BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 12

BOXING.

REMARKS ON LANG AND BTJENS. (Bi Mkbcdrt.l There is always a certain' amount of satisfaction in being able to say: "What did 1 tell you?" and, looking back on the 13urns-Lang contest, 1 must say that my last week's, notes hit the nail on the head. Still, the satisfaction mentioned above, though pleasant to oneself, is apt to prove very tiresome when paraded before others. So, giving myself as it were just one tiny pat on the back for "picking things"—l hope no one will grudge that—l will hurry on' in medias res, as the Roman poet Horace has it.

The cable account indicates that Burns proved too speedy and clever for Lang, and that his superior footwork and ringcraft enabled him to establish an early lead, and keep it throughout the disturbance. At the same time, the fact that the Victorian was able to weather the storm sufficiently well to escape the "knock-out" ia evidence of his great improvement latterly.

Burns, from the training notes to hand up to the eve of the battle, appears to have been' quite his old self again—not the Burns that, over-trained and anxious, fell a victim to,, Johnson, but tho old Burns who disposed of Squires and Lang in short order before meeting his Waterloo. Of course, it may have been that the ex-champion, having established his lead, played for safety, and did not "go in" and risk things for the sake of .administering an unnecessary coup-de-grace—but, as things appear now, the defeat,' although a set-back, for Lang, should not wreck' his career in tho ring as an early knock-out would havo done.

It is in this connection that, from an Australian standpoint, his defeat is to be regretted. Doubtless to the Sydneyite Burns was the popular man of the two, and his victory would be very pleasing, but the matter goes, or should go, a little deeper than that. Lang is on the threshold of his career, and, upon his shoulders, he carries the only chance which Australia has of owning a firstgrade "heavy." , He is shortly to go to America, and, if he could havo gone with Bunis's. scalp in his portmanteau, the door would have been opened wide to him, and he wonld have taken his place in the-first flight *at once. Then he would have had promoters and op-ponents-galore to choose from,. and the holding of his place would have been in his own hands. There again the moral effect, the confidence euch a victory would have given him, would have, stood him in great stead.

Now he has all the preliminary work still to do; He has jet to "make good." Still, the fact that he stayed the twenty rounds must command a certain degree of: respect, and-it is to .be hoped that further developments will show that he stayod on his merits, and not through sufferance. ....;. . . .

The, Wednesday . previous to tne big contest saw another Australian championship go to a. "stranger within the gates." At the Stadium, ■'Johnny" Summers— tho JSnjjhsh boxer wno lately fought a 20-round draw in the same arena with Arthur Douglas, the South African -took the light-weight title from Hughie M6hegan, per medium of a knock-out in the nineteenth round. A great battle was anticipated-the Australian, by virtue of his defeat of Douglas in February, last, being confidently expected to give the hard-punching' little Englishman a busy timu. For once the realisation justified the anticipation judging from press reports.. The Sydney "Morning Herald" says: The contest was one of the best contests ever witnessed in Australia. ' Mr. " Snowy Baker acted as referee. Prior to the contest, both men were announced to be under the lightweight limit, lOst. £t the start both were inclined to be cautious, but soon warming up to their work they delighted the packed audience with their speed and cleverness. Mehegan early showed his superiority as a. boxer, whilst it soon became apparent that Summers hit much harder, llehegan'a peculiar smother was very disconcerting 'to his opponent, who on more than one occasion broke ground, and waited for Mehegan to in-smother, as he could not make any impression on the Australian's orouching form. As they broke away, Mehegan scored frequently with his peculiar left hook. He also, used a good right jolt, and tried with upper-cuts. Summers mainly relied on his punching powers. When opportunity offered lie worked in close, and, resting his head on his opponent's shoulders, drove both hands, repeatedly to the body. Both men seemed fairly easy targets for a straight ■ left lead; but it was not really the case. The fact was the punches were so rapid that they always beat the guard. In the fifth round Mehegan was knocked down with a short right jolt. He arose and smothered, but his head cleared,.and he electrified the audience by mixing it with his opponent. In the sixth he was inclined to take chances, and, as a. result, was knocked down again. Hβ arose and smothered, but the Englishman, measuring him coolly, ripped up the right, and eent him down once more. Ho.managed to riso just on the call of time, and weathered the round out. From that on he appeared to. grow stronger, and,at times made Summers look almost cheap. Summers's work, however, was the more effeotive, and it was apparent that his Idea was to wear bis opponent down. Towards the. latter end of the thirteenth round, light rain began to fall,-and, as the contest progressed, it increased in volume till the ring became a'minature lake. As showing the interest that was taken in the contest, very few of the spectators loft their seats, evidently preferring a wetting to missing tho contest. The rain deadened the ring, and the contestants at times experienced some difficulty m keeping their feet. .Summers shone out in the heavy going, ami scored well. The 19th round had not been in progress long when ho caught Jtohegan vritk a left hook. The local champion fell, and was counted out. Summers has now struck his true form, and appears to tu P T% t ,° T ?\ beßt °f the Australian lightweights.'lt, however, would be interesting to noto how Mehegan would faro m a return contest under more favourable conditions.

_ It has been pointed ont to "Mercuw" S at A 1" notes he reforraTto the Australian loser. Russell, who has been ( performing lately in Paris, as "Jimmy, whereas the baptismal cognomen ?<t alluded to is "Syd."James being another gentleman; '"Mercury apologises both to "S.vd.'' and Jimmy but desires to protest against the want of originality displayed in naming boxers in Australia. Thus there are tiro or more Burnsos ("Tommy" and Rangi' and others), a pair of Unholzes, two Hanloys, Clarks and Clarkes galore tiro Irolands, "Mike" and "Bull" Williams, nt lea9t two other Russells, in addition to those mentioned, and so on.. To make it more difficult nono of theso is mentioned in "Who's Who." The ex-Wellingtonian, "Gns" Dovitt, is billed to meet "Ted" Johns to-night in Brisbane. Dovitt has been sparring in preliminaries since his arrival in Australia, but this will bo his first match. Another Brisbane contest announced is Hint between "Bob" Fitzsimmons and the middle-weight top-notcher, Arthur Ci-ipps. This event is scheduled for April A boxing clnb is in process of formation among the students of Victoria College. The annual general meeting ftf the Wellington Boxing Association is being called for April 27.