match with the famous Canadian boxer, against whom he made such a creditable showing when Burns first visited Australia towards the end of 1908. Burns has no fears regarding his ability to get into good fighting trim, and his reappearance in boxing contests in Australia is cer-

tain to arouse great interest in view of the American’s great popularity and untiring work in the interests of charity. Though past thirty, Burns has kept himself in good condition, the only thing needed to fit him for the ring being a reduction in avoirdupois, as he has always put on flesh rapidly when not in constant training. The ex-champion has lost none of his skill and little of his speed, so that he should be found equal to putting up a big showing against Bill Lang, who is not likely to miss the chance of again engaging in combat with the renowned boxer. Sam McVea and Tommy Burns is a match that has long been awaited by boxing followers, and as both possess a worthy ring record their meeting

should prove of unusual interest to those acquainted with their respective careers.

It is expected that the two clever American lightweights, Milburn Saylor and Joe .Shugrue-, will meet shortly, as a match between the pair would assuredly prove a strong drawing card. Shugrue has several engagements to fulfil before he is prepared to meet Saylor, who, despite an injured hip, is ready to meet allcomers, being perhaps the busiest boxer in Australia at the present time.

Following his points’ victory over Milburn Saylor, Fred. Kay is the most talked of boxer in the Common-

wealth at the present time, and his appearance in public always creates considerable interest. Kay’s services are in great request, the young Australian being offered further matches and also inducements to appear in vaudeville at the Theatre Royal, Perth. At present the young West Australian is taking a rest from the boxing game, though it is expected that he will accept the vaudeville contract offered him. It is reported that he netted just under £3OO for his match with Saylor, and if he should fulfil the high hopes of his many supporters he should be on the high road to fortune. Melbourne boxing enthusiasts are clamouring for a return match between Kay and Saylor, but it is unlikely the American

will agree to a match in the Victorian capital, as a section of the crowd who witnessed the Kay-Saylor encounter treated the latter in anything but a sportsmanlike manner. Nevertheless Saylor is extremely anxious to again meet his conqueror, and it appears certain a return match will be arranged in the near future.

The defeat of the American lightweight Milburn Saylor at the hands of the young Victorian Fred Kay, proved the forerunner to another American downfall, for at the end of twenty rounds the match between the Australian lightweight champion, Hughie Mehegan, and Joe Welling, of America, which took place at the Sydney Stadium, was declared in favour of Mehegan. Though the decision, in the opinion of those most competent to judge, was a bad one, the American displaying more skill than his opponent and being fully entitled to the verdict, the mere fact of Mehegan staying the twenty rounds marks a welcome change, for Australians have wearied of the humiliating spectacle, which has become much too frequent of late, of witnessing their best lightweights compelled to take the count at the hands of the American boxers, Saylor and Shugrue, while Eddie McGoorty has shown that he carries too many guns for his Australian opponents.

In view of the superiority of the American visitors as disclosed in the majority of battles against leading Australian fistic opponents during the past few months, it came as no surprise to fine Joe Welling practically a 2 to 1 on favourite in his match with Hughie Mehegan. Much as those at the ringside desired to see the

Australian triumph over the American, their spirit of sportsmanship was so great that the unfairness of Referee Harold Baker’s verdict in favour of Mehegan evoked a roar of protest, the public refusing to recognise the Australian as a winner. Welling outfought his opponent in the early half of the fight, and though Mehegan made* up a good deal of the leeway in the remaining rounds he failed to even accounts, and that the public fully realised this was demonstrated in no uncertain voice. Both men had agreed to weigh m at 9st. 101 b., and Welling tipped the beam at 9st. lb., but Mehegan was 2oz. over the stipulated weight. The American’s party were thus entitled to claim a £lOO forfeit, but they declined to take any action in that direction, a commendable decision on their part.

Since his much-disputed fight with Jeff Smith, in which he was considered lucky to have received the re-

feree’s verdict, Eddie McGoorty has had an easy time of it, not having indulged in any contest likely to imperil his reputation. His match against the aboriginal boxer, Jerry Jerome, in Brisbane, was not taken seriously, for only 3000 assembled to witness the contest which was won by the crack American in the sixth round, in which Jerome was sent to the boards for three seconds. The. aboriginal was not averse to continuing the fight, but his task appeared so hopeless at this stage that the tow'el was thrown in from his corner. McGoorty’s latest fight took place in Melbourne towards me end of last month, when he had c.,1 his opponent the French boxer, Jules Dubourg, whom he knocked out in the fifth round of their scheduled twenty rounds contest. McGoorty s left hooks were too much for the Frenchman, and early in the fifth he sent him down for the count of six with a right at the back of the ear, followed by a left to the jaw. Dubourg rose, only to be felled by a left to the jaw and a right over the s.ce of the head, and again he took the count of six. He rose again, and was hit on the jaw with a left, while the right landed on his stomach. He went down, and the referee stopped the contest

