IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 12

IN THE RING.

(Di "Mkecobt.") CLEVER FRANK FITZJOHN. Novnmlxrr 28.—TInnnnn v. Ganlt (Town Hull). Novpdilmt :». - World's Light-weight Championship, Wolgnet v. Welsh (San frnncnoo). JlnnoinlHT 2.—Tr.-icy t. Kelly (Millorton). JJcwmbrr 20.—M'Vci v. Langford (Sydney). "Them Was Elliott, Weary and Hopeless."

"An object-lesson in f.inntific boxing!" This Ijnsl oxprcßSM popiiliir opinion of 'J'licsdiiy'B con lest nl. the I'own Hall, nnd 11. wag oven w>. For ono linur, or therenbouls, tho finer points wore on exhibition in nil their infinite variety. Sidestopping nnd in-fighting, sudden attack and sound defence, straight hilling and blocking, round hitting nnd ducking, footwork nnd hcadwork, jabs, hooka, anil smothers, wore thero to bco and to admire.

Tho only fly in tho amber was llio fact that, aft(;r tho tenth round, speculation as to tho ultimate winner was null nnd void. Tho coming verdict was writ largo for all to was bar accident. But Filzjohn is not tho kind of boxer to whom accidonts happen—not that kind of accident, anyhow—although, in the opinion of many, lie went perilously neat to sustaining a mishap of tho sort right on the sound of the final gong. Of this more anon.

It would, however, to a very captious critic who would find fault with the bout on that score. Bvon at his "groggiest" Elliott had to bo watched all tho time. Tho manner in which ho got his head out of trouble, and by sheer adroitness weathered that bitter last round, was ono of tho show pieces of tho evening. There was Elliott, weary and hopeless, "all in and dragging," too tired apparently to keep his hands up, and there was Fitz'john seemingly as full of dash as over, darting in and out like a fierce little wasp, trying overy attack in his repertoire, and yet baffled at ovory turn in his efforts to get home tho one blow required. Tired mortal as ho was, Elliott eluded every attempt. Hβ backmoved, side-stepped, and ducked, and bo kept going until tho welcome gong rang out. Even then he got in the last word —a stinging swing to his conqueror's jaw. It was a great performance—that last struggle* of Elliott's.

How the Battle Began. To go back to the beginning of things. The pace was bright from the start. Fitzjohn set it, and Elliott was nothing loth to accept it. The former must have been very euro of his condition. Eight through he got down to wqrk, and thus it was that he acquired the slight lead that lay to his credit at the ninth round, after which Elliott fell away, and the gap grow wider and wider.

Tho first round cut eyen, and, in the second, thoro happened ono of those brilliant stirring "mixes" that brought the "house" to its feet at intervals all through. Both men stopped in simultaneously, and stood forehead to forehead and toe to toe, and hooked and jabbed as fast as arms could work. Tho "spat" "spat" of the impact of the gloves sounded like a roll of a kettle-drum. Then, instead of the conventional clinch, they sprang free again and took up the "hit, stop, and get-away" series where they had left it off. This was in-fighting as it should be, and as opposed to the American method shown us by Eudolph Unholz.

That Damaging Ninth Round. And so tho battlo waged until the ninth, with Fitzjohn just slightly in the lead. Then came the first decisive happening. Back-moving from a "mix," Fitzjohn baulked and drew his man, then flew in like a wild eat, and, after a bit of rortfihing on tho ropes, threw over a short left that landed hard. Elliott wilted, and then came an exactly similar punch, and down went tho recipient. He stayed'down for eight, and that round the sound of tho gong was really, to borrow an expression of champion "Jack" Johnson's, "music in bis ears." Elliott never seemed to recover from this jar, and, thenceforth, it was nearly all Fitzjohn.

That Last Blow of Elliott's. Coming now to Elliott's last effort— the swing on to Fitzjohn that landed simultaneously with the last gong of the bout. "Mcroury" has since heard this incident freely commented upon in its relation to tho result of the contest had it proved to have boon a knock-out blow.. Opinion appears to be that, had such a sensational ending happened, Elliott would thus havo plucked the match from tho fire. Let it bo known that such a happening would have made no difference, to the verdict. Tho contest ended with tho gong, and had Fitzjohn been knocked out for a week by that last punch, he was still the winner on points. How Docs Russell Rank? One reflection occurs after watching Tuesday's exhibition, and that is that "Joe" Russell, of Brisbane, who wrested tlie feather-weight title from Elliott, and who recently got a points' decieion, albeit a disputed one, over Fitzjohn, must bo something "pretty good." What tho Scoring Cards Disclosed. After the contest "Mercury" compared his scoring card with that made up by Mr. Sampson, the referee, and found that, with both using three points as tho maximum per round, the scores were practically the same. Mr. Sampson made Fitzjohn 44 and Elliott 33, and "Mercury" 43' to 31.

