THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 12

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

IN THE RING.

(Br "Mbboott.")

STUNNING JOHNSTON ITEM, November 9-Hnnnan v. Tracey, at AuckNovember 15—Elliott v, Mzjohn, at Town Hall. November 28-Hannan v. Gault, at Town November 30 - World's Light-weight Championship, Wolgaast v. Welsh, at San I'rancisco. December 2-Tracey v. Kelly, at Millorton.

He Stales That He Has Had Enough. My forecast and fears that the shadow of "Jack" Johnson would not darken Sydney this summer are confirmed. And a bit more. Cable messages that ho is going out of tho game for good have been received, and these messages aro very definito. Tho Sydney "Sun" is the purveyor of the tidings arid, in its issue- ot October 20 appears the following:— After tho big match betweon "Jack" Johnson and Bombardier Wells had been disallowed, the worlds champion told the London "Sportsman representative that he did not intend to lake to the ring as a principal any more. ~ . ... ~i» '<I havo como to this decision, lie Baid, "after a few hours' careful thought, and my programme will just fulfil all my contracts on tho halls. They will extend over about fourteen "About yonr visit to Australia?" he was asked. T . __ "That is off, of course, Johnson answered, "for, as I say, I have done with ring-fighting for good. I am not a poor man. 1 have money enough tolive on comfortably for tho rest ot my l'fe. Though I will give exhibitions I will tako no further part in matches." ', , ,„ "And what about the law case£ "Well," he replied, "I won t fight tho case. I dont want to kill tho game. I have too much respect for others who aro in it. They havo to make their living now." Johnson said that as to the futuro his mind was quite made up. I have fought my last fight, and I am going to show for some weeks; but no more serious contests for mo. I shall . not onter the ring for tho biff contest, though I may givo somo exhibitions. Those who want to seo 'Jack' John- I son for the last lime must hurry up. My last public appearance will shortly bo announced. Yos, that is so. I have made up my mind to go into retirement."

"Is that really definite? "That is definite," replied the smiling gladiator, "and it won't bo like Sarah. Bernhardt's farewell." : Then tho golden smile was in evidence. Jack -reflected for a moment, and then followed a rapid flow of words. "Say it was not the stopping of this contract with Wells that made me retire. Don't forget that. That has nothing to do with it. But I am roally getting old for the. game. I am 34, you know. When I look round I can see no one to box me, at anyrate, at present; therefore I think this is a fitting time to give up the ring." "You resign the title, then P' "Yes."

Does He Really Mean It?

Ah! Those retirements! The ways of champions of the ring in that respect are too'well known to allow of statements of this kind to be taken quite seriously. "Tommy" Burns retired several times, and yet, according to his own words at Auckland, he still yearns after the. squared circle—and there have been, and will yet be, others. In Johnson's ease, too, there is his well-known love of the limelight—which is right hard against his reported desire for the humdrum existence of t'ho private citizen. On the other hand one must remember his decided objootion to tho strenuous work of training—and, with him, it is even more .strenuous than usual on account of his bulk. And then, always, there is the African vanity that will not risk likely defeat. That makes his training tho more strenuous. For his is a position- now when he must either sky the title or fight for it. The day has gone when he could sit secure on tho top rung of the ladder and laugh at those who were on lower rungs. His black rivals are monnting too quickly for that, and the attitude of splendid isolation must presently ccaso. He must either come down from his perch of his own free will or risk being knocked off it. "Sam" M'Vea for one is on hand to attempt tho knocking. So thero may be truth, as well as wisdom, in tho champion's story.

Who Would Succeed to the Throne? If his abdication is an actual fact, who then, is, his successor to the throne? By tho time-honoured rule that, when a champion retires, his title Toverts to the previous holder (provided the latter has not been beaten since parting with the honour) "Tommy" Burns comes up again. But "Tommy," despite his recent utterances of defiance, cannot' bo accepted seriously as a candidate for championship honours. Who then? Three names present themselves—M'Vea, Lnngford, and Bombardier Wells. There it must bo left for tho present. The facts that concern us most at present are that Johnson is not to meet M'Vea in Sydney on Boxing Bay and that, .strangely enough, tho man most closely concerned—apart from the tiro principles—has apparently no remarks to offer to tho public. Mr. M'.Tntosh is imitating "brer rabbit"—he is "lying low and saying nuffin'."

