GENERAL NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1302, 8 April 1915, Page 28

GENERAL NOTES.

The death took place recently at South Shields of Andrew Tokell, exbantamweight champion of the world (says London “Sporting Life”). Tokell, who was 41 years of age, had been in failing health for some time. He was built on similar lines to Bob Fitzsimmons, and had admittedly the best and strongest punch of any of his class. Born of Irish parents, he was a native of J arrow-on Tyne. He took part in several money fights with the bare fists when a youth, and for several years had a boxing booth, with which he toured the country upholding his laurels against all comers, and in this way gained much valuable experience. He was sft. 5%in., had a reach of 71in., and weighed in condition Bst. 21b. Tokell made his first appearance in the ring in 1893, and during the whole of his career, extending over eight years, was never once knocked out, and only five t.mes beaten on points. His principal con tests were: —Knocked out Bill Richards, Tommy Coghlan, Biliy Bucklin, Billy Lord twice (once at Amsterdam), Jack Daly, BJly Tomkins, Bill Hampshire (twice), Jack Carr; lost on points to Andrew Wood in 20 rounds; knocked out Jim Berry, George Slark (twice), Paddy Murphy, Jack Ford, Joe Cunningham, Jack Wheal, Yorkshire champion (twice), Tommy Murphy (twice), Paddy Morton (twice), Ben Harris, Jack Denison, George Cummings, and Pat Daly. Tokell travelled for some time with Philadelphia Jack O’Brien, whom he trained, and later beat Bob Wilkinson on points in 20 rounds, knocked out Tom King, Jem Williams, who had knocked out Pedlar Palmer in three rounds, and Harry Paul. His most notable fight was with Harry Ware, whom he defeated on points in 20 rounds for the world’s championship. Ware had previously won on points from Pedlar Palmer. Tokell toured for some time with George Dixon, the coloured wonder, giving exhibitions in London, and afterwards went to America to mee: Harry Forbes for the world’s championship. He landed a; the time when the American States had banned prize fighting and declared boxing matches of more than ten rounds illegal. This tour was most unfavourable. Tokell, who was always more of a fighter than a boxer, met Forbes in ten rounds, but there was no decision, and he afterwards met Dan Dougherty without result. Tokell then returned to England, and at the National Sporting Club lost on points to Joe Bowker in fifteen rounds, and there was no decision in twelve rounds with Owen Moran. He afterwards knocked out Albert Wheeler (twice), Young Sharkey, Eddie Connelly, drew with George Dixon, knocked out Frank Neil, Tom Jchnstone, Johnnie Summers, afterwards middleweight champion of England, Dan Barker, Jack Turner, and Tom Johnstone. After a long absence from the ring he lost on points to Kid Saxby in fifteen rounds. Tokell was giving as much as 251 b. away to opponents. Latterly he had devoted his attention to training men for the ring, and had turned out many well-known pugilists.

After 20 rounds of clean, clever boxing, in which interest never flagged, Herb McCoy (9st. 91b.), Australian lightweight champion, was declared the winner over Abe Attell (9st. 81b.), of America, at the Stadium, Melbourne, the other night. Opinion as to the justice of the decision was divided, but the referee, Vic Newhouse, stated after the fight that Attell had lost points for hitting with the open glove. Attell was quicker on his feet than the Victorian, and in the opening rounds had all the best of the outfighting, scoring heavily with lefts and rights to McCoy’s head. The Victorian, however, was his master at infighting, and when they got to close quarters he evened matters with heavy body punches. Attell had slightly the better of the first six rounds, but McCo y livened up in the seventh round, and in a vigorous rally drove Attell to the ropes, but the American repeatedly saved himself by cleverly side-stepping. In the eleventh and twelfth rounds the American punched

McCoy vigorously round the ring, scoring repeatedly with lefts and rights to the head, but the honours rested with the Victorian in the following round. The last four rounds were evenly contested, both men alternately having the advantage. Attell was cheered for his clever exhibition on leaving the ring.

Eugene Volaire, the Frenchman, gained the decision over Reg. Delaney (Regio) at the Stadium, Brisbane, the other night, after 20 fierce rounds. Quite early it looked as though the fight would have a sudden termination. In the second round Volaire right-crossed Delaney on the jaw. The latter went down for two seconds. Delaney weathered the storm, and fought'well for the next six rounds. He tired, and Volaire assumed the upper hand. In the 14th round Delaney hit' Volaire very low’, and the Frenchman doubled up in pain. Hoots greeted the decision, but it was correct.

The name of Marcel Thomas is added to the list of French boxers injured at the war, and he recently had to undergo an operation for a bullet wound in the left thigh received in Alsace, where his countrymen are holding on with rare determination to the territory they have managed to reoccupy after a lapse of forty-four years. Thomas is one of the leading welterweights in France, and amongst the men he has beaten are Dixie Kid,

Frank Madole, and Fred Delaney. HxS wound is rather a bad one, and it is to be hoped he will make a complete recovery, so that he may, when peace is restored, be able to take an active part in the boxing game. Another French fistic celebrity, Eugene Trickri, a very useful featherweight and old opponent of Thomas, has recovered from wounds received on the Aisne a little while back, and is about to return to the front.

