BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 12

BOXING.

POOR WELLS! TOOR VICTIM.

(Br "Mrncuni.")

September 7.—Australasian Championships (Brisbane). September 22—Light-weight Championship of N.Z.: Tracy v. Ilannan (Town Hall). September 29—Tracy v. Gault (Wanganui). October — .--Tracy v. D. Murphy (Millerton). October 2.—Jack Johnson v. Wells (London). Dominion Light-weight Title. As foreshadowed last week, tho match between "Tim" Tracy and "Billy" Hannan has now been arranged. Some slight alteration was found necessary in the date, owing to bookings at tho Town Hall. Friday, September 22, has now been pencilled as the date of tho battle. Tho date suits Tracy even better than the earlier one proposed. It gives him four more days to sort himself into ring trim, and, after his long rest, every day counts. Early in tho week Mr. Talbot, the. association's secretary, advised Hannan by cable of tho alteration, and got a quick reply that it would make 110 difference. Thus everything is in order for a good night's sport. To give tho "trouble" additional interest, Tracy has agreed to throw his light-weight championship title into the scale of fortune. So the contest will be a sporting one, indeed. Capital "side-shows" havo also been fixed up. Of these there aro to be two— a professional eight-round bout between Rogers, of Hastings, whom we have already seen in action against "Jack" Gosling at the Opera House, and "Bill" Hardy, a local "feather," who has been for somo timo 111 Sydney. Originally it was intended to have brought Rogers and Gosling together again, but the latter has, unfortunately, broken a small bono in his foot—lienco the substitution of Hardy. The other tug to the big ship of interest is a three-round amateur bang between F. Ellis, "feather" champion, and C. Wilson, the clever local lightweight. Hannan as his Opponent Sees Him. The following from the "Marlborough Express" speaks for itself:— Arthur .Kelly, who boxed "Billy" Hannan in Wellington on Tuesday evening,- returned to Blenheim yesterday morning, and in reply to an "Express" reporter, stated that Hannan was a very good fighter. Kelly expressed the opinion, however, that ho himself would havo won but for having to fight on a canvas floor. This was the first occasion upon which he had.boxed 011 a canvas floor, aud his boots were not made to grip a floor of this description. He offered to meet Hannan again for a c£HO purse, to' be put' up by the Wellington Boxing Association, but Hannan wanted the big end f.£SO), win, lose, or draw, and when 110 conceded this, Hannan asked for .£IOO. After some talk 110 decided to allow Hannan the .£IOO, in order to securo a return match. After getting all he asked for, Kelly's conqueror absolutely refused to fight a return bout. Hannan, said Kelly, was much distressed at the conclusion of Tuesday night's battle, and went off in a swoon, aud did not come-to for half-an-liour. A later issue of the "Express" says:— The Marlborough Boxing Association is endeavouring to arrange a fight between A. Kcllv and some other light-weight in tho Dominion, to take place 011 the evening of the Wellington-Jfarlborough football match. If tliey succeed, and it is not improbable that they will, a preliminary amateur bout in which H. feainsbury and "Sailor" Dunn, champion lightweight of Johannesburg, will figure, will be arranged. What An Armful for Tracy! At a recent meeting of tho N.Z.B.A. comniitteo the following permits for championship contests wero granted:— J. Mitchell, of Millerton, versus M. F. Ryan, of Napier, for the professional heavy-weight championship of New; Zealand." at Christchurch. on the morning of Friday, November 10. T. Tracy v. S. Gault, for the light-weight championship at Wanganui on Friday, September 29 It will thus be seen that Tracy will have lo defend his titlc( provided ho docs not lose it to Hannan 011 the