BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1079, 18 March 1911, Page 12

BOXING.

• (By "Mercury. - ')

THE "DOWNING" OF "DAVE" SMITH. Decisively Punchcd by Papke. ''Dave" Smith has been beaten at last ! And decisively beaten, too, according to the cable. Well, it certainly did seem too good to he true that his natural ability, with only his Australian experience to back it, could be successfully pitted against the ruggedmss and knowledge of .such a pastmaster of the "all in" lighting gamo as I'npko. But it did look for a time as if this was the case. He beat l'apke once, and also beat a man who has beaten Papke, but it looks nov as though tha middle-weight champion had been below his American form on the occasion of these two defeats. In fact, against "Cyclone" Thompsnu, he admittedly, was. Evidently these setbacks convinced hiin that he was treating his responsibilities too lightly, and he prepared for Smith, accordingly. The Pity of It. Tho pity of it is that the proposed match between the men at the middleweight limit did not take place—if it were possible that it could take place. As previously indicated in this column this is open to the greatest doubt. The probability is that neither of them could make list. 41b. If Smith could have done so then he certainly made a grave error in not holding Papke to his sido of the bargain. There he would have been aiming at something definite—the middleweight championship—and would either have forced the American into the ring 71b. lighter, and correspondingly easier to handle, or else, as is more probable, ho (Papke) would have been mado to "side-step" the whole business in the most barefaced manner. As it was, the "side-stepping" was mutual. Both sides were' "bluffing," and neither would consent to a "show down." Hence the present meeting at list. 111b., aud hence also the reasonable supposition that neither man can do himself justice at the "middle" limit.

However, even now, Smith's record is one to he proud of. This is absolutely his first defeat. He has beaten and has been beaten by a man who beat and was beaten by Stanley ICetchell-surely no disgrace. He is still young, both in years and in tho ring. and. with his record, could command big fights and big money both in America and in England. If Smith Goes to England. It is in England that he would be most successful. There the middleweight limit is list. 61b., a weight that should suit him, and the ring methods are not of the questionable type, which scein to bo inseparable from the American brand of boxing. Just now, too, London is tho Mecca of the fighting man. With Smith's record to give him a start," and his cltan living and attractive ring tactics to keep him going, he would go far in England., And ho would in all probability be given a chance to "even up" with Papke. All things considered' it is not at all unlikely that wo shall hear of Smith's departure before long. Smith's Store of Sovereigns. There is ono thing that he has to tliiink the "American invasion" of Australia for, in addition to an enlargement ot his bump of ring experience. Tliut is a handsome addition to his banking account. If report speaks truly his share of the takings of his three previous battles against the visitors—the Clabby, Thompson, and Papke contests—amounted to .£I4OO. For this last meeting tho Stadium must have been packed, and. even tho loser's end (for "Dave" is well "managed" in this respect) must have been pretty considerable. It would thus anpear that the New Zealander has sonic soothing unction to lay to his soul in tho bitter hour of defeat.

Our Late Friend Rudd. A report of "Bill" Rudd's successful debut in tho Australian ring has already appeared, but the following remarks on his contest with Jeroine frbm tho Sydney "Arrow" will be of interest:— During tho contest between "Jerry" Jerome, the Queensland aboriginal, and Bill Rudd, New Zealand's champion heavy-weight, a lot of most amusing things took place. Onco Rudd crouched, Jerome did likewise; Rudd stood erect, and dropped his arms to his side, so did Jeromo; Rudd feinted with his right to the body, which Jprome did not "tumble" to until the left crashed hard. It hurt, but the plucky aboriginal took it like a Trojan, and very quickly staved off a like attention by swinging a heavy right inside Rudd's left swing. Many wero of opinion that Rudd did not make good, but that is all nonsense. They forgot the fact tlint it takes two to make a fight. Jerome is a -most awkward man to box, and the power and quickness of his left swings and his ugly, but rapid, ducking, are obstacles which prevent any man from showing out well who has no't. previously seen the coloured man in ac-

Last Tuesday the New Zealander was to have met "Joe" Costa, perhaps the cleverest "light-heavy" in Australia today. This matching shows that Rudd is highly thought of in Sydney, aud tho outcome will be keenly watched • for next mail day. It is an ambitious attempt for Rudd, and a win is a lot to hope for, but, if he gets it, ho will have "arrived" in short order, and the rest should be easy for him. That Ring Terror—"Knock-Out" Brown. During the week a cable, dated March 4, advised the defeat of Ad. Wolgast, the world's lightweight champion, by Valentino Brown, in New York, in a ten-round contest. This result would not affect tho title, as all bouts in New York are limited to ten rounds, and no decision is allowed—tho verdict being arrived at by popular opinion aud press reports. Wolgast secured his title by, defeating "Battling' Nelson iu February of last year. In the 40th. round, however, Nelson was so battered that tho contest was stopped, and the decision given to Wolgast. Sinco then he broko an arm, aud had been, psrforce, resting, and this contcst with Brown signalised his reappearance iu the ring.

Brown, aud ono Tommy Sfurphy, battled for the honour of meeting Wolgast in January last, and the present meeting was the outcome of this preliminary. Tho coming of Valentine (or, to give liini his ring sobriquet, "Knock-Out") Brown has been signalised by much bruising. In short, he is high up in the "terror" class. He is dubbed "Ivnock-Out" because, during his short ring career, lie has knocked out ' forty-one opponents. That ho has been looked upon as a coming champion may be judged from tho way New York sporting centres write about his achievements: One of these in the opening paragraph of a story, telling how tho youngster camo to be called "KnockOut," says: "Forty-one disciples of fistiana have heard the ominous 'ten' tolled above their prostrate' forms, as, towering above them, stood the referco and the stalwart form of the adversary who caused their downfall—Valentino Brown, of New, York." There is now a clamour in the States for a match between Wolgast and Brown over tho full championship distance. The champion, however, is pledged to meet Owen Moran, the English lightweight, who also has a win over "Battling" Nelson, before lie risks his title; so he has a strenuous timo ahead. In any case, Brown is bound to bo seen battling for the big honour before long, and, if his record goes for anything, he will not battle in vain.

