THE IDOL OF FRENCH FISTIC FANS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1262, 25 June 1914, Page 28

THE IDOL OF FRENCH FISTIC FANS.

GEORGES CARPENTIER’S SPLENDID RECORD.

'The career of Georges Carpentier has been of a meteoric order, and few thought at the time the slim French boxer was battling in the lightweight division that he would leap so rapidly into fame in the boxing world. Carpentier has, however, always been the idol of French fistic fans, and the victories he has scored over English boxers have caused his countrymen to give him every encouragement in the profession he has elected to follow. Carpentier has fought his way steadily up the pugilistic ladder, his efforts at last being crowned by the decisive victories over the British heavyweight champion, Bombardier Wells. Even then there are many who have tried feverishly to reduce his market value, but there is little doubt that this French pugilistic diamond of the high-priced variety is one of the greatest boxers of the present day, and in substantiation of this claim one has only to refer to the young Frenchman’s fine ring record. DEFEATS ARE FEW. Only three defeats mar Carpentier’s record, and these were administered by American middleweights—the Dixie Kid, Frank Klaus and Billy Papke. He never has been beaten in London, however, where he is rated as a wonder because of the easy fashion in which he toppled over the British champion. For that reason Dick Burge has seen fit to offer a purse of £5OOO for a battle between the French star and Gunboat Smith, which Jim Buckley has accepted. A fight with this pair as principals would draw a tremendous house in London and surely more than repay Burge for his outlay. Much as Eng-

lish sports admire Carpentier’s skill, there is one thing they would admire a great deal more —a man that could lick him. Hence the threatened importation of Gunboat Smith, who will make his debut in England and France as a near champion under very favourable circumstances. For the chances are good that Gunboat, if he fights up to his usual standard, should stop the Frenchman within the 20-round limit. It will be something unusual for the American slugger to possess an advantage in weight over an opponent, he is accustomed to give away chunks of it, but in the Carpentier match he will scale at least 11 pounds heavier than Georges. The latter is probably the cleverer boxer of the two, but his ability to rough matters with an aggressive,, hard-hitting opponent is doubtful. If, milling on even terms with Papke and Klaus he collapsed under the punching handed him, how can he be expected to stand the punishment he will be subjected to when the heavy Smith batteries rake him fore and aft? , CAN’T SEE HIM A LOSER. It must not be thought for an instant that French sports figure Carpentier as a possible loser. If ever there lived an athlete whom his compatriots deemed invincible it is this same Carpentier. John L. Sullivan in his palmiest days never had anything on the French lad so far as home popularity was concerned. When he put Bombardier Wells out of the running his fame was complete, there was nothing wanting to make him the greatest hero in France with all classes and both sexes, high and low. His past defeats were forgotten, and when he recently lost a close decision to Joe Jeannette his Paris reputation wasn’t hurt thereby. Rather they considered him a marvel of courage in venturing against one of the formidable negro heavyweights who for so long terrorised the white brigade.

The Greymouth Boxing Association will hold their West Coast amateur championship tournament on Friday and Saturday next, June 26 and 27.

The balance-sheet in connection with the “Gus” Devitt-“Barney” Ireland contest in Christchurch on 2nd June, controlled by the Christchurch Sports Club, showed a deficit of £l2 10s. The expenses of the tournament, amounted to £llO 3s.