first occasion) on. two consecutive Frulnys. Ihis is a stiff proposition, but "Tim' states that he has done it before, and sees 110 reason whv he should not do it again. And, indeed, why not? Sccnc in London when Wells and Johnson Signed. '' English files bring facts about tho matching of "Jack" Johnson and Bombardier "Billy" Wells, the English champion, for a world's championship battle of 20 rounds. It is to be for a purse of .CSOOO, in London. Although the affair has not been taken very seriously in Amcrica, or on this side of tho world, it appears to loom very large in the eye of the sporting public at. Home, and tho following extract from the "Sportsman" will give somo indication of the interest taken in the signing of the articles. It was done at tho" "Sportsman" ollico in Fleet Str.vt. "111 company with his manager, 'Jim' Maloney, Wells was first 011 the scene. A little later there were unmistakable signs of additional arrivals. A glance showed Fleet Street in a state of congestion. Vehicular traffic promptly camo to a standstill, and foot passengers were just as badly off. The fact was Johnson and his motor-car wero in the way, so much so that tho police were powerless. The champion's popularity was proved by the way in which men of almost every denomination pushed and crowded to get a glimpse of tho man or pat him 011 tho back. The scene reminded ono of that afternoon in November when. John L. Sullivan, then the greatest drawing card in tho world, mado his way with the greatest difficulty into the otfico of 'The Sportsman.' 'John L.' had to address tho crowd from tho window of this paper before anything like a course could be made. It was almost a pity that Johnson did not do tho same thing on Saturday. Three' times tho police sent tho champion a warning, which struck me as being altogether unjustifiable, and thei.gh those in waiting for his return were asked to disperse, they declined to do so, and in tho end some of tho traffic had to bo diverted." The conditions are set forth in tho "articles of war," a copy of which is appended. It will )x> so?n that tho promoting syndicate and tho principals are well bound down by substantial forfeits in caso of default, and "The Spoilsman" stales that the promoters.' first deposit of was hai led over simultaneously with tho signing. Tho contract runs thus:— ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT mado and entered into this fifteenth day of July. l'Jll, between Jack Johnson, of America, heavy-weight champion of the world, and liombnrdicr Billy Wells, heavy-weiglit champion of Great Britain, her?ii;aftcr called tho principals, who agree to box the best of twenty rounds ■under Quecnsberry Rules, for a. purse of .fcSOOO and tho heavy-weight championship of tlio world. The contest shall be decided 011 or before September 30, 1911, at a placo to bo named by'the donor of tho purse. The principals shall he prepared to take the ri r; between eight a.m. and eleven p.m., and cither man failing to do so to forfeit all claims tn any part, of the purse. It is further agreed that the amount of tho purso shall be lodged with tho stakeholder, the editor of "Tho Sportsman," as to .C2OOD 011 the signing of articles, .1:2000 one month previous to tho contest and the final of .CIOOO four days before the match. The referee to lie mutually agreed upon at tho offices of "The Sportsman' ono Meek before the date of the contest, aud tho gloves used to each wcigli four ounces. (Signed) JACK JOHNSON. Witness: E. C'. Jenkins. (Signed) Bombardier IV. T. WELLS, Witness: James Mi'leney. Is Wells being Led to tiic Sacrifice? Naturally tho news of the matching brought down a storm of protest from all [ f|uarters, it being the general opinion that Wells was being offered up as a sacrifice lo the cupidity of the syndicate— and the champion. Of this abuse "The Sportsmuii," as stakeholder, came in lor

