BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 834, 4 June 1910, Page 12

BOXING.

(Br Meecuet.) Juno 28 and 29.—Wellington Amateur Championships. July 4.—World's Championship—Johnson v. Jeffries. September.—Burns v. Langford. "Sid Russell.is Dead." "Sid. Russell is dead." This is the news that shocked the Australian boxing world last weok, and naturally the shadow that of late has been hovering over the sport in Sydney has deepened considerably in consequence. Tho first intimation of tho sad occurrence was received by Mr. W. F. Corbett ("Amatour," of tho "Referee"), in a cablo message, which said boldly: "Inform Mrs. Russell Sid's death." This camo from "Duke" Mnllins, Russell's trainer and manager, and was dated Tuesday, May 21, from Paris. Readers of this column will remember how tho deceased boxer left Australia about a year ago in march, of fortune in the Old World, accompanied by Jiullins, and how, after a spell of inactivity in London, the boxing boom in Paris drew him across to France. There' , ho at once ','made good." "Mercury" has from time to time published accounts of the contests in which the traveller participated in tho French capital—contests in. which ho bore, himself really well, albeit his principal opponents were men of the calibre of "Sam." M'Vea and "Joe" Jeannette, the two negro "heavies." Tho Men that Russell Met. Each of these boxers has given a good account of himseli against world's champion, "Jack" Johiiipn. Six years ago M'Vea extended the champion over a 20round contest, which went to Johnson on points, and previously a similar meeting between the two ended in exactly the same way. Jeannette has clashed with Johnson no lower than six times. The first three bouts were "no-decision" affairs/the fourth a draw. The fifth, fifteen rounds, was won by Johnson on points, and the last, ten rounds, waa üßain a draw. •It will thus bo seen that in meeting these men Kussell was conceding heavy handicaps in ring experience, in addition to which both his adversaries had considcrablo advantages in , the way of weight and reach. Notwithstanding, neither of them could do better than secure victories on points from the Australian over twenty-round conicsls. These ev: 'lent displays, combined with his straigiiuorwardness and manliness out of the ring, made many friends for him in Paris, and this fact must havo eased his last moments considerably. From foreign exchanges it appears that after his. last battle against the big American, Jim Stewart, llussell broke down and was taken to the hospital suffering from what ultimately proved to bo rheumatic fover. Ho was matched for a return bout with M'Vea, but was forced to cancel this, and had it not been for tho good offices of the Parisian sporting men would have been in a bad way indeed. Naturally after his travelling and waiting for matches ho was not too well endowed with tho wherewithal for medical advice and the comforts necessary for a sick bed, and things were looking very gloomy for him and his faithful henchman, Mullins. Russell's Real Name. When the mail left, however, his friends had taken a hand, and a subscription was being raised, and to the credit of the sporting folk of Paris, it was being well supported. At that time thero appeared to be no immediate danger—ho must have suffered l n relapse since—but it ia comfoning.to his Australian ■ friends to know that there was money to make his last hours more comfortable, and that his end was not attended by the bitterness of poverty. It is bad enough that he should die in his vigorous manhood, so far from homo, without that. Russell was 25 years of age, and the name under which ho fought was a nom-de-guerre, his.real name being Reynolds. Sydney Stadium: Last Events. The Sydney Stadium is now shut down for tho winter months. The closing scene was supplied by the Williams-Burns contest, which is disposed of as under by tho "Sydney Morning Herald," under the heading >"An Unattractive Contest"'.— "In the presence of a small number of spectators, Hike Williams, the heavyweight champion o'f South Africa, defeated Kunji Burns, a local light heavyweight boxer, at the Stadium last night. Tho contest was of the unattractive order. Burns was much the cleverer boxer, and, though giving away over a stone in weight, quite outboxed his opponent during tho first couple of rounds. In tho third round, however, he threw science to the winds, and rushed in bull-headed. It proved his undoing. This style of fighting suited Williams, who was , much tho stronger of tho twain. Burns was down twice for eight seconds, Ho arose weaker on each occasion, and, going<dowu a third timo, was counted out, leaving Wi'liams tho victor. The contest was reforced by Mr. 'Snowy' Baker." Williams weighed 12st. 121b., and Burns list. 81b. After the. battle the winner left for Brisbane, where ho was' Scheduled to meet Bill Turner, tho Taemanian heavy-weight, on Thursday last. Elliott-Russell. Another Brisbane affair of interest to New Zealanders is arranged for to-day, when "Billy" Elliott is to meet "Joe" Russell, the local feather-weight, champion. The latter mot and defeated one "Battling" Costin last Monday week, and his showing then has convinced the local critics of his ability to extend tho new feather-weight champion. Lang, Burns, and Fitzsimmons Departing, It is now definitely arranged that Bill' Lang is to go to America on the Cth of this month, accompanied by, and under tho management of, Mr. if. D. M'lntosh. "Tommy" Burns and "Bob" Fitzsimmons are also to be included in the touring party, which, proposes to be present at the big championship on July Apropos of "Bob" Fitzsimmons and a paragraph that appeared some time ago in this column, the "Refereo' says • " 'The Dominion' (Wellington, N.Z.) charges Hob I'itzsiinmons with being a yes-no pugilistic tipster. 'The Dominion' asserts that in Wellington 'Bob' said Johnson would beat Jeffries, but in Brisbane a week or so back ho put it t'other wav about." ■* Jeffries-Joh-isoniana. Tho American correspondent of the London "Sportsman" supplies the following notes on doings in "the States" that should prove of interest. Of the two "big men," he says, "the Jeffries people are not overlooking any chances of making money out of the big fight. Sam Borger, who was a -clerk in a haberdasher's store before he becamo a pugilist and manager, has written to tho newspapers offering to sell or write exclusive information as to the training and work in Jeffries's camp. It must have been via this new press agent we heard last night that Jeffries is in wonderful form, and that in his first practice ho blacked Burns's oye. Investigation shows-that Burns is a wrestler who has been acting as a foil for Gotch and Roller in the recent tour. All tho samo, it is truo that reports from California indicate that Jeffries is in find condition, looks well, nnd is fit for a Jiard siege of training. Tom Sharkey camo out with a chnltonge last night, and says he will meet the winner of tho championship battle. The ex-sailor was one of the luckiest men who ever entered a ring, and is still alert for any portion of a purse. Jack Johnson won two bouts yesterday, and should feel n bit contented. Jn Chicago he was promptly acquitted on a charge of over-speeding his auto, and in Boston Alec M'l.ean, who sued the negro for .£IOOO for breach of contract, was jionsuiled. After roynlly celebrating his thirty-second birthday Inst week, Johnson settled down to work, and already says he feels cnpalilo of « still' course of training, lie laughs at tho big corps of trainers engaged for his opponent, sarcastirally srivsi Hint Jeffries will need them nil, and adds that :is for himself ho does not require n lonelier, and cun eatily obtain all the helu he wants,

