BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1138, 27 May 1911, Page 12

BOXING.

LESTEB-THE CRITICS' CHOBUS. (Bt "Mercuric.") Mainly on the Foul. Tho Lang-Lester unpleasantness is amplified by the week's mails. Accounts in the various files agree in differing with the cabled report in one important respect— the margin of difference between tho men at the finish. It will bo remembered that the cables gave us to understand that, at the time of the foul, Lang was well ahead, and fairly on the way to victory by virtue of superior boxing. This is "discounted considerably now. Lang certainly appears to have scored freely, and certainly "'as something to tho good from the boxing viewpoint; but his efforts, it seem?, had failed to dampen the ardour of this dashing young adversary, and the issue was as much in doubt when Lester was disqualified as at tho opening of hostilities. The "'Sydney Morning Herald" sums up this way—"While there were many of tho opinion that but for the disqualification he would have beaten Lang, it was unanimously conceded that if he is to beat Johnson ho wjll have to learn a good deal in the interim. Strong, with undoubted grit and a surprising capacity for taking punishment, he'used two hands in free fashion; but there was a strong conviction, nevertheless, that he is not yet in Johnson's'class. As to Lang and the Australian championship, opinions were divided. On points so far as the contest went, Lang led, but Lester is a man who makes matters too willing to admit, as a general thing, of a points' decision; and during the five rounds that were completed it was shown fairly clearly that Lang could not hit hard enough to put the American out of action." "Tho Amateur," in the "Eeferee, is even more decided that .there was not much to choose between the combatants. Ho says:—"To all unprejudiced judges of the game it looked, beyond the points part of the reckoning, as much an even thing as possible when Lester, dazed vrith pain, committed that offence which caused tho disqualification. Several ringside bettors had got out of their risks a round or two before by backing Lester, and in the fifth -round no less sound an authority in the frame than Mr. Foley invested a'fiver on Lester." Has Lester a Future? It will thus bo seen that the young American, although defeated, "mado good;" if measured by the Lang standard. On this point the criticj' are unanimous, as witness "The Bulletin":—"Heavy condcmn&tion has been thrown at Lester, but this writer does not agree with it. At present he is si rusher, it is true, and a ivcientific fighter «f tho Burns calibre would have knocked him out in Che second round, as he leaves himself very open. But ho is young, and he carries a fearsome hitting power, and his double shift is a dangerous and beautiful manoeuvre. He has remarkable speed, is as plucky as, a bulldog, can take punishment, and hits hard as a horse-kick every time. All he has to get away from is that habit of rushing in wide open; then, fighting more warily] ho will have a great future beforo him." Mr. .W.W. Naughton: "Lester, I think, has a future. He is salad green in everything ho does, and ho needs licking into shape. He can scarcely bo called a natural fighter; but ho gives of becoming one. He starts forth like Ketchel with his twitching shoulders and his confusing shifts, but there the resemblance ends. Ho lacks Ketchel's suroness of delivery and fierceness of attack. Ho just lashes out promiscuously whether his man is coming or going." Sydney "Daily Telegraph":—"From his showing, tho newcomer, though at pre- ) sent crudo in his methods, is the making of a first-rato man, and with a little more experience will be hard to beat. He carries 'the punch/ and is always dangerous." Thus Lester (perhaps by virtue of his youth and inexperience) may still be permitted to rauk as a "hope." By the-' same token Lang must drop, if lie has not already dropped, right out of that class. With all his advantages he should have done better—and would have done, better, had ho been in the "champion" division. Lester is a "may-be." Lang is —it is written with all reluctance—a "never was," so far as a world's champion is concerned. And Now-the Fray Itself. And now to the fray itself. One account has already appeared in Tuesdays Dominion, but other versions will bo of interest. Mr. W. W. Naughton, the doyen of the world's writers on matters pugilistic, presents a delightful little camoo of the affair as he saw it. Ho says:—On the ono hand, a' fellow who knows how to kit and block and time his man to a nicety, but who lacks punishing power in proportion to his weight and muscle. On the other, a youth who wots not of distance or direction, and who has little to commend him but a manifest desire to bo in the thick of things.' That is how Lang and Lester appeared to me.