In the first round Dubourg was very nervous, sending in light, lefts and rights to the head, which McGoorty disdained to acknowledge until a hard left drove him to counter with a low

right, which caused a howl from Dubourg’s corner. The Frenchman had a shade the better of the first round, and in the next tried to exchange punches with the American. To a bertain extent he was successful, but when McGoorty crossed with left and right he was content to keep off. Dubourg was very nervous in the third, and by keeping away evened matters by side-stepping McGoorty’s counters to his left leads. Whenever possible the Frenchman clinched, and McGoorty scored on the unprotected body. Dubourg protected his head with perfect judgment, but the body ‘blows of his opponent were, causing him agony. In the fourth Dubourg led all the way with fast lefts to the head, which only caused the American to smile, and counter with right rips to the body, which soon made the Frenchman very careful, and drove him to clinch. Dubourg led with a left to the head in the fifth, and McGoorty’s right cross shook him severely. The Frenchman essayed a light left to the head, followed by a rip to the body with the right, and McGoorty countered with a right over the ear, which practically knocked out his opponent. The crowd cheered Dubourg as he rose, but he fell back to the ropes, and McGoorty again sent him down with another right to the jaw. Again Dubourg took the count of six. The crowd yelled, “Stop the fight!” as the Frenchman was sent down again, and Marre declared McGoorty the winner. 9 3* £ Frank Ellis, the ex-Wellington featherweight, made short work of his latest opponent, Billy Ketchell, at Brisbane the other evening. The contest started in lively fashion, and the New Zealander slipped over a punch that forced Ketchell to take the count exactly two minutes and ten seconds after the first gong. Just before Milburn Saylor boarded the Melbourne express for the return trip to Sydney he was asked what he had to say about the contest with Fred Kay. “I’ll back Kay for . £5OO to beat any man in Australia running backwards. He can run backwards faster than any man alive.” ❖ ❖ ❖ * Sam Langford, through the French Boxing Federation, has challenged Jack Johnson, if he (Johnson) defeats Frank Moran. In the event of the negro’s defeat the challenge applies to Moran. The battle, whether it is between Langford and Johnson, or Langford and Moran, will he for the heavyweight championship of the world.

There appears every likelihood of Bill Lang and Eddie McGoorty meeting within the ropes at an early date, for the American is anxious to fight Lang, and it will cause some surprise if the big Victorian turns down an opportunity of a contest with the world-famed middleweight.

At the Grand Theatre, Salisbury, a contest for the heavyweight championship of South Africa recently took place between Mike Williams, the holder, and Fred. Storbeck (says the “Mirror of Life”), It was all over in the first round —to be exact, two minutes and twenty seconds of actual boxing. At the sound of the gong Williams rushed at Storbeck and reached his mouth with a straight left, cutting the latter’s lip; then he followed up with two hard rights to

the body without a return, Mike having the best, of the first minute. Suddenly Storbeck woke up and began to pummel Mike all over the. ring. The latter fought back strongly, but Fred's blows had more power in them. Both absorbed sufficient punishment to have knocked out three ordinary men. There was not an idle moment and every blow found its billet. Early in the third minute Fred led with the left, which Mike ducked and countered with the right to what was meant for the solar plexus, but which landed a trifle low, for which he was cautioned, but it was purely accidental. They sparred for a second, then Storbeck landed a powerful right to the body which dashed Mike against the ropes. They next stood toe to toe and swapped punches for about 10 seconds. It was then noticed that Williams was weakening fast under the powerful blows of Storbeck, and the latter appeared faster and stronger by the contrast. Fred just leaned back a little and let go a great right-hander, delivered with the full force of his body from the hip upwards, which caught Mike on the side of the head, dropping him to the boards. The referee began to count when Williams gasped out he was settled and couldn’t continue. Thus Fred Storbeck became heavyweight champion of South Africa. It was the second contest between the pair, and a vice versa result, for at the first meeting some little time ago Storbeck, it will be remembered, lost on a foul in two rounds.

A lightweight contest has been arranged to take place on August 11 in Christchurch between Jim Hagerty and Peter Cook.

The South Canterbury boxing championships are to be held at Timaru on June 19.

Freddie Welsh, the British champion, and Willie Ritchie, the world’s champion, have agreed to fight for world’s lightweight supremacy at the Olympia on July 4.

The Grey Boxing Association will hold a tournament on June 26 and 27, at which some interesting bouts are promised, as it is the intention of the Association to send a team to compete at the New Zealand championship carnival, to be held in Wanganui next month. The enthusiasm shown by ambitious exponents of the fistic art on the West Coast should result in some good material being revealed at the forthcoming tournament, so that the Association will probably be worthily represented at the Mew Zealand championships.

The fifteen rounds contest at Christchurch last week between Gus Devitt, the New Zealand boxer who has earned a big reputation in Australia, and Barney Ireland, of Waipawa, former middleweight champion of the Dominion, for a purse of £5O, proved somewhat disappointing, owing to the pair indulging in tar too much clinching. Devitt’s weight was given as list. 31b., Ireland being a pound heavier. Continued clinching and pushing one another about the ring robbed the contest of its spectacular effect, and. seldom did the contestants let loose their battery of punches to an extent to raise the excitement of the audience. Devitt’s methods were the more skilful, and he clearly demonstrated that he is a thorough ring general, by his cool and collected manner at all phases of the contest.

