BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 12

BOXING.

(Br "Meroubt.")

"HANNAN AND KELLY. BOX ON!" CAPITAL NIGOT AT TOWN HALL.

September ".—Australasian Championships (Brisbane). September. 20-Tracy v. Gault (Wanganui). October - .—Tracy v. D. Murphy (Riverton). October 2.—Jack Johnson v. Wells (Lon- ' don). , 'We Looked for "The Goods" and Got Them. Good achievement was looked for in tho Kelly-Hannan warfare at the Town Hall on Tuesday night, and wo got it. True, we have had better "cdueationals" in scientific hosing—and also better "comics'" and "dramatics," as the picture shows liavo it—but, for .sustained interest, incident, willingness, and clean, open fighting tho association's latest venture will take a deal of beating.

Besides, tho bout was a thoroughly "sporting" one. The best of good fellowship was displayed by both lads and— keen though they were—their earnestness never once carried either over the border of strict fair play. Moro than ouce was a helping hand extended to assist a fallen foe to his feet (especially on Hannan's Bide), and, on each occasion tho graceful act was one signal for a burst of applause. As an object-lesson in this respect, the contest—tho first, by the way, held iu the Town Hall since tho veto on professional bouts was lifted by the City Council—was invaluable. It showed conclusively that even a professional contest can be boxed out ad ultimum with clean hands. It proved that "nro"-isni does not necessarily mean brutality, and that, as long as the men aro selected as they aro by the governing body, good sportsmanship can walk in sweet communion with good courage and good fists. 'What more does one want from either professional or amateur?. Neither Had Seen the Other. But this; is a side-track. • Tuesday's clash was peculiar in one way. Althoii'h both boxers hail from New South Wale's, neither had even seen tho other until their introduction at the Town Hall on tho convincing night. Thus neither had had anv opportunity of judging Ins opponent's style—a fact that accounts for tho quietness of the first round or two. But tho methods of n-ieof them (Hannai'i) were soon- mac'.o manifest. His plan of attack is' that described in tho inihtarv text-books a.s "shock tactics. Like Doidy in the "Arcadian*;" he has got 'er motter," and the motto is: Cot in and stav in"—and got in ho did. And despite "all Kelly's guile, he stayed in, and, whilo there, he mado his presence felt. Kelly, on tho other hand, was content, perforce, to play tv waiting game. Apparently the better spa-rrer of tho twain, ho broke ground continually, and, aided by bis superior height and reach, tneu hard to males the fight a long-range one. That ho was not rawc successful in his endeavour was owing to the puzzling uncertaintv of his footwork. At times ho was rea'llv brilliant in this department, and eluded Hannan's panther-like leaps iu tho best style. At. other times ho was caught napping, and was borne to the boards by sheer force of impact. He would frequently elude tho impending blow easily enough, only to be bowled over by Hannan's; flight through tho air, and, so great was the latter's impetuosity, tint on several such occasions he followed Kelly tc the Hoor. In one instance thu two clinched as they fell, and got up, still in holts, broiia away without tho referee's intervention, and went strenuously on with the game. An exciting pieco of work was this, and the audience fairly roso at it. Still the contest was _ not marred by too much wrestling or clinching—Kelly saw lo that—and tho referee's task was an.easy one. The .Spectacle as They Opened. To . seo tho disturbance let us go back to tho beginning of it. Kelly was tho first to tako a comer. From this he was'evicted in a few minutes by Hannan, as a'result of tho toss. Tho latter entered tho ring in tho best "Tommy"'Burns slylo-'-abparenUy fully dressed, even, to a cap. Ho looked remarkably self-possessed—more so apparently than his moro experienced adversary —walked over and shook hands, incidentally seizing tho opportunity to examine the strapping on Kelly's hands, tested the tautness of tho ropes, and then nonchalantly proceeded to disrobe. As the men wcro introduced to the audience, and the weights announced (Kelly 9st. 71b., Hannan (Ist. Gib.), many an appraising cyo was fixed on them. They were, strangely unlike. Kelly was taller and broader in tho back, but very much "underpinned." Moreover, ho appeared palo and drawn, and this impression was accentuated by his black hair and heavy eyebrows. In fact, ha looked stale! Hannan, on tho other hand, tcok the eye-well. Symmetrically built everywhere, he looked full of health and 'vigour. His small head, poised on n muscular neck, gave him an alert appearance that his subsequent actions proved tobe right And when they "shaped up, the difference in stylo was even moro marked. Kelly began dancing round his man right nway, with his black brows, beetling, and !his lorig arms waving in the air, looking ready 'to unwind a wicked punch from nny angle. Hannan just revolved quietly on his own* axis, with his chin well tucked in, his right arm across his chest and still, and his left low down and gently swaying. Seen liko this, something looked wTong. .Gradually it becams apparent that liis left arm did not match tho right. It looked smaller, and so it •is, owing to a bad break some years back. Then, as ho turned with his dancing adversary, a deep scar became apparent on his right shonldcr—a legacy from a gun accident. So Hannan, it seems, has been through his "baptism of fire." After forno seconds of silence, broken only by tho shuffling of Kelly's dancing feet,-out shot his left. It was well blocked, and tho light was "on." Again camo the long left, this timo with bolter result, although it was barely a touch, but no response camo from Hannan. More sparring for tho necessary opening, ond moro dancing, and a feint or two, and tho round was over with honours t'o. Kelly for leading. {

