GENERAL NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1308, 20 May 1915, Page 29

GENERAL NOTES.

Tommy Burns never did have any affection for Jack Johnson, either before or after losing the championship to the giant negro, but the “Canadian Wonder” had the satisfaction of witnessing his prediction carried out to the very letter in the recent Willard-Johnson mill, prior to which Burns said to Jess Willard:--“Jess, if you don’t win from Johnson I will never try to pick another winner in the ring. I think you are absolutely sure to win.” Willard looked down from his 6ft. 6in. and encouraged Tommy to go on. He was listening to one who knows Johnson and his way as well as anyone. “I fought Johnson wrong,” continued Burns: “I played into his hands thinking I could outgame him. If I had stood off him I could have stayed the limit and won the decision, for Johnson, I think, is the poorest champion we ever had. On the defensive he is a clever man, but he won’t fight. If he lands a blow or two that doesnt’s hurt you he gets discouraged. I don’t see how he can hurt a fellow like you, and if you play your cards right you’ll sure be the next champion.”

In a letter to the Sydney “Sun ’ W. Norton, trainer of the ex-New Zealand heavyweight Bill Rudd, denies that Neilsen knocked Rudd out m eight rounds. Rudd threw in the towel, he says. That action constitutes a knock-out under the rules adopted by the Australian Boxing Conference in 1913. The correspond ent says the police stopped the other contest between Rudd and Neilsen because the latter was getting a “terrible gruelling.” “Rudd and Neilsen are matched to fight at Cessnock on the 28th inst.” continues the letter in quection, “and Rudd is willing to fight winner take the lot, or for a 75 and 25 per cent, division. Neilsen will, if he cares for it, be accommodated with a side bet that he cannot knock Rudd out. Rudd intends leaving, with his wife, for New Zealand in a couple of weeks, as he has decided to take on farming. He owns a 300-acre block of land at Mercer,

North Island. If Neilsen will make a match Rudd will delay his departure to meet him. ’ If Neilsen and Rudd are, as the correspondent says, matched to fight at Cessnock on the 28th inst, why suggest that he should make a match?

The match which has been arranged between Mick King, the clever West Australian middleweight, and Harold Hardwick, the ex-amateur heavyweight of the Commonwealth is arousing a great deal of inheres in sport.ng circles throughout Australia. Hardwick’s backers have put up their £5OO side wager, in response to the offer of Mick King’s backers to support the last-named boxer against the ex-amateur champion. King’s party are confident that theii' man can account for Hardwick, and there is. not likely to be any delay in depositing their side wager, so that a great contest is in store for Sydney boxing patrons.

The famous American middleweight boxer, Battling Murray, has signed a contract wAh Mr. R< L. Baker to visit Australia, and is expected to arrive in Sydney in a fortnight’s time, together with two other noted exponents of the roped arena in Roy Temple and Red Watson. Murray is of Portuguese extraction and a native of California; his proper name is John H. Marques. He weighs from list, to list. 41b. His best performances, according to the book, are a 20 rounds draw with Jimmy Clabby and the knocking out of Leo Houck in 14 rounds. Houck fought six rounds “no decision” battles with Billy Papke, Eddie McGoorty, and Australian Dave Smith at Philadelphia in successive months, and after his defeat by Murray last year he met Young Ahearn over the six rounds limit compelled in Philadelphia. Red Watson has done a good deal in California, and during a trip to the eastern states, now and again, he appears to be one of the sturdy sort who fight hard all the time. Temple is a lightweight 26 years old, who has been in the ring s.nce, and inclusive of, 1910. He met Pal Brown four times, Young Taylor, Young Ahearn, Matty Baldwin and those two real good ones, Johnny Griffiths, who was in Australia last year, and Jimmy Duffy.

Writing to Mr. W. F. Corbett, of the Sydney “Sun,” Sergeant Battling Taylor, the sturdy English boxer, who was in Sydney at the time the war broke out, and immediately proceeded to join his regiment, makes the following interesting reference to the fierce fight which took place at Neuve Chapelle, where the British gained a decisive victory though their casualties were very heavy: —“No doubt you have read about us taking Chapelle. My regiment wai in that charge. We were up five n.ghts without. any sleep, and had nothing to eat for three days. I can tell you it was a hard time. Anyhow, we came out on top, and were satisfied. I will never forget the way the men of my platoon stuck to their guns. I led, and they followed me. It was awfully exciting. There were a few casualties, but it was not my fault. We were being fired at from all directions. The order was given to my commanding officer that Neuve Chapelle had to be taken on that certa.n day at all costs. You should have seen the men fight, and I did my bit, too, buoyed up by the hope of seeing Sydney again some day if God spares me. General S.r Henry Rawlinson who is in charge of our division, praised my regiment up to the highest. Lieut.-Colonel L. J. Wood, who is in command of my regiment, and who gained the honour of C.M.G. at Ypres, was the proudest man in the world when he heard what the General said about the Second Border Regiment (mine). I will never forget that day as long as I live. When we captured the enemy’s trenches they were full of dead and wounded Germans, and we could not avoid walking over them. Then there was the experience of seeing my comrades shot down on all sides. But try how they may they cannot beat the boys of the bulldog breed, and there are 30,000 Jewish soldiers, including myself, here fighting for the good old Union Jack.”

The French boxer Jean Poesy, who boxed Digger Stanley and Jim Driscoll, is said to have been recommended for the Gold Medal, which is awarded only for instances of the greatest bravery. Albert Lurie, the French heavyweight, who boxed Carpentier and Wells, is now a bombardier. or its French equivalent. Adrian Hogan has recovered from his wounds, and is reported to be fighting fit again.

The New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championship Tournament is to be held at Hastings, and the Hawke’s Bay Boxing Association, who will control the carnival, have decided to hold the tourney on August 18 and 19.