Might Not tho S.P.CA. Stop It? "Lang knocked out in the second round." Thus were the writer's remarks of last week on the crass absurdity of tho M'Vca-Lang contest justified. One feels sorry for Lang in his role of human Baerifico to the greed of (ho promoters, and the gullibility of the public, and for having had ignominy thrust upon him in this fashion. One must accord io M'Vea a measure of praise for the workmanlike manner in which ho put through his part of the work. Beyond this there is not much to say. Over the crowd who paid to seo the sorry spectacle, ono can only laugh gently in his sleeve. Tho match was a bad one from tho beginning and those who risked good money on such a bad speculation simply got what thoy deserved—exactly one and a half rounds of one-sided—n-hat? Not sport, surely! In so far as it concerns "Jack" Lester the affair has a slight clement of interest. Lester stayed twenty rounds with M'Vea, which would seem to speak well for the youthful American, as compared with Lang. Yet this is not altogether conclusive. When ho met Lester M'Vea was admittedly short of work, and took no chances during the bout. He fought with the brake on. On this occasion, he weuld be keyed up to his best training pitch, and would be able to cut looso from the word "go." Apparently ho did, and one wonders whether Lester could have stayed the distance out under similar conditions.

The World's "Feather" Business. A peculiar position has arisen, regarding the world's feather-weight championship title. The present holder is generally conceded to be "Abo" Attoll, but the clover little Jew has, of lato years, been so exceedingly coy about making matches that it has been considered, oven in America, that his hold on the title is an exceedingly, frail one. In England ho has been held to have forfeited it entirely, and, last mail brought news that a match was being arranged between Owen Mornn and "Jim" Driscoll for tho big honour, a championship belt, and a purse of .MO. Last Wednesday week a cablegram was published in .Sydney in tho "Sun" slatin-,' the nffnir had been definitely settled, and that the match was to take place on

A WEEKLY RECORD OF SPORTS AND OTHER PASTIMES,

November 18. But, by a peculiar coincidence, on the very same day that this nows was received, carao another cablegram stating that Attell had signed on to meet ono "Johnny" Kilbano, in America, over a 20-round contest, some timo in Novembor-also for the title. Thus, before the month is over, there will bo two claimants—ono English and one American. Unless these two can bo brought together the newspaper wrangling that is due to oocur is fearful to contemplate.

"Cyclone" Thompson Swoops on Australia.

Tho following cablegram appeared in our issue of Thursday morning:— Vancouver, October 31. "Cyclone" Thompson is en route to Australia to engage in six contests there under tho management of m. 51'Intosh. Ho says ho is willing to tight i'rank Claus if a twenty-round match can bo arranged.

Tho Thompson mentioned is, of course, the boxer who figured so prominently in Australia last year, when, after Icing beaten by "Uavo" Smith, ho made a sensational finish by defeating "Billy l'apke, tho middle-weight champion. Iho other gladiator referred to -would bo l'Yank Klaus, tho rising young "niiddlo who was written up in this column somo weeks back, and who is looked upon aa the next champion in his class. Ho has already beaten Thompson sinco the latter s return to his native heath from Australia, and is now diligently in pursuit of Papke, much to the latter gentleman's perturbation.

Our Own Light-weight. On Tuesday morning Hannan left for Auckland to keep his engagement with Tracey in that city next Wednesday. He looked as fit as the proverbial fiddle, and, before leaving, had subjected himself U) a thorough overhaul By a medical man, with entirely satisfactory resnlts. Tracey followed on Wednesday, but, unfortunately, had not quito such a glowing tale to tell as to his condition. Ho reports that his training has been interrupted by recurring spells of "stateness," and that, a week ago, ho was compelled to "rest up" altogether for a while. Jjatterly, however, he has been picking •up condition a bit, and he hoped that tho week's chango would seo him strip quite up to his usual form. It is not like "Tim" to tell a hnrdluck story," but, truth to tell, his sparring work last week did not show him at his best. It is to he hoped, howevor, that his anticipations as to his regaining form will bo realised, and that ho will bo able to do hitusclf justice in his attempt to regain his lost honours. Ho is booked for yet another engagement with tho Australian invader for next month. His opponent, on this occasion, will be Arthur Kelly, whom he meets at Millerton on .December 22, for a purso of XaO.