When the Real Hannan Dawned. In tho second round came Hie first of Hiuuum's rushes— tho first of many such. Kolly avoided it safely, and looked somewhat amused, when—whizz!—canio another. This tinio Kelly did not avoid it, and a hot engagement, ensued at halfarm distance. When t'hoy parted, the amused look had departed from Kelly's face. From this on, the rushes caino fast and often. Kelly met them with n straight left, followed by <i lifting right upper-cut that promised trouble for its recipient, should it land. Jlost times, however, if. was blocked (rell and, only once, did it get homo squarely. This was in theN 10th Tound, and (unfortunately for Kelly) at a time when ho was too weak t'o tako full advantage of. the chance. It took Hannan full on tho chin, and he Hit down —hard. But, however dazed he might liavo been ho was up on the count of "live" and, at once, slid int'o.a clinch from which tho sound of tho gong brought him to a very welcome respite. This was Kelly's one chance, and he missed it. Tfnd it como along earlier, there might have been a different ending to the story. As tho battle progressed, if' becanio apparent that Hannan was 100 strong for his man in the tight stuff, and the roughing, in-lighting, and short-arm work, as Kelly grew weaker under llannan's charges, told on him sorely. Still ho battled on gamely and cleverly, but his work showed traces of the "stalcness" that his first appearance in tho rini: had

