BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 12

BOXING.

THE r LTURES FOR THE FEAST.

(Br "Mercurs-.")

A Few of Them Named. A formidable galaxy of boxing "stars" will scintillato in Sydney during the openair season, to bo opened at the Stadium on September 19, ns witness "Jack" Johnson, "Sam" Langford, "Sam" M'Vea, "Jack" Letter, "Bill" Lang, in the heavy brigade, and the Frenchmen. Marcel, Moreua, Paul Til, and Carponticr; also Frank Picato, the visiting American, and the locals, Mehegan, Keys, and Co. Surely, the vmtures are gatliering for the feast—tho feast provided by tho great Australian public, u,ad' carved by H. D. M'lnlosb. and Co, The Back-down of Sullivan. The finding of an Australian opponent for Arthur Kelly, for the local association s tourney at the Town Hall on August 22, is still in the lap of the gods. But there is prospect that by tho time this appears, a suitable man will have been hunted up in Sydney. After SuiTivan turned down tho signed articles, the association cabled over, asking if any of the. following quartet wero willing:— "Hock" Keys, Harry Thorne, "Jim" Armstrong, or the American, Prank Picato. The reply from its Sydney representative, Mr. W. I'. Corbelt ('"The Amateur," of tho "Referee") was to the effect that nono of them could come. A cablo was {hen dispatched, asking that best possible lightweight should he Mnt, and this is tho thing which tho Pates are now asked to sort out. In all probability the winner of the RaifHaJinan contest (last Tuesday) . will be Kelly's opponent.:: Those boxers- \iio- said to be willing to make the trip if wanted. Tho last "Referee" reports that Raff is prepared to back himself for .£SO against the clever Tasmanian, "Jack" Head, if ho beats Hannon. Read, by the way, is matched to meet the delinquent Sullivan on August 15. The news that "Bill" Lang had knocked out "Bill" Squires at Brisbane on Tuesday did not stagger the world. Nevertheless, tho contest had its surprising feature?. One is that any promoter could bo found to stage tho affair. Another is that anyone would go to see it when it was staged. Yet another, and the greatest of all, is that Squires ever had the "nerve" to go into the ring at all. However, no doubt the result is just what he expected himself, and ho will go back to his farm with his "loser's end' 'to help in improving his holding, which is most likely all ho hoped for in tho first place. World's Light-weights. A cable 'message has been received in Sydney stating that articles have been signed for a world's championship lightweight contest between the holder, "Ad." Wolgast, and the well-known' Ckicagoan, "Pnekoy" M'Farland. The latter has for some timo been regarded as one of the best, if not the best, at his weight that thoro is, but it has been understood that he could not get the American "light" limit of 9st. 71b., and still fight "strong." However, from present indications he appears to bo of a different opinion, and in view of the inarch toward the championship of the two English light-weights now in tho States-"Mat." Wells and "Freddy" Welsh, both of whom are seeking matches with Wolgnst—t.he result will be watched for with interest. This is the second affair (a big title involved) which is scheduled for September, as "Jack" Johnson meets Bombardier Wells in London that month. On September 1, H. D. M'lntosh is due to arrive in Sydney. On September 19 his big Stadium is to be reopened with the light-weight supremacy battle between llughie Mehcßan (title holder) andXJharlio Griffin, tho New Zealandor. On Sontoinber 23 "Jack" Lester is to meet "Sam" M'Vea, and on September 30 Mehegan oomos on again—this timo with "Jack" Read. Tho Wisdom and "Front" of Mehegan. Apropos of Hughic Mehegan, Australia's champion light-weight, tho following paragraph from the "Sydney Arrow" about the sturdy little boxer's future movements will be of interest;— "Without a manager, and all by himself 'Hughio' Mehegan, lightweight champion of Australasia, has arranged a list of engagements with the Sydney Stadium people such as boxer never entered into before at one time. The clever Molbournian sign- - ed to meet Charlie Griffin on tho 111 th instant, 'Hock' Keys (for ,£IOO a-sidc) on the IGth prox., Jack Read fourteen days later, Frank Picato on October 21, 'Kid' M'Coy on November 11, and Hick Cullen on December 2. Is there a parallel to this in tho annals of pugilism V I dare swear nothing, in tho history of tho game gets anywhere near it. ''It is refreshing indeed to find a boxer so brimful of confidence regarding his powers, and so eager for work. Nono but a 'plucked 'tin' would say to so many atone time. 'Come on! Marry, come up!' 'Hughie' is evidently bent upon reaping as big a. harvest ns the ■ approaching boom is likely to provide, and when the English, tho American, and the French invaders, even now on the water, arrive here, he may sandwich one. of (hem between matches already arranged. Such a determinedly doubled fist will assuredly snatch a little of tho wind of some of these in tho list." There is no doubt that Mehegan is wise in his generation. Not only is he making hay while the sun shines and gathering roses while.he may, as the copy books, or the poets, or some other reliable- authority say, but he is also undergoing the very best preparation possible for his strenuous career. There is no training for boxing like hoxing—wilhin reason that is, say once a fortnight. It makes the work conic easier, keeps the whole system timed up to concert pitch, makes for speed, and saves considerable expense in paying sparring partners. Mehegan has evidently taken a. leaf on I of the book of Ihe world's champion in his class—"Ad." AVolgast— whose present perch on the lop rung never looked so secure as now, thanks to his affability in meeiimr all the "knock-out" Browns, "one-round" Il'oirniis, Frankie Hunts, and other ambitious young "hopes" that have chanced along his .side of tins street.