PROPOSED DARCY-GIBBONS MATCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1345, 3 February 1916, Page 5

PROPOSED DARCY-GIBBONS MATCH.

WILD IT EVENTUATE? Les Darcy’s decisive points’ victory over Knock-out Brown further strengthens the young Maitlander’s claims to the m ddleweight championship, and there is no question that the young Australian has fully demonstrated his right to the title. Even in American his claims have now veceived recognition by the leading fight authorities, for it is impossible to overlook his unbeaten record, which includes victories over such well-known Americans as Eddie MeGoorty and Knock-out Brown. The only two middleweights whom American writers now mention as likely to extend Darcy are Young Ahearn and Mike Gibbons. It was expected that the better of this pair would be known on December 10, a match having been arranged for that date between Gibbons and Ahearn to decide their respective claims to middleweight honours. This would have paved the way for a fight with Les Darcy, and thus decide beyond all doubt the rightful holder of the title. Unfortunately, however, Mike Gibbons was unable to

fulfil his engagement with Young Ahearn on the date mentioned, a

severe cold preventing him from seeing the match through, his medical adviser ordering him a complete rest from training. Popular opinion pointed to Gibbons gaining the mastery over Ahearn, as the former’s record is superior to that of the Brooklyn boxer. It is Gibbons’ intention to retire from the ring at an early date, but before he quits the fight’ng game he is anxious to meet Ahearn and then Darcy. He naturally expects the latter to go to America for the match, and there is little likelihood of Mike Gibbons taking a trip to Australia. Darcy certainly has as much right to expect Gibbons to visit the Commonwealth as has the latter to insist on Darcy fighting him in America. Gibbons is a very wealthy boxer, and during the remainder of the tipie he elects to follow up his profession it is certain he will not go short of matches, so that the only prospect of a Darcy-Gibbons battle for the world’s middleweight championship depends upon the Maitland boy’s decision in regard to the proposed visit to the United States.

General Kuropatkin, who has been appointed commander of the Grenadier Corps in Petrograd, has been discribed as Russia’s Kitchener; and there is much similarity between the Russian general and Britain’s War Secretary, for, like Kitchener, Kuropatkin is not only a brilliant soldier, but a great commander, administrator, and strategist. Son of a small Russian merchant, Kuropatkin first distinguished himself during the conquest of Turkestan, g adually rising by his own military genius to be Russian minister of war, and ultimately being given chief command of the army iri Manchuria at the outbreak of the war with Japan in 1904. Although by a series of de feats he was gradually driven northward, he managed to extricate his army in the

most skilful manner, until the disastrous flight from Mukden in March, 1905; cd to his resignation of the chief comnuind The story of acw Kuroyttkir his first chance illustrates the persevering character of the man. In 1866 Ire applied foir employment on a certain exped ition, being at that time an obscure lieutenant without influence. He asked his colonel to let him go on active service, and his comrades, according to the custom. also petitioned on his behalf. The colonel refused their request, and Kuropatkin’s friends departed. Kuropatkin remained behind, standing at the bottom of tire steps where the colonel had left them. Eighteen hours afterwards the colonel came downstairs and found the lieu tenant still waiting patiently there to speak to him. “Very well,’’ said the co-. I'onel. “you can join the expedition; you are the sort of man the army wants.”