BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 888, 6 August 1910, Page 12

BOXING.

(Br Mercort.l MR, M'INTOSH'S "UNKNOWN." August 12.—lang v. Ketchell. September B.—Burns v. Langford. September—Australasian Amateur' Championship (Auckland). Who is Miles O'Neill? The great secret as to the identity of H. D. M'lntosk's "unknown" has been revealed. The revelation, however, does not convey much to' tho followers of the sport at this end of ■ the world, as the name of the new "Richmond" in the championship field, Miles O'Neill, is a new one "on us." We are told further that O'Neill is 27 years of age, and weighs 2501b., 17 stone 61b., so that evidently ho is no pocket edition of a boxer. At the same time it would be a curious thing if a pugilist of sufficient skill to be considered a likely conqueror of Johnson could have hidden his light under a bushel until ho had reached the mature age of 27 without some discerning American promoter discovering him. Moreover, it is strange that this discovery should have been left for a stranger in the land like Mr. M'lntosh, when, at the time that Jeffries wat shilly-shallying as to whether he would face the music again the capabilities of every likely opponent for Johnson were being w-eighed in the balance. O'Neill, if known at all then, must have come under review, and iu view of the blaze of publicity that envoloped the whole of tho proceedings at that time, it is strange indeed that Ije came in for absolutely no press comment. Chopping-btock or Good Man? Against this is'that fact that Mr. M'lntosh is nothing if not shrewd, and is the last man' in the world to post a substantia! deposit, as he has done, without some reasonable prospect of getting a. run for his ruoney. Again Mr. M'lntosh has no false ideas about Johnson's 'capabilities. From the very first ho made no secret of his belief that the negro would be.at the ex-champion, and it is known that he made a handsome win by backing this belief. It is unlikely, therelore that he would be "staking" a novice to act as a chopping-block for Johnson 111 the chance of making good on'the gate money. Full particulars on this head by..the next American mail will : ;be : .aw;a,it-;! ed. with interest.

American Match for Lang. Apropos of Mr. Mlntosh and his Ameriuin visit, news has been received that he has succeeded in making an excellent engagement for his protege, "Bill" Lang. A match has been arranged, and will shortly take place—on next Friday, August 12, to be precise—between the Victorian and the ex-middle-weight champion, Stanley Ketchell, at some locality ffhich, at.the time the news was sent, had not been settled upon. This gives Lang just six weeks after his arrival in America in which to get into conditionnone too. much after his steamer traveliing. . Two Important Clashes. Details of two Australian contests of importance, referred to last week, aie now to hand. In Melbourne that most promising light-weight, "Hughie" Mohegan, accounted for the American, "Dick" Cullen, in short order, as desoribed in the following extract from the "Austria lasian's" reportV-'ln the first, round Mehegan out-pointed him in a manner which showed that, so far as cleverness was concerned, he had nothing to learn from the American. Cullen tried infighting, and emerged, after a series of nasly little uppercuts, with his nose bleeding. Mehegan, boxing cautiously, gave him the top of his head to punch onco oi twice, but landed several straight lofts, followed by a quick right drive, with considerable force behind it. In the second and third rounds hisi desire for liiflghtW was not' so apparent, but Mehegan beat him as decidedly at long range as he did at close. Mehegan upperout in tho third round, followed with loft and right to the'head. Cullen tried to clinoh, but Mehegan fought him off, and drove him to the ropes, where the gong saved him. In the fourth round Cullen was floored early, took 2seo., and came up again, only to go down again in rapid succession four, more times. Inspector Costelloe, seeing that the event, had gone far enough, stopped it, and Mehegan was declared the winner by the referee (Mr. J. Mitchell)." In Brisbane last Saturday week tne long-looked-for encounter between "Johnnie" Summers, ex-champion light-weight of England, and Rudolph Unholz proI vided a splendid battle, particulars of which wore published in our Issue of last I.Tuesday. As elated then, the Boer was "outed" in the ninth round. In connection with this contest the "Referee'says- —" 'Rudie' Unholz arrived in Sydney from Brisbano on Monday. He. is much down-hearted over his. defeat by Summers on Saturday night last, but gives his opponent every credit, and has no excuse to offer. 'Ho cracked me on tho chin good and hard, and put me out for the count, and that's all. there is to it. It was a good event while it lasted.' 'Rudie' intends continuing his training, in expectation of a return match with Summers at Bst. 81b., ring-side, ior a hundred aside, and has placed a cheque for this amount in. the hands of the editor' of the 'Referee.' In the meantime, he would like to arrang a match with Mehegan, the latter to make his own terms." '