, Sα far the betting has linen very limited, with Jeffrins only u slight favourite. T. Ryan has bucked out of his agreement to train Johnson. When this was first mooted the friends or Jeffries slated the ex-middle-weight champion unmercifully, and some even threatened him, and evidently with effect, as Eyan says: "Supposing that I were to train Johnson, and through my teachings the coloured fellow wore to defeat Jeffries, wouldn't 1 be uppopular the country over? You see, Jeffries has a great following, and if he loses there will be a lot of soreheads. On the other hand, lot's concede that I trained Jolinsou and he lost. Think of the roasting I would get all over the country. ] have thought the thing over from every angle and decided I do not care to train Johnson for the money 1 could earn by so doing." American Ring Events. In his general gossip appears tho following:— Ow.cn .llornn, of Birmingham, gave us a glimpse of his best form on Tuesday night at the Fairmont A.C., when ho verv easily whipped his old opponent Matty Baldwin, ot Boston. The "Bruni" was altogether a different boy from what he appeared last week in his bout with "Abe"" A Hell, Mid showed that ho is a worthy candidate for light-weight honours, lie conceded a few pounds to Baldwin, but even at that was close on 9st. 71b. ringside. Hβ has again gone out to tho coast to meet on April 29 a new-comer named "Tommy" M'Carthy, who is thought a great deal of In 'Frisco. Jloran and Baldwin have met four times, and the English boxer has three wins to his credit. Baldwin also is going out West, ana has been promised a match with "Ad" Wolgast. The latter has agreed to a bout provided he gots .JEIODO with the American champions usual conditions, "win, lose, or draw." Stanley Ketohel has entered training here, and says he will surely meet Langford or Papke. He is only doing road work, as he still asserts his left thumb was broken in his bout with Klaus, and little interest is taken in him. It is quite probable that "Billy" Papko, who recently returned from Paris, and Frank Klaus will meet at Coffroth's Club, Colma, in the near future. "Jack" O'Brien imd "Al" Kaufman want to box sis rounds in Pittsburg to decide who will ohallenge tho winner of tho Johnson-Jeffries' fight, but the police authorities do not look kindly on the proposition. Fake fights and fighters are not favourably, considered in the smoky city. "Joe" Grim, tho American-Italian "iron-jawed man," who was so much ,to Ilia fore in Australia Jast year, where his career was summarily ended by his confinement in a lunatio asylum for a term, ia issuing challenges to all > and sundry in London. "Sam" M'Vea, the negro already referred to above, is afte> the eccentric one's scalp, and has .£IOO to .£2OO to clinch the match. Trying to Stop the Big Fight. 'Referring again to Ihe big Jiily i fixture, it appears that the opposition party is still fighting against the holding of the contest. The "Referee" says that the following cablegram, dated San Francisco, May 20, was received in Sydney on Saturday week last:— "A determined effort is made to prevent the holding of the Jeftries-John-son championship fight here on Independence Day. "A strong delegation representative of the whole of the church federations in tho State, waited upon the District .Attorney of San Francisco this afternoon and demanded that he should stop the fight. "Districf>Attorney Fitohett replied that he would give the question his serious consideration, and render a definite decision to-morrow." Apparently, the official in question "rendered" his "definite decision" against the protesting party, as the cables since have been ' silent on the question, except for the first intimation that no municipal opposition wa3 to be made to the battle. Mr. W. Coffoy. The friends of Ifr. 'W. Coffey, the honorary secretary of the local Boxing Association, will regret to hear that he is still in a critical state in the private hospital,' where he \vas recently operated upon for an abscess on tho brain.