Two Heated Editors Fight. They have a way of disposing of "our reptile contemporary" in Queensland, judging from tlie following account of a singular happening in that State as clipped from the "Australasian":— A unique glove contcst took place in the Albert liall, Clmrleville, Queensland, on February 21, 'at the opening of the new gymnasium club, between Mr. Cornelius Murphy, the editor of the Liberal organ, the Churlcville "Times," and Mr. John. Kilner, editor of the "Guardian," the Labour organ. The hall was crowded. The light was the outcome of challenges published by the two editors in their respective newspapers. Tho contest was of three rounds' duration. From the sound of the gong both gentlemen fought fiercely, therq bemg much wild hitting

and clinching. The first round resulted in favour of. Sir. Murphy. In the second round, Mr. Kilner had all the worst of matters, rushing into clinches to avoid punishment. The gong saved him from defeat. In tho third and last round, Mr. Murphy jumped from his corner and went after his opponent, who was entirely outclassed. Ho was in trouble at once, and in less than a minute was hanging over the ropes in a dazed condition, the referee and the polite preventing Mr. Murphy from completely knocking him out. The light thus ended in Mr. Murphy winning easily. Bitter party feeling was displayed throughout the contest by partisans of tho rival editors. Another "Hope of the White Race." At Easter lime a big match has been arranged for at the Stadium, Sydney, the participants being "Bill" l.nng and "Jack" Lester. "Tommy" Burns's protege, and one of the multifarious "hopes of the white race" that have sprung up in America. Burns asserts that Lester is "the goods," and that he is a prospective world-beater, lacking only in experience. tie has size, strength, a rapidlyincreasing slock of boxing ability, and a temperament of the "would rather fight than eat" type—in fact, all the characteristics of the juccessful heavy-weight. Likewise he has a guileful manager in the person of "Tommy" himself— a fact that leads oi\e to suspend judgment upon his prospects' until he has done something more than have "puff" written about his strength and fierceness. He may be even as Burns says—and seeing that he is a white man one sincerely hopes that ho is—hut' so many of theso would-bo bearers of the white man's burden are being touted nowadays by not entirely disinterested managers that one has become cautious. There was a time when a boxer had to do something big and do it' pretty often before the public began, to sit up and take notice of him. Nowadays the manager does the big deed—in the columns of the newspapers—and the nublic is expected to pay the piper.' And it does it too, if the manager's achievement is big enough. The Eni'lish light-weight champion, "Freddy" Welsh, who recently successfully defended his title from ex-champion "Ji-i" and who was looked upon in Eniland as a likely candidate,for the championship of the world in his class, was beaten at tho National Sportiiiir Club. London, for his title, and the Lonsdalo Belt by Matt Wells, formerly amateur champion, on February 2S.

Ex-Wcllinnton Man "Doing Things." Percy Hale, the ex-champion amatour "heavy" of Wellington, and one time a Southern F.C. forward, still continues his winning vein in Sydney. His latest achievement is the defeat of "Ted" I'obbio by a clean knock-out, in the presence of a big attendance at tho Coliseum last week. It was dono in three rounds. The "Referee" refers to the ex-Welling-toninn as "the fart improving heavyweight." Deficit on our Own Tournament. Tho Wellington B.A.'s efforts to. help along tho Festival of Empire movement last week did not meet with, the success which tho causa and the entertainment deserved. Instead of the fund benefiting by tho venture, the association finds itself something to the bad financially. From a snorting point of view, the evening's work was very fair indeed—albeit it was rather spoilt by the unsatisfactory termination of tho big item—tho LockieBurns contest. Even then ten closolycontested rounds were fought, with tho fortunes fluctuating from one boxer to tho other all tho time. In tho fourth round, after establishing a good lead, Burns almost had Leckie out, tho gong saving him when in dire extremities on tho ropes. After the interval, and a canny fifth round, Leckie recuperated wonderfully, and, in the sixth, started in with a large measure of success to cut down Burns's lead. In tho eighth, lie ill turn almost achieved a knock-out by means of a right swing that tcok the Petone man on tho cheekhonc, and rattled him severely. Two inches lower, and tho contest would hr.vo ended—suddenly. In the ninth and tenth Lccldo was still making up leeway. Tliqn,i .at.-tho-.gong, came .-the appeal for tho foul, and the. abrupt capitulation of Burns, as was described in tho daily columns. Tho other bouts wero bright and willing. Murphy was extremely htckv in getting the" decision from Adamson in tho amateur five-round bout—lie even looked surprised himself when tho verdict was announced. The professional five-round contest between "Jack" Gosling and W. Rogers, an ex-amateur belonging to Hastings, was a lively set-to that mado one feol eager to see the pair in action, properly trained, over a fifteen-round journey. Rogers is a sturdily-built lad with a good smother and sound defence generally, and ho did not hesitate to "mix it" on occasion with his more experienced adversary. In fact, it was onlv Gosling's superior ring-craft and generalship that got him tho verdict. Half-way through the fifth round tho winuer was very hard to pick; then Gosling came with a rattle that disconcerted Eogers, and landed him home a winner.