Summers las accepted a challengo from Arthur Douglas for a match at the light-weight limit. . Two New Zealanders_ have engagements at the Brisbane Stadium, to come off shortly. "Billy" Elliott is to meet "Joe" Russell again, and "Gus" Devitt has been matched against one "Jim" Finnic. By the way, it is reported that the Hawke's- Bay Association has matched Devitt and Dick" Cullen to meet in October for a purse of .£175. Our Own Ring: Innovations. Two important steps c were decided upon by the Wellington Association at its meeting on Monday night. The first was the determination to endeavour" to arrange a match between "Johnny" Summers and an Australian boxer, probably "Dick" Cullen, for the tourney on September 17; Negotiations to tbat end were opened up by yesterday's mail, and, as Summers has expressed a desire to visit the Dominion, it is likely tbat business will result. It only remains to secure a worthy opponent for the clever little. Englishman. 'l'he other matter was one of even more importance, as having a very direct bearing upon the standing of our amateur boxers. The action of the local body was the result of a recommendation 'passed by the recent conference at Palmorston to the effect that amateur contestants' at ohampionshiD

meetings be reimbursed for loss of wages incurred through competing at 6uch championships.. This suggestion' met with favour at the conference, despite the fact that the delegates had concurred in a recommendation that the existing amateur definition be amended to read:— "That an amateur is one who has never competed for a money prize, staked, bet, op declared u wagee in a boxiiK contest; who has not knowingly or without protest competed with or against a professional for a prize of any description; ■who has never pursued, or assisted in, the practice of boxing as a means of livelihood or for any pecuniary gain."

"Loss of Wages" Payments. How the delegates reconciled these two contradictory recommendations is a puzzle. However, ax to the "loss of wages" suggestion: Tie local centre has_ passed a resolution strongly disapproving of this proposed step, seeing at once that it strikes directly at the very foundations of the amateur system. And in doing so the centre must have the approval of everyone who has the interests of amateurism at heart. Every amateur body in the world of any standing has steadfastly set its face against this step. In fact, any organisation that allowed it would, ipso facto, forfeit its right to be called "amateur." Moreover, it is highly probable that Hie inclusion of a rule of this' nature on the New Zealand Boxing Association's books would at once debar New Zealand representatives from the Australasian amateur championships and rightly so. It is to be devoutly hoped, for the wellbeing of our amateur sport, that the kindred associations will support the Wellington Centre in its protest, and in its desire to keep the amateur section clean. Although the New Zealand Association controls both the professional and amateur branches, the line of demarcation between the two should be kept absolutely inviolate. Any entrenching on the domain of one by the other must lead to disaster. One has only to read the history of the split between the English -ana Northern Football Unions on this, very point to be convinced on that head. The Tactics of Shields. From reports of visitors at the New Zealand Championship meeting it would appear that the bouts did not produce a very high standard of boxing, albeit the winners in each class.were quite up to championship form. The refereeing .in some cases found great disfavour, especially in the bantam bout between Dawson and Woods, and in.the final' of the feather-weights between Shields and Kerr. In this latter contest the tactics of Shields, a local man, were marred by some ■ unusual work, and, in the final round, he was guilty of an unfair action that should have earned him instant disqualification. "When Kerr advanced to shake hands Shields deliberately punched him between. the eyes, according to a press report before the writer, iuk! knocked him down. Kerr's win in the face of this set-back was a very popular one, but as before, stated his opponent should have been ruled out instanter. • . Another matter for complaint was the mattress-like padding of the floor,, which although not felt much by -the light men seriously hampered the "heavie6" in their work.' . One of the southern contestants was particularly trenohant in his criticisms of this innovation, and the objector is a boxer of wide experience. The Winners at Palmerston, Of the winners Kerr, Watchorn, and Simpson showed really sood form, the latter especially taking the eye of the Wellington visitors. The winner of the heavy-weights, Pooley, of Auckland, is described as a lively two-handed boxer, but light in his class, scaling only list. 61b. It is said, moreover, that he would have been "easy" for Budd, the local champion, had the latter been a. competitor. Although Watchorn was presented with the special trophy for the most scientific display, he was not extended in any of his engagements, and it is a great pity that Tanored, the Petone welter, was debarred from competing in this division by a'broken jaw, sustained in a practice bout with Eudd. It was reported that the various ohampionsliips: were,.well, distributed, one going -to each of the provinces engaged. As a matter of fact, the Wellington Centre scored heavily, getting three wins against one each to Auckland; Carter•bury, and Otago; - Watchorn, Kerr, and Ellis were all boxing under the Wellingiton banner. Kerr, who entered from Nelson, is only there temporarily, and Watchorn belongs to Manawatu, which is under the local jurisdiction.. • The Victoria College Boxing Club championships are down 'for settlement to-night at the College gymnasium.