pointed to. Some of his falls, too, wore heavy. Although, as stated before, they were not the result of actual blows, still they shook him palpably. The last three rounds were bad ones for him. In.the Dressing Rooms Afterwards. Hannan fought to tho last second, and his win was a clean-cut and popular one. Strangely enough, after leaving the ring, he was in- far the more distressed. Neither had much to suy afterwards. Iho winner, naturally enough, was well pleased.' His win means a lot for_ him in the future, and will secure for him good engagements in Sydney. The loser, except for saying that ho had-weakened more than 'ho expected to, made no excuses and lost no time in going to tho winner's dressing room, and congratulating him.According (o fho writers notes Hannun won the 2nd, ,Ird, 7th, Bth, 3th, 12th, Lllh, Pith, and loth rounds; Kelly the Ist, Mil, and 10th; whilo ,f,ho sth and Kth and 11th were drawn. The purso of .EIOO was "cut" (on Hannah's suggestion) at JtfO and JEIO, instead of tho £65 and £35 as set down in.(ho articles. What Tracy Says About Meeting Hannan. And now to the. future. A very keen desire has been expressed on all sides that Hannan should be matched with "Tim" Tracy at the earliest opportunity. With a view to ascertaining what the local champion would consider tho "earliest opportunity,"—that is, of course, when his arm will be fit for action again—"Mercury" called upon him, and found him only too eager foi the meeting if Hannan could wait u month. Ho had already talked matters over with tho Australian, and had offered him practically any terms in regard to the purse. If ,£IOO wero offered ""Tim" signified his willingness to cut it at JC7S and .£25, at JXti and .£lO, or even to halve it—in fact, to do anything in reason to clinch the matter. Which, considering that his ■ title would also be at stake, is doing tlio fair thing with emphasis—but, then, Tracy always has been ready to do the fair thing. And What Hannan Says. "Mercury" then saw Hannan 1 , but met with an unexpected obstacle. Ho signified his willingness to stay for a month for the same expenses as he cams over for'(J!2o)'to meot Tracy, or any other light-weight in the Dominion, but ho considers that it would not pay him to stay away from Sydney now under an «£BO guarantee. It was pointed out to him that this was too big a hurdlo for the association. It would mean ,£IOO for his ond, win or lose, with a chance of tho title thrown in. Moreover, it would be grossly unfaii (o Tracy, 1 whoso drawing power for such a" would be at least as good as ■ his own, and who could, therefore, in all reason, ask for a 'similar guarantee. Tho visitor, however, proved obdurate. He said that it was a plain business proposition with hiin—that by staying here a month he might bo likely to miss big money in Sydney. He told the writer that, if the association could not como to his terms, he would leave by the next Sydney boat (yesterday's). Were Hannan's Objections Sound? One cannot blame Hannan for trying to make good terms. At the same time his demands are—to put the matter kindly—rather unreasonable. Iu tho first place, ho is under some obligation to the local association; His winnings on Tuesday are, by far,, the most that lie has over got from one contest. , Again, ho was given an opportunity to meet!'a man whom he would have taken a long whilo to work up to in Sydney. That he mado the most of this opportunity is all to his credit. • Still tho fact that he was given it ontails some.sense of gratitude on his side.

Then again, even suppose the purse for a meeting with Tracy were divided at £R0 and .£lO, lie would, with his expenses, bo sure of at least £60 for one month's work, and, even with times as good as they are on the other side, it is problematical whether he could better that proposition. This seems especially so with all tho big matches coining on over there. With all the champions engaged as now-is tho case, the smaller contests, must necessarily suffer to some extent, and our visitor- is not among tho champions yet. . > Hannan to Come Back to Meet Tracy. This was the stato of affairs on Thursday morning, but fortunately during tho day matters took a decided turn for the better. Hannan had evidently put on his considering cap lo some purpose, and the result was that ho changed his mind. The position now is that although he sailed for homo yesterday he has undertaken to cOmo back to meet Tracy three weeks from Monday next—September 18. His only condition is that Tim weighs in at the "light" limit, and that 1 the purse bo .£IOO, divided £G0 and £10. Naturally Tracy is very pleased at this later trend ■of events, and is starting hard work at once. Ho has no doubt that he can get right back to condition in the time and can make tho. weight easily. He has only a pound and a- half to geit oft' to make the 10 stone, so will probably weigh in with a margin to the good. The match only needs tho formal sanction of the association to become au fait accompli. It is wanted badly by the public, and will give tho governing body just the chance it -needs to wipo off the deficit on Tuesday's meeting, so it can bo looked upon as practically settled. .What's Afoot in Sydney? After a Ipng silence a local ex-amateur champion i 9 again heard of. The Sydney "Sun" says:—Bill Rudd, the New Zealand boxer, has been matched to tight Jim Jlaloney before the Gaiety Club on September 2.. With tho Lang-Lester opposition it is quite likely that. the "house-full" notice .will not have to be hung outside tho building. • Of another Wellingtonian, the "Referee" says:—"Len" Porter,' the New Zealander, and Williams, of the rocks, havo been matched to fight at the Gaiety on tho 1-ith proximo. \ To-day "Billy" Elliott, yet nnother exWollingtonian, meets "Jack" Head at tho Stadium, Sydney, and, next Saturday, at tho samo arena, there eventuates tho long-looked-for "return" between "Bill" Lang and "Jack" Lester. • A note oE boxing interest about "Dick" Arnst, tho champion sculler, will bo found in the rowing column. It is to be regretted that there is no spaco left to (leal with last Tuesday's "curtain-raisers." There is only room to remark on Kutn.erV greatly improved showing in his attractive bout with Joplin, and the liittar's plucky battle against his clever adversary.