Tho "Bulletin's" testimony runs;— A hoarso roar of derision greeted the announcement that the weights of Lang and Letter were 13st. 10lb. and 12st. lljlb. respectively. Lang looked nearer list, filb., and he towevpd over Lester in a most menacing way. It didn't seeui humanly possible for the (comparatively) little fellow to last five minutes. But when they got going, and Lester unfolded his beautiful donblc shift, Lang was left standing still. Like a flash Lester landed his left in the middle of Lang's fair

white front', caught him over Hie ear, banged him on the car again, gavo him another on the ribs, whacked the oth'Sr ear to keep things even, and struek elsewhere. Lang,. in return for all that, got in only one poor smack on tho ribs. Loud praise of tho visitor's cleverness filled the air. But the stolid Australian took it all, and came up again for the second round, evidently determined to mix things. "Ho bored in and gavo Lester one on tho jaw; Lester shook himself, and with a wild-cat spring got home. As he backed off Lang caught him with a beauty, which rocked him badly. But he recovered wonderfully, and, rushing in, smote Lang. Lang tried to finish it, but missed, and got one on the ear and another elsewhere for his trouble, and then he backed off and looked wondcriiigly at tho man from 'Merien. 'One thiug Lang had suddenly discovered—the best defence ncninst th*. virions onslaughts of "TahmmyV pnpil was to attack from the jump. And he did it., with the result that he smothered Letter's attack and discomfited him! and when Lester snioto him once moro ho cressed his right and suit tho visitor to the boards. Again, however, Lang's mental slowness ruined'his chance, for the staggering Yankee got up ami weathered the sale till the bell went. And when it did go it was Lester who was attacking, and not Lang. The fourth was a wild rally, and some heavysmashing took place on both sides. Lang was using his weight, and Lester was playing the ignoramus, by wrestling with a stronger and bigger man than himself when. oiit-fightin? should have bp.cn his gamo, as it gave his marvellous quickness more chance. He did most of the effective hitting in that round, and, after a. tornado of smashes, Lang's old wound over his left oyo was in evidence. In the fifth there was mors torrid work, and Lcstei-, catching Lang on the- swing, knocked him down. Hut he was up again, antl fighting madly, and when they went to corners honours were easy. Tlip end came in the. sixth round. Twico Lester tried for a knock-out, and pot banged when he missed; but twice Lane; was in the fjiadnw of death. Then Lester closed in, and Lansr bent before the storm and turned sideways, and as he did so Lester charged him. Lang.rnshed to meet him, and tho blow Hint should have caught him, went round him. But if the fist missed, tho forearm didn't, and it landed full weight nu Lang's boney elbow. 1 Up went the arm; Lester danced with pain, and waved the member wildly in (lie air. trying to make out whether he had knocked it ofT nr not. Lang rushed at him. and Lester dropped on one knee—Out. •

What Happened at the Finish

There is one matter upon which there is .i divergency in the newspaper reports —as to the actual happenings when

Referee Baker had given his fateful decision. "The Referee" s.iid:—"How much of a boy 'Jack , Lester still is was shown when, ioacied up to tho chin with disgust nt being beaten so simply, he wont Orel' to 'Bill' Lang wearing an expression of strong entreaty, and said, "Say, are you dupeable to go on with this fight?' 'Bill's' look for a moment or two was tine of blank astonishment, tho request was k> extraordinary in the circumstances, but when ho pulled himself tty (,'otlipr he blurted out, 'Xo, I ain't a fcol!' and Lester turned back to tho American angle more broken up than ever." The "Daily Telegraph's" version is altogether different, and is mqro in accordance with what one would like to believe of Lang. It runs:"Greatly distressed at tho unexpected turn over erents, the voting American walked ove-v to Lanj's corner, and asked him would l>e continue the fight. "You bet I will,' the Australian responded promptly. These proceedings were, of course, quite irreg-ulnr, if not farcical, and were ended by 'Mick' Dunne, an oldtime fighter, who was one of Lang's seconds. 'You've won once, Bill—how many times do you want to win nnyway? Here's your coat—get out of the ring.' Whereupon Lang got out of tlio ring. Meanwhile Lester, (lie picture of misery, roamed aimkssly about the roped enclosure, sat dowit in his corner, got up again, and was hooted and cheered in turn." No. sooner had the men considered the position, than there was n mutual desire expressed for another meeting. At first a deadlock arose over the terms. Tho Lester party were all afire for a "return," but the demands of the Lang management hung matters up for a while. T»3 winner aske.d for a Riiaranteo of .£SOO, win, lose, or draw—a piece of sweet unreasonableness that, naturally enough, was "turned down" with emphasis. However, a compromise was arrived at, and Lang was guaranteed .£4OO, tho amount of his "cut" of the purse for his win, and, at latest advices, the second meeting is practically certain to take place on the morning of Juno 3. The Sensation at Wanganui. To say that the news of Denis Murphy's disqualification at Wanganui on Wednesday nijjlit caused a sensation arnoiig losing enthusiasts in town is to understate tho case considerably. It will bo remembered that, in the first place, Murphy was matched against Breed, a Wanganui amateur in search of professional honours, the issues involved being tho welter title of the Dominion and a purso of .£SO. However, last Saturday week, the Wanganui man got hurt playing football, and it seemed as though the chief item of the turney would have to bo cancelled. Tho Wsuiganui Association wrote to 'Mercury," in the matter, and asked nun lo endeavour to arrange for a substitute lo meet Murphv, with tho result that "Doss" Burns was chosen to fill the breach. At the same time, the writer is free to confess that all ho expected from the Pctone man was a willing struggle as long as his condition lasted—say for ten rounds or sous the notico given him was altogether too short to allow him to fit himself for a 15-round contest.

