BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 12

BOXING.

JOHNSON TAKES "DP THE PEN. HIS STINGING LETTER. •- *Bv MiaicuiiY.V September—Australasian Amateur Championship (Auckland). September 18.—Burns v. Langford. By tho time this appears in print the current season's amateur championships of the Dominion will have been decided at tho I'aimerston North tourney. This being so, ii would be decidedly unwise ou "Mercury's" part at this stage to say too much about the competitors and their chances. In lact, as it is quite possible that the results might stultiiy any such remarks, it appears to be an excellent opportunity oi playing ior salety and adopting Brer Fox's attitude ot "lying low and saying nothing." The matter, an important one, in view of tho ( Australasian championships in Auckland next September, will be dealt with next week.

Pure Vitriol. "Boxing" publishes an open letter from Champion "Jack" Johnson; who apparently nns been stung into the following somewhat vitriolic outburst 'by the oitrepeated rcierences to his alleged "yellow streak," made beiore he so effectually siieuced his critics on July 4 last:— "Iu reply to James Corbett, I wish to state that it is not my purpose to enter into any mud-slingins combat with him. however, ho who has bten posing under the alias of 'Gentleman Jim' sturted this sort of a campaign long before he reached Sau Francisco. Possibly he may beiiuvo that 1 will huYK to take such insults as he intimates on account of my colour. As to his assertion that 1 have a 'yellow streak,' maybe he is right, still no one has bean able up to the present to praluce it Jlaybi; it would be proper to ask this so-cailed gentleman to find the meaning ot "yeiiow streak,' and if the two iollowing incidents will convey to his miud the proper definition of the so-called 'yd-. low streak.' About ten years or more ago,in San Francisco, two contestants by the names of 'Pompadour Jim' aud 'Sailor Tom' engaged iu a four-round bout at the Mechanics' Pavilion. The terms of cuuiniet called ior the former to atop the latter in four rounds. During the third and four rounds 'Jim' linds he has made a bad match, and the assaults aud rushes of the Sailor force 'Jim' to 'holler,' not only once,, but twenty times, for the poiice to take him away. Tho exhibition took place beiore thousands. The ■ morning lollowin b 'Jim' altrilmteu this change of affairs to a French dinner, and agreed to beat him the .noxt tiinu. One year later this pair ugain met in New I'ork, and alter a few rounds of a good licking taken by 'Jim,' one of the latter's seconds, M'Vey, jumped into the ring by a prearranged plan to again save this coward, Corbett. 'Jim,' would you say either of those affairs, in your mind . or to tho best or your recollection, would como under the heading of 'yellow streak'? As to your coming to my quarters and boxing, I would be ashamed to even offer you inducements after the expressions of many as to your shxtered frame. In fuct, it thu truth wero known, you hardly scale the middle-weight limit. Now I hope and trust this may appease your appetite for gallery playing, for which you are famed." Douglas and Thorn. The biggest event in Australian ring events ol lute was the meeting in Brisbane between South African Arthur Douglas and Frank Thorn, ex-champion feather-weight of Australia, an account of which was promised by the writer last week. The present occasion was the filth time of meeting between these two and the "class" of- the men and the knowledge of one another's methods inaugurated by their previous clashes gave everv prospect of a good sporting "go"— prospects that were justified by the reDouglas weighed in at 9st. 51b.— T'l/rriie at 3llw. less. Both boxers waded in gallantly throughout the conflict, the South African playing for the body and the Victorian for the head. Up to the eleventh round there was nothing between the two, each scoring freely in his own method. Thence onward, however, Thorn showed signs of feeling the constant battering on his ribs, and rounds 12 and 13 were clearly Douglas's, whose body work was Very effective in the "tight." This advantage was never made up bv the Australian and in the nineteenth he dropped back still further, being caught unawares by a sudden change of tactics b> his opponent and going down to a right on tile jaw. In tho twentieth, and last, session, he rallied and made a hot finish of a splendid bout, but the spurt was too late to catch the referee's eye and the verdict went to Douglas. "Fourteen Wearying Rounds." Another Australian bout of local interest was settled in Melbourne on Monday week last when "Jack" Clarke, well known here by his appearances last season, beat "Dave" Walker in what appears to have beeu an (modifying exhibition of boxing. Of this contest the "Referee' says:—"Fourteen wearying lounds wero boxed, when Walker went to the boards, declaring that he had been fouled by Clarke hitting low. He was examined, but the referee, who, being satislied that his assertion was not correct, declared Clarke the winner. The latter tried his best to make a good showing, and it' was no fault of his that the contest did not pan out as well as was anticipated." * Nexi Australian. mail should bring news of two other Australian contests of some importance. On Saturday last the Summcrs-Unholz match for ,£2OO aside was decided at the Stadium, Brisbane, that is unless something untoward occurred to prevent the meeting, and at tha Cyclorama, Melbourne, "Dick" Cul-