The following reference to the crack Brit.sh welterweight, Private Basham, whose latest tr.umnh consisted of defeating Matt Wells in London the other evening, will be read with interest: —“The new holder of the Lonsdale welter belt is a boxer of many parts, inasmuch as he has that curious adaptability of temperament that enables a boxer to fix his tactics to the requirements necessary to defeat an opponent. He took quite a long time to get to the bottom of Summers’ plain, almost obvious methods, and he made the huge mistake of thinking early in the contest that he could take liberties. His reminder was a smashing hit on the mouth, that played havoc with teeth already loosened by a blow received in training. That sort of thing was required by Basham, and instead of taking the punch with umbrage, he took it as a lesson, and decided to be more careful. He did not lose his coolness of mind, but he went along on the low gear, so to speak, and in all calmness. When Basham hits with full intention his punch is something to be feared, and although it was so long before he managed to find his opportunity, the fact remains that he waited, like the good

general he is, until he had recovered Irom that punch in the second round. Basham is worthy enough as a champion, and although he did not box so well in this bout as he has done in others, he was labouring under the disadvantages of poor seconding and the restraining fact that he was engaged upon his first championship contest. If, as has been said, Summers was under the impression that !i g opponent could not hit hard enough to hurt, he was very foolish, for Bas ham’s right hand is quick enough to beat a left lead and land with a severity that means a knock-out. Basham’s record showed tnat he could knock a man out, and only a stupid overconfidence on the part of Summers could have caused the latter to think that he was immune from any such calamity. He dropped his defence as if he thought that, and no man on earth can afford to abandon defence when opposed to a boxer who can hit as hard as Basham can. With a welterweight champ.onship of Great Britain to his credit, and a defeat of Young Ahearn in his record, Sergeant Johnny Basham is just about the most popular of our many famous boxers who have joined the army.”

The following letter, written by a correspondent to Mr. W. F. Corbett, boxing critic on the Sydney “Sun,” will be read w.th interest throughout this Dominion: —“Regarding your reference to Les Gleeson’s performance

in knocking out his opponent in one punch, you mention that similar things have occurred at lengthy intervals in the past. I have been a keen follower of the game s.nce the early age of 15 years, dating from about the year (from memory) 1900, when Doherty defeated Felix after 21 rounds at the old Metropolitan Hall, Ultimo. The nearest approach to Gleeson’s performance I personally witnessed (and which may interest your readers to recall) was that between the late Sid Russell and a New Zealand heavyweight, Batchelor, at the Gaiety Hall about 10 years ago. I cannot say from memory whether it was the only blow launched,, but it was certainly the only one landed —viz., a right to the temple, which spread-eagled the New Zealander for the full count and for some considerable time afterwards. As, no doubt, there are many others who witnessed the incident referred to and it hag escaped their memory, I think it is worth recalling.”

Among the boxers who have been killed at the front with the British Expeditionary Forces is Bob Yewman, w*ho accompanied Johnny Summers to Australia as trainer during the latter’s last visit. Particulars of Yewman’s death on the field of battle are contained in a letter just received by a Sydney resident, Mr. Jack Hannaford, of City Tattersail’s Club. The letter states: —“It is with regret that I have to inform yoxi that my friend Bob Yewman first lost his wife and then volunteered for the front, saying, as you might expect he would, that he did not care what happened to him. He died a hero’s death at the battle of the Aisne early in December. I am

enclosing an in memorium card, something to remind you of your pal Bob. I think it very kind of you to write making enquiries regarding him." Yewman, whose proper Christian name would appear to have been Ferdinand, was interred in France —on the battlefield presumably. Mr. Hannaford’s correspondent encloses a clipping from the London “News of the World,” which supplies the following interesting information: —“Writing from the front, Sergeant (now Company Q.M.sergeant) Tom Evans, of the 2nd Royal Scots, who won the army and navy featherweight championship in 1910 and 1911, states that the wellknown London boxer Bob Yew man has been killed by a shell. Evans says .hat Yewman had been out with them lor a month, and did some good work, and proved himself a brave fellow. He was in a dug-out, just behind a haystack, when a Jack Johnson fell into the trench and killed four men, in addition to Yewman, who was one of the gamest men that ever put on a glove. On practically retiring from the rug he acted as a trainer. Evans further states that Privates Quillet and Sutherland, two well known provincial boxers, were also killed, and adds that he has teen in some tight corners himself, but managed to get out of them all right. ‘The Germans,’ continues Evans, ‘have a good army, but they are beginning to feel it now, and don’t put hall their former dash into (he r work.’ "

Nearly all the French boxers are, or have been, at the front assisting to keep the tricolour flying, and some of them have met former ring opponents on the field of battle. They are fighting side by side now, and with a distinction which will ultimately mean the downing of the “cultured’ race. As is the case with us, France has had a number of her knights of the ring put out of action, some for all time, and others pro tern., and the latest cross Channel boxer to get hit is a leading flyweight, Eugene Criqui, who, it will be remembered, twice fought Percy Jones at Liverpool when the latter was the holder of the Lonsdale flyweight belt. He defeated and was defeated by the Welsh lad, and took his place against the Huns soon after they made war on France. His injury luckily is not considered dangerous, and, providing he isn’t mere unfortunate when he returns to the fighting line, he will be able to follow his profession when the war is over.

The defeat of Bombard er Wells at the hands of the American heavyweight Frank Moran, at the National Sporting Club, London, would not cause a great deal of surprise, in view of the game showing made by Moran in his contest with Jack Johnson in Paris some little time ago. Though champ on of England, Wells has never been regarded as a world beater, and after his two decisive defeats by the French champion, Georges Carpentier, interest in his career dropped accordingly. His failure to beat Moran affords further evidence that the Bombardier is never likely to develop into a world’s champion. At the same time

he enjoys wide popularity with followers of boxing in the Old Country, and has managed to amass quite a small fortune since taking up boxing as a profession.

Jimmy Esson, of Aberdeen, a famous catch-as-catch-can wrestler, is on his way to New Zealand. He is 27 or 28 years old and 6ft. 344 in. in height. He used to strip at 16.10.