BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1132, 20 May 1911, Page 12

BOXING.

(Bt "Mercury.") THE WEIRD CAREER OF LANG. His Combat with Lester. Fer the public the big battle at the Stadium, Sydney, last Saturday, can only he deemed unsatisfactory—a pale, gaunt fiasco. And, strangely enough, most of Lang's recent appearances have been fiascos, if not by misadventure to him, then by misadventure to his opponent. When, ho met Kauffman in America he was unable to do himself justice through breaking a hand. In England his "go" with J. Burns was disappointing on account of the latter's inability to put up a fight. Then followed his disastrous defeat on a foul when opposed to C'urran; thou, again, his failure against Langford, and now the peculiar ending to the Lester affair. To the participants in the fray, and to the promoters thereof, there is another standpoint—the consoling thought that there is yet a decisive battle to be fought with accompanying largesse, purses, and gate. It can saieiy be presumed that the men will bo brought together again if possible. Lang's party have every reason to be satisfied with their man's performance as far as it went, judging from tha cabled report. For five rounds he apparently out-boxed his man, and had secured a good "points" lead. For slow-witted Lang (notoriously a slow starter) this would mean a lot. His habit is gradually to warm up to his work, and trust to his opponent "coming back" to him in the later stages. The Metier of Lester. The Lester side have no great need to be discouraged—at least, judging from the cable man's story. The American lays no claim to being a boxer—he is a fighter pure and simple, and, while a pugilist of this school remains on his feet with Iks knock-out puuch in each hand, ho can safely be labelled "dangerous." Lester would aspect to "get lelt" at first, even as he did—all the "slngger" class do, when opposed to a better boxer. It has occurred so often—with "Battling" Nelson, when he beat Britt, Gans, and Co., with "Knock-out" Brown and Ad. Wolgasi, with Papko and "Dave" Smith, and with the- greatest fighter at his 'weight of them all, "Bob" Fitzsimmons, in his' memorable battles with "Jim" Corbett and Company. And so throughout the list. It is when the lighter meets the fight-ing-boxer that his trouble comes. Which is why it is handed out to him by the coloured firm of Johnson and Langford, hard fighting-boxers both. But Lang is neither one nor the other—he has the virtues and failings of each type. His trouble is that the virtues are not sufficiently in evidence to compensate for the failings. Wherefore it is moro than I likely that a second meeting will be arranged to obligo both parties—and the promoters. Ah! Always these promoters! There is one part of the report, howover, that does not ring true—the part wherein Lc:ter excused his action of going down without being hit by stating that he did not know that it. was an illegal act. and that if is allowed in America. Either the visitor has—like so many of nur public men (always excepting Dr. M'Arthur) been "misreportcd" or" else—well, wo certainly are a youngcommunity, but even Jack Lester cannot think that we are so young as to believe that.

< Tho Biograph Discredits Lang. While on the subject of "Bill" Lang and his doings, and referring again to a recent unpleasant happening—the Lang-ford-Lang contest—the following from an Australian paper may be of interest:— .' "Notwithstanding what 'Bill' Lang has said regarding his fouling ' of 'Sam' Langlord, there cannot be the slightest doubt that, when Mr. Eugene Co'rri came forward and announced the disqualification of the Australian in tho recent London fight, ho followed the only courso open to him. Lang fouled badly, and it is difficult to understand and appreciate the insinuation mado by hrni on his return to Sydney that a warning would have met "the case. Of course, ho did not say that in so many words, but he pointed out, while still talking of his light with Langford, and tho fact of his having been disqualified twico in England, that tho English referees wore altogether too strict. The, biograph pictures show tho foul as a most flagrant breach of the rules. Langford was carrying the fight to tho opposing camp, and was making play m great style, when ho went on to his hands and knees. "Like a shot Lang was over him, and without tho slightest hesitation ■ swung his left to the side of the head. Everything happened in a second. And, right here, the pictures come into conflict with another statement made by Lang on his return. Tho Australian champion said that, when ho knocked Langford off his feet, the coloured man was down for several seconds. Langford, he said, started to rite, but, on being warned by his manager (Joe Woodman), dropped back on to his knees, and received the punch, the delivery of which had been commenced when Langford started out to resume .his feet. Tho nictures do.riot show any movement of Langford, neither do they display any ' s'turtlfd action on the part of Woodman. In this respect they settle questions which have been the subject of controversies over sinco Lang returned home." Fierce Affair at the Sladiujn. Of the battle between the South African lijjlii-weight, Arthur Dcnglns, and Frank Picato, tho latest American importation to vir-it Australia, the Sydney "Daily j Tcii'grsph." says:— "G;ia of the fiei'M'st' fights seen at tho Sl-dima for »ome time took place on Kstirrjay lirAt, when Frank Picato, an Italian-American, gat (he decision on points over Arthur Douglas, the South Airicau ysil'hcr boxer flinched under Severn punishment, and the display in this respect on each ojv's part was exceptionally gritty. Picato had an advantage in weight, being nnlv a few ounces short of 10*1., while Douglas scaled 9-t. 5-ilb. Douglas was the I cleverer irf the two, and on occasion ho jaadu Picato link a novice by his clever s'uKU', but Piw.tn hail the mere weighty punch, cud Jjc took any kind of punWi- ' in'.-iit so as i'.i CflMiiv landing it. it was I nj't./mishirip; that Dcugia:; was able- to w:-ath»r soisn of the rounds in which ho vup hit hare! and of tea. Certainly no i pavier exhibicion has been given bv any boxer." In a later issue appears the following :— "Arthur Douglas is anxious to obtain another match with Picato, but insists that I ho American shall weigh in at in.it. • ring-jde, and not at 3 o'clock on the afternoon of the contest, as in their last match. If Picato will agree to these forms, Douglas stntcs that ho feels con-, ftder.r. of his ability to turn the tables on his vanquisher." Coming Nearer Home. The welter-weight match hctween Denis Murphy and IJreed, the ' W.ineanui examaU'iir, dated for May 21. at. Wangaiiui, li.v= fallen through as originally a'rrancod. E.iriy in the week '''Mercury" received the following v-'re from the V.'angnnui Association:—"Brosd hurt at football: cannot meet Murphy. Can you arrange '.irnooue else?" The breach has been filled bv tho substitution of "Do?*" Burns, of Potone, who announces himself as being in good goinc order, and easily able to make tho weight. On Monday last "Ion" Porter, of Wellington, was billed to have met "Patio." a Sydney "feather" of some standing, fn an ante-bellum note on the mutch an Australian exchange rays:—""Lon* 'Porter, of New Zealand, is getting into good shape for his match with 'Patto,' of Rodfern. Porter his been sparring daily with all-comers at tho Newtown Pastime Club, and promises 'Patto' tho fight of his life." The same authority is responsible for the following notes en two other ex-local boxers:—"Gas Devitt, tho New Zealaiider. backed his claim to the welter-weight championship by entering the ring last Monday night at the Melbourne Athletic Club and challenging Mark lliggins, or anyone his weight in th" Commonwealth. Devitt t:\ibsc-iiiicully said that he had •