len and "Hugh" Mehegan were due to settle their dm'erence last Monday. At last! A tew Saturdays back, in Paris, "Joe" Grim, the Italian ironjawed man, suffered his first defeat by a knock-out. Alter some of the heaviest hitters in the game in America and Australia, including "Bob" Fitzsimmous and "Jim" Griffin, respectively, had failed to accomplish the leaf, it lell to the lot of "Sam" Jl'Vea, the giant coloured man, to do the trick in the twelfth round. Letter by "Tommy" Burns. By the last English mail came an especially interesting number of the English paper "Boxing," -which, by the way, has come right to the front of late as an up-to-date chronicler of fistic doings. In the number uudcr review appears a letter from Tommy Burns on his forthcoming meeting with Langford. Inter alia, Burns writes thus:— "I shall box Langford in September, as no doubt you are aware, but shall have to take a lot of care of myself, as I have been far from well lately. I caught ptomaine poisoning through eating some cucumbers, and have had to spend a few days in hos- - pital. I see it .stated in your paper that I have secured the long end of the purse for my maloh with Langford, but this is not correct,. I only thought I had. At first they offered me .£SOOO for my end, and I accepted. Then they cabled me: 'Trouble; Lamjford's manager insists XGOOO purse; £4000 to winner; £2000 loser. Give you extra £1000 bonus for signing.—Hester.' I might have argued, but I wanted this match, so I agreed, and so will get £5000 if I win, and £3000 if I lose. I hope to pull off the big end all the same, and may tell you that 3'ou must not run away with the idea' that I have gone back a lot because I failed to put Bill Lang away. Lang is a big, strong fellow, . and is much improved. He will win a lot of matches in America, but has a good deal to learn before. he cau become a champion: . I was in poor condition when I met him, having eaten some poisonous stuff ten days before, and as I felt ill and weak I did not care to take any chances. I had Lang in a bad way during the earlier rounds, and might have put him out, but did not like to take chances in my weak state. So I played safe, and was content to win on points.—Your friend, 'Tommy Burns.' Says an exchange, under the heading "Lucky Langford" :—"Sam" Langford, the coloured pugilist, is a fortunate gladiator. He is getting the money at present band over fist. Since the beginning of the present year "Sara" has made 24,000 dollars out of' events, having ployed to 52,000 dollars in the three contests he fought in California, two of which were with "Jim" Flynn and one with "Jim" Barry. LangfordV recent battle with Al Kubiak, 10 rounds, in New York, on May 17, added to his earnings, and his big fight with Burns next September t means more money, as did the contest with Ketchell a few weeks back.

Another English file has the following two paragraphs of interest-.—Fred Welsh, of Pontypridd, and P. . M'Farland,, of Chicago, respectively the light-weight champions or England and America, whose recent fight for the world's championship at the Rational Sporting Club caused so much controversy, have arranged to meet again. It has been decided that they shall box at Cardiff, for a purse of ,£2OOO, .and that the conditions shall be the same as before, except that the nomination of the referee be left in the hands of Mr. A. P. Bettinson, the manager of the National Sporting Club. (It will be remembered that the recent bout was given a draw, a decision generally held to have been hard on the American.)

Great things are expected from Bombardier Billy Wells, who is at present in London, under engagement to Gunner Moir as sparring partner. This new aspirant to pugilistic . honours is certainly big enough for anything, being Gft. Sin. in his socks, over 13st. in weight, and has what is essential to a glovefighter—a reach measuring from finger-tips to finger-tips of 6ft. 71in. He is described as being the fastest heavyweight who has been seen in England ior many a long day. Wells 'had several battles in India, and came off top dog on every occasion. He has left the Army, and intends following up the game. After a rough-up with Jloir last month, the English ex-champion described the newcomer as one of the cleverest, quickest, and most awkwa-rd boxers he had ever met.