Ireland’s best work was accomplished at close quarters, his short arm blows being very effective. However, Devitt always had a pull over the Hawke’s Bay man in points, and though Ireland made a big effort to even up matters in the remaining rounds, the task was beyond him, and Devitt was awarded the verdict, about which there could be no discussion.

The Gisborne Boxing Association’s recent carnival afforded an excellent idea of the keen interest centred in the fistic art by residents of that town, for the Opera House was packed to the doors on the occasion of their special tournament. The principal match of the evening was the professional contest between Bert Lowe (holder), of Gisborne, and W. Bartlett (challenger), of Christchurch, for the heavyweight championship of the Dominion and a purse of £75, which resulted in a victory for Lowe, who punished his opponent so severely that the towel was thrown in from the Christchurch man’s corner in the eleventh round. Bartlett turned the scale at 12st. 21b., while Lowe weighed list. 111 b. A splendid contest was anticipated, and such it proved, the pair being responsible for one of the best heavyweight encounters ever witnessed in the Dominion. Lowe displayed more cleverness than the Christchurch man, his blows being better timed and more effective than Bartlett’s. Lowe’s unerring left caused his opponent constant anxiety, and the champion frequently brought his lightning right uppercuts into commission. Bartlett fought a game battle, acting mostly on the defence, and it is questionable if he won a single round, several of which, however, were very even as regards points. Both men were in splendid condition and looked fully equal to lasting out a hard battle, but Bartlett was the recipient of much punishment, and was showing visible signs of fatigue after the eighth round.

The opening rounds saw Lowe display very clever defence, Bartlett frequently missing with left and right swings, though occasionally he scored with telling right crosses to head. In the seventh round Lowe went after his man, sending in several effective blows to head, Bartlett being forced up against the ropes. Excitement was at fever pitch when Bartlett got out of the predicament by sending Lowe to the boards per medium of a swift right uppercut. The champion was little the worse for the blow, but took full advantage of the nine seconds. In the eighth, ninth and tenth rounds Lowe outfought his opponent, who was weakening under the fusillade of blows, but nevertheless retaliated in plucky style, his right crosses generally finding their mark. Lowe rushed his opponent in the eleventh round, and sweeping his defence aside inflicted considerable punishment, and Bartlett being to all appearances a beaten man his seconds, on their principal’s advice, threw in the towel.

Bert Lowe, who successfully defended his title of heavyewight champion of New Zealand, in his match against W. Bartlett, of Christchurch, at Gisborne at the end of last month, has received a challenge from Harry Marquet, the ex-New Zealander, who has been boxing in Sydney for some time. Auckland is mentioned as the scene of the combat, which will be held under the auspices of the Northern Boxing Association.

Harry Stone has been matched to fight Johnny Summers in London for the best purse offered. On both occasions that Summers met Stone in Australia he suffered defeat at the hands of the New Yorker in each instance.

A cable announces that Matt Wells nas arrived back in London, and is anxious to meet Johnny Summers for the welterweight title. It will be remembered that Tom McCormick, who travelled out from England to Australia for the express purpose of meeting Johnny Summers, twice defeated the Lonsdale belt holder, but subsequently was beaten by Mart Wells in the latter’s first contest as a welterweight. Matt Wells therefore has a big claim to the British welterweight title, and it is little wonder that he is hot on the trail of Summers.

The general opinion in England is that Bombardier Wells, on form, even if he is properly prepared, has no chance of beating Colin Bell. The latter, however, is considered to lack punching power, and is not a tigerfighter of the Carpentier type.

Jack Johnson, provided he beats Frank Moran, whom he fights at Paris, in June, has agreed to meet Sam Langford at London, some time in September.

According to a London cable the opposition of the Home Office to the holding of the Sam Langford-Gunboat Smith match in London means a permanent embargo on black and white boxing there. It will be impossible for Joe Jeannette and Colin Bell to fight their return match in London.

Paris is offering £BOOO for a fight between Johnson and Langford, £3OOO for a Carpentier-Jeanette clash, and £2OOO for a meeting between Langford and Gunboat Smith.

Dave Smith has departed from his original resolution to quit, the ring for good, and has signed articles to meet the American Fritz Holland in Melbourne. Holland is a boxer of some renown, and since he has been in Australia earned the distinction of defeating the English welterweight Tom McCormick.

Herb McCoy, the Victorian lightweight, who may probably visit New Zealand, suffered another defeat on May 30 at the Sydney Stadium, when he met the English featherweight champion and Lonsdale belt holder, Kid Lewis, in a twenty rounds battle. The Englishman was far too fast for the Australian, and outpointed him from start to finish. Lewis brought all of his skill into play and often had McCoy flabbergasted, but the latter fought a plucky loosing battle, sticking to his guns right up to the final gong. The English champion created a high impression, and will not want for matches in Australia.

The Northern Boxing Association have matters well in hand regarding the question of securing prominent Australian boxers to visit Auckland during the present season. Herb McCoy, the clever Victorian, is expected to visit these shores shortly, and it is anticipated that a number of the best exponents in the Commonwealth will be induced to make the tour across the Tasman, combining business with pleasure.