What Wins? Ringcraft or Youth? . Tho meeting of the present and the oldtamo holders of the titlo of light-weight Champion of Australia, Hugh Mehegan and Hock Keys, last Saturday week, was looked to as likely to provide a display out of the common, and, for once, public opinion was right. Of Keys's exhibition the papers aro enthusiastic—it appears to havo been something wonderful to behold. It was right up to tho form of his best days. And yet it availed him nothing in the long run. He went under to the yonth and ruggedness of the tough Mehegan, and, in tho fourtesnth round, the end camc-the old champion, with a huge points lead to his credit, was counted out. Truly they can't "come back." The "Bulletin" tells tho story of tho battle in these terms:—

Although Mehegan vanquished Keys, and retained tho light-weight championship cS Australia at the Mlntosh s Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday night, tho honour was not his. For tho loser showed tho winner more of tho art of scientific assault than 'ho could learn if he hired a string of typists to get it down on paper for him. Mehegan won with six rounds to spare, but for practically the whole of tho 12 rounds the exhibition lasted ho was treated as a skilled animal-trainer treats a fractious pupil—no undue bornncss to make it clear who is tho every time ho shows fight andstubborness to make it clear who is tho master. And the joy of tho crowd know no limits when it saw its old idol making a hack of its new champion. In the fifth round Keys boxed as brilliantly as ever he did at tho height of his famo. His opponent looked on, and thanked the guardian angel of the ring that there was so little weight in the blows that camo with tho rapidity of a threshingmachine running amok. He kopt a wonderful control of himself throughout, all things considered, clearly much impressed with the. unbolted for revival before him, doing what was possible iu retaliation, and patiently waiting for tho moment, expected much earlier on all sides of tho ring, when Koys's steam would blow out. Up to the tenth round the holder of the championship took the load that came his way without a sign that ho was losing confidence, although only a knock-out could win him the fight. But whon, two rounds later, tho enemy was still firing up, ho (Hehegan) became suddenly anxious, and started in to plough his man out. But the end was not yet. The thirteenth round saw Keys weakening fast, but as skilful as ever, whilo Mehegan stood at times like n sheep, bewildered. Thoa all in a flash eamo the end. The gong clanged round 15, and Mehegan early landed a clout that sent tho veteran staggering to tho ropescrunched up. The towel mercifully saved tho knock-out, after the second knock down. Youth had triumphed over skill run to seed.

New Zealand Clashes. "Billy" Elliott and Frank Fitzjohn, Hie principals in the big contest at the Town Hall on November 15, leave Sydney to-day. They are being accompanied by "Jack" Howard, the heavy- who wa3 recently beaten by "Dave" Smith and "Bandsman" Bice,- who is coming over for a rest after a long 6pell of training.

As was generally anticipated locally, Dennis Murphy proved too big for Arthur Kelly in their clash at Dunedin on Wednesday. It is not to Kelly's _ discredit that tho verdict went against him, as he was giving away a stono in weight and somo inches in height and reach—notwithstanding which he is reported to havo put up a good sporting "go." Ho is too much of tho boxer and not enough of the fighter to go ont of his class for matches, especially with a man of Murphy's calibre. Ho will find "Tim" Trnccy more to his liking at Millcrton on December 2.

Insipid Thing in Christchurch. Last week's contest in Christchurch, between Mayze, tho ex-amatcur champion, and "Gnat" "Williams, appears to have been a disappointing business. The "Weekly Press" says:— The professional bout between "Gnat" Williams nnd "Pick" Mayzo was an insipid affair. "Dick" showed little of tho brilliance- which wa3 his a year or two ago. This is rather surprising, considering thai as an instructor ho turns out some of the cleverest lads who appear here. His blows lacked steam, and were not woll aimed. Williams has an ungainly stylo, and keeps constantly on tho move. His dancing and wriggling were possibly disconcerting .to his opponent. Ho showed a disposition to mix things, but slogged rather wildly. His body blows were fairly effective, and he pushed in quito a century of kidney pats. On points tho match was his. There would not havo boon a knock-out if the men had fought forty rounds—unless ono hod livened up a bit. Thcro is talk now of a match between Williams and Hannan on December 12 in Christchurch. It has been in the hands of Mr. W. G. Talbot, secretary of tho local association, to Arrange, nnd looks like being an easy thing for Hannan if it eventuates.

I'or Bronchial Coughs take Woods' Great Peppermint Cue, Is. fid,'