quite its share. The editor explains the position of his paper in these terms:— When Johnson and Wells came to Hig Sportsman" etliee 011 Saturday last wo were in total ignorance of the financial part of the business until articles wero drawn up. It was not within our province to dictate to Wells and tell him what lie should or should not do, nor did wo feel inclined to ask John=on to go elsewhere ami bo received with open arms. Wells may go up against defeat; tho betting will bo good that lid does so. At the same time, lie will be taking perhaps Iho only chanco 110 may ever have of meeting a man of the ciass of Johnson. What is more. Wells is not an amateur boxer, but a professional out for money, lie fancies his chance—he says so himself —and ho very properly declines to listen to the gratuitous and'uncalled-for. advice of those who are in 110 way qualified to give it. Wells declines to bo "nursed," and his manager, Jim Moloney, is just as tired, as is 110 doubt tho jmblic, of tho officious meddling and silly, childish vapouring. Wells intends to lake a chance, and as a man of 21 years of age, ho naturally resents dictation, 111010 especially taking into consideration tho circumstances under which it is given. For tho good cf the sport let us hopo neither Parliament nor tho King will be petitioned to prevent the bout. There appears to bo nothing else left to do if the pitch must bo queered. Wells Himself Does Not Say So. Tho Bombardier likewise endeavours to ridicule his position, or rather his manager does so for him, in a letter to tho "Sportsman," a copy of which is appended :— TO THE EDITOR OF "THE SPORTSMAN." Sir,—l am surprised that anyone should find it necessary to condemn Billy Wells as regards his forthcoming match with Jack Jtfhnson. Surely Wells and your humble servant, who is advising him, are tho best judges in the matter. Has not the l'rizo Ring always been noted for its surprises? Who would have thought that young J. J. Corbett stood a chance with tho onco incomparable John L. Sullivan, and thero are numerous other instances. Take Matt Wells v. Freddy Welsh. Again, to suggest that .€2OOO has been tile prime reason for Wells accepting Johnson as an opponent is to suggest falsehood. We stand to lose financially bv this contest, insomuch as we are giving up seven weeks in vaudeville, for which wo were booked at some of the principal theatres in England, which contracts wo havo had to break to carry out the contest, and from this source alone wo lose something like .£ISOO in salaries, besides having to bear the whole of tho expenso contingent upon training for so serious a contest. We believe, and havo grounds for believing, that Billy Wells has a good chance of success in t.lio forthcoming contest with Jack Johnsoil, and win,- lose, or draw, wo will do our best. All we ask for now is fair criticism and no favours.—Yours truly, JIM MALONEY, Manager to Billy Wells. Our Coloured Brother.—Eighteen Stone. As for Johnson—well Johnson, like Brer Fox, "lays low and says millin," Hut ono can imagine him smiling to himself, and congratulating himself on his matchmaking abilities. And with good reason. Can one imagino a "softer snap"? Johnson is to get JIfiOOO, win, lose, or draw, to meet a man who has been only ono short year in lihe ring, and who has never yet met anything out of tho second-grado division. In fact, he has not even met the best of the second-raters. Exccpt for "Jack" Burns and Flynn, the Americans—and small fry indeed—all his opponents have been English boxers, and not many of tlieni at that. Truly 110 has put all tlicso behind him, but it is a far step indeed from the Gunner Moirs aud lan H agues to "Jack" Johnson. Still, as his manager says, they should know their own business best. And,, after all, there is a chance. It rests with Johnson. With Johnson in his Reno form his task would bo an easy onc. But how much of this form will be on hand when he steps into the ring to meet Wells? According to English reports, Johnson was weighing just on 18 stone when 110 landed, and the cables 011 Wednesday last told us he was training in Paris. This means getting off nearly threa slono in three months, and doing the "reducing" in Paris, which is hardly the best place in the world for an individual of the champion's ploasure-loving propensities to practice self-denial. It certainly appears as though Wells will not be called upon to meet the Johnson that brat Jeffries. His only chance rests upon Johnson's condition—or rather the lack of it. And, even then, it is the slimmest of chances. Latest advices, by tho way, show that the date of the meeting has been altered to October 2. Minister of the Church and Boxer. Queensland's "Fighting Parson" has added another championship litlo to his list of honours. This representative of tho "church militant" competes annually in tho IS'orth Queensland amateur championships, coming in from the "NeverNevcr" for the purpose, and has held tho light-weight title for some time. 111 his latest c-ssav, of which the "Referee's" account is appended, lie also captured'the welter title, and his namo is great in the land accordingly. The "Referee" savs:—"The light-weight championship went to the Rev. HultonSa 111s after a tough struggle with tho Brilliant Extended Club boy, Saunders. They fought four throe-minute rounds, and" wero ordered to light another, Sams winning well in the last round. Saunders, 111 his early bouts, had hurt his right hand, or he might havo won tho final. He is a fine block of a lad, and ' iiis right is very fast and heavy. Mr. Sams, an eager fighter, is 011 top of his man all the time, aud lie won the welterweight class after a heavy bout with May, who was fully a stone heavier. But the parson got all over him at tho finish. May closed Sams's eye and gave him a ' had time in the early rounds, but tho ' Winton Bush Brother is a game lighter, I and always strips in fine condition. He , was disappointing in his contest with I Saunders, however, and did a lot of ill- | judged hitting, his left missing very of- . ten." j Over the Tasman and Here. >" Particulars of the contest between Hugh 1 Mehcgan, tho holder, and Charlie Griffin, ■ crstwhilo of New Zealand, but more 10l cently of America, for tho light-weight ■ championship of Australia, which the I ' cables informed us was won in the fifth ■ I round bv tho former, are not yet to hand, arid the battle will l>e referred to ' again next week. Mehegan's win would • be very popular in Sydney, and, even on - this side, some gratification was oxl pressed when the news camo through. 3 The American boxer and his ways are * not at all popular, generally sneakincr. and ) Griffin has been so long away from New 3 Zealand that he is looked upon more as a representative of the United Stales than a "native sou." From Mr. A. Rosenberg, secretary of tho llawke's Bay 8.A., comes a programme of his association's next tourney. It is dated for October 10 and 11 at the Princess Theatre, Hastings, and tho competitions include all classes. Nominations close with the secretary on Wednesday, October i.