It would not have been a matter for very great surprise had Murphy been beaten by a knock-out early in tho battle—that is a contingency always to be looked for—but that he should' be disqualified for foul lighting in tho second roundthat is -what camp a's such a shook to those knowing his clean and sportsmanlike methods as an amateur. Still, Dr. Napi«r-M'Lean knows what-is what, and Murphy must have offended glaringly to meet with such drastic treatment. It is said that "evil Communications corrupt good manners," aud, evidently, Murphy's intercourse in Sydney with Clabby and Co., of the United States of America, has delcteriously altcct-ed him.

Apparently the welter-weight title has not changed hands with tho victory, as Burns could not make the weight. Full details, however, are not to hand' at time of writing, and will be given next week. Meanwhile, congratulations to Burns are in order on tho successful issue-' of his "forlorn hope-" act. ' ,q,wr .••■!• ',■;, : i,.,1 ; A Talk with' "Dave" Smith, •' On Tuesday last, "Dave" Smith poESod through town on his way to the West Coast with his "show"—th.) Caledonian Entertainers, in which he gives a '-'turn" | consisting of ball-punching, shadow-spar-ring,, and training methods, and an exhibition spar with Arthur Kelly, to whom reference has already l>een made in this column. On being questioned as to his terms for a match in Xcw Zealand, tho champion "light-heavy" said that he was quite agreeable if matters could bo arranged, but that he would want a purse of J2300 to go into the ring. This seems oxcessive at first, but, when it is considered that Smith netted .£I7OO from his three last Australian matches, it is not such an unreasonable demand offer all. Tho trouble, of course, would bo to find him a suitable opponent, but it is believed that Arthur Criyps, tho more or less retired great Australian middle-weight champion, would cotuo over if , such a purto were offered. Moreover, if the Wellington Association were to handle tho affair on these terms, and at such prices as would bo charged for this match in tho Stadium, it would be quite "within the bounds of practical politics," provided tho Town Hall were inado tho battleground. During his ytay-in town Arthur Kelly interviewed Mr.' M'Villcy on the subject of getting a match, and expressed his desire to have a try for the light-weight championship of tho Dominion. This would, of course, mean waiting until Tim Tracy was in harness again, but, in the meantime, Kelly is willing to meet anyone in reason. He particularly fancies Arthur Doughs or Frank Picato, if they could be brought over for him, and, if ho is to be matched at all, his opponent would have to be imported, as wo have no one in No;- Zealinl in his class at the weight. Kelly went ten rounds with Hugh Mchegan,'the Australian champion light-weight, last March—which is sufficient index as to his capabilities. The influx of New Zealand boxers to Sydney continues. The latest departures are Lindsay Robinson, our champion lightweight, who beat "Billy" Wenand last year in ten- round?, and "Sid." Porter, the twin brother of "Len.," now in Sydney, who has appeared revcral times in the local ring as an amateur. "Billy" Elliott and "Ted" Green foueht 30 rounds in Sydney on May 12. The verdict was given as a draw, desnite tho fact that the papers give the Wellinijtonian the best of tho deal by si big; margjn. The "Keferee" describes the decision as a' bad one.

, Sproking at the Nursing Conference at the London Comity Council Technical Institute, Dr. Tom Robinson, 51 .D., Mart that in Saxony there was a law by which if a man suffered from a painful, anil incurable disease and bra doctors agreed that it was incurable then, if the patient was wishful to end his existence a certificate might be obtained, and a doctor would at a lime unknown (o the patient administer a fatal dose of poison. SUFFERED FOR YEARS. WITH BACK AND KIDNEYS. "1 COULD NOT REST FOR THE AGONY IN MS" BACK." "I have, been a g'-cat sufferer with my back and kidneys for years, and an unbearable, pain iu the bottom of the back, awl at limes 1 could not stoop to pick anything up. Many the night have I lia'd to walk the lloor in pain," writes Jfrs. Isabella Foster, 4S . King Street, Prahran, Victoria. "I could not rest i'or the agony in my back. 1 have tried all 6orts of medicines, but to my great astonishment they were failures. They wore no earthly good at all, and I commenced to tliinTT my ailment's were past all treatment, and tho possibility of never being cured was a very dismal outlook for me. Naturally enough, I drifted from bad to worse. One day I was in a shop and overheard someone sprak about Dr. Sheldon's Gin Tills, so 1 thought 1 would L'ive. them a trial. The first dose did not rlo me any good, but the second dose was different.. 1 could feel that they wcro going to be of use to mo. I took them lor n fortnight or a little more, and nil hit pains then left me. I am now as vi"ht as a bank, and I can honestly recommend Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills to everyone." , .