backing against anyone at his weight. In the event of the men refusing to meet him, ho would claim thu championship." "Billy Wenand is doing good practice work in Melbourne as sparring partner to Frank Thorn, who is favourably impressed with the skill displayed by the ex-amateur." Waintikurau—A Maiden Effort. Writing to "Mercury" Mr. J. W. Ellicit, secretary of tho recently-formed Waipukurau Boxing Association, has tho following to say in reference to his association's maiden effort m the way of a tourney on Juno 7: — The chief event of the evening is a fifteen-round (3 minutes) contest between the professions "Gnat" Williams, of Palmeistoii North, and L. O'Hallprau, of Waipawa, and late of Auckland. You are no doubt well acquainted with Williams and his record. O'Halloran, whofo first professional fight this is, was runner-up in. the amateur light-weight championship of Australasia last year, tit tho tournament held at Auckland. Wo aro giving the boxers a .£2O purse. We aro also putting on four amateur bouts, viz:-^ Bantams: J. Furguson (Waipawa) Hawke's Bay champion, v. G, Wells (Napier). Feather-weight: 11. Ireland (Waipawa), v. Peters (Waipukurau) . Middle-weight: B. Ireland (Waipawa), Hawke's Bay champion, v. J. Skipper (Hastings). Heavy-weights: K. Hansen (Waipawa), v. C. Brack-haw. (Waipukurau). This makes a good bill of fare, and it is to bo hoped that the country association will reap the reward which its enterprise merits. Other Interesting Gossip, ' . Details of tho battle between Owen Morau, the English light-weight, who recently administered to "Battling"' Nelson (the only knock-out which that tough proposition ever encountered throughout his long and' adventurous career), and "Packy" M'Farland are now to hand by the American mail. One sporting file says :—

"It was a. clean, hard-fought battle throughout, in which the Chicago boy fully demonstrated his superiority in. boxing over the Englishman. Jl'Farlaiid was always tln-re with a cloau punch, and H'hcn Morau reached for him he found the Chicago boy most elusive. Both fighters weighed in at 1351b. at 5 o'clock, hut those at the ringside gave the Chicago man a slight advantage in weight when the, light started. M'Farland depended for the greater part on body blows, reaching Mown right and left below the heart. At close quarters he Imd a distinct advantage over the Englishman. N'either man suffered much from punishment until the seventh, when i\Fl''arland got; Moran with stiff body blows and sent him reeling twice across the ring to the ropes. Following this with two rights ho had'Jloran staggering. Hut Jloran rallied, and came hock after more. Jloran. worked his wide left swinjj for all that there was in it, and did his most effective work after the manner of 'Knock-out' Brown. Occasionally M'Farland got in a right to the head, but for the most part he kept hammering at Moran's body, right and left, with vicious punches. Although outclassed, Moran put up a good light, and gave M'Farland a stiff go, but could not land."

Cabled intelligence was received in Sydney last week that "Jim" Flynn knocked nut A.. L. Kauffmau in ton rounds in Kansas City on May 6. Of the two Kauffmau is the better known at this side of the world. Flynn, however, will be remembered as having knocked out "Bill" Squires in six rounds during the Australian's disastrous American tour. He has fought two "no-<iccision" ten-ronnd bouts with "Billy" Papkc, and has been knocked out by "Tommy" Burns in 15 rounds, an,d by "Jack" Johnson in 11 rounds, and also by "Sam" Langford in one round in a second meeting, the first being another ten-round "no-decision" affair. Flynn, like Frank Picato (now in ..Sydney), Hugo Kclij,,;i,niuW,'Jpo" Urimnl, is an American-born Italians 'h'l'si proper name being Andrew Chiarigloni. Billy l J apkc has arrived in England, and lias been matched by Hugh M'lntosh with Jim Sullivan, tho English middle-weight champion, for some night in Derby Week. Tire English "middle" limit is list. Gib., 21b. heavier than the Australian and American weight, so that there is a possibility that Papko will be able t" make his proper class, a thing ho entirely failed to do in Australia.