Has Elliott Improved? The question as to whether "Billy" Elliott has improved during_ Iris three years' sojourn in Australia is one that has been often asked since Tuesday, and it is a hard one to answer. He has certainly varied his methods more. While (judging from Tuesday's showing) his footwork is not bo dazzling as of yore, his need of it is not so peat. Ho has cultivated a Mehfgan-liko smother, and so does not rely so' much upon his feet to got him out of the danger zone. lie stays in and covots up. Certainly his infighting capabilities have developed, and in all the writer considers that his work all round is better. It must bo remembered that, hitherto, wo have seen Elliott winning, and in boxing as in most games a side can only bo as clever as tho other side will let it. _ It mar be therefore that Fitzjohn's tactics, while exhibiting all Elliott's fine defence, prevented him from showing to his best advantage in attack. Papko Joins the "Down and Out Club." Last week the writer referred to middleweight champion "Billy" Papko as fast qualifying for membership of tho "Down-and-out" Club, and as being "easy" for the next aspirant for his title. Cabled news has since been received in Sydney that Papko is not going to take the risk. Ho has side-stepped the impending disaster by giving formal notico of retirement. According to tho cable ho made his exit with the following remarks: —"Training is now hard work. It used to be play, and I have not tho Fame ambition that I used to have. I am through with tho game; I am comfortably fixed, and so I am going to forget all about fightiug." A Stirring Month for Titles. This is a stirring mouth for championship titles. The heavy-weight holder has retired; so lias tho middle-weight champion (both for the time at all event?), ami, on the Mth, the light-weight premiership is to couio up for discussion in San Francisco, when Ad. Woljsast's hold to the title is to bo disputed by tho English cx-cliampiou, "Freddy" Wclsli. New Zealandcrs Over tho Water. Last Saturday "Dave" Smith was scheduled to meet "Bandsman" Bice, of England, "Sain" M'Vea's sparring partner, at the St.-vlium, Sydney. According to the Australian party, now in onr midst, tho New Zcaliindur should emerge from the contest with moro glory and gold, and, a.s "Jack" Howard has met both the di.sput.anls, lip should ho in a position to prophesy with some authority. "Sam" .M'Vea's opponent for Boxing Dav—"Sam" Landlord—is expected in Sydney during the first week in December.

"Bill" Rudd was to have met "Montr" Androws, whom lie defeated on the West Coast last SNLSon, on Tuesday last at tho Gaiety, Sydney. Grave News From England. Following on the recent disquieting happenings in Kngland with regard to Ijuxing mailers comes tho most disturbijig rcjmrl i>f all. it has lxrru nablixl out to Austriiliii that, in future, nil boxing mulches decided on a "knock-out" are to Ijo illegal. 'J'hn nablo message goes on lo say Hull Ibo Homo Secretary (Mr. M'Ki'iinn) states: "If il is tho intention of Ibo combalrmts lo subdue Rich other by violent blows until ono cannot further end mo Iho punishment, it is illegal." And further "that proprietors of boxing halls must taltrj earn lo protect themselves, as iin ordinary boxing exhibition can easily dr.-vcJop illegally."

Whcrs tho Sting of it Lies. It is in this latter section that tho Bling lies. Tlio (irst (/intention leaves matters just as they have boon ever sine* "finish" fights worn nltolishcd for, in a limited round con lest, it is impossible In hay what are tho intentions of the combatants. They may each inUnd to win on points and, if a "knock-out" does occur, it. in no way disproves such intention—it is Fiimply one of the accidents of tho game. It is not essential to victory. But, if tho onus of seeing that such accidents do not occur—a* apparently this occurrence would now l>c an illegal development—is to be thrown upon promoters, it is a sad state of things for the eport. The "knock-out" cannot hf> eliminated from boxing contests, except by the wearing of pillows on the hands instead of gloves. Tho disqualification of tho man administering the "knock-out" would not lead to a solution of tho difficulty. It would simply provide means for additional "pointing" by enabling an alrradvbcaten boier to bring about the disqualification of his opponent by going down to any old punch at all, and "faking" a knock-out. Particulars of this new development of tho attack on the noble art will Ixi awaited with interest.

The Glad News About Tracy. Tho glad news of tho recovery by "Tim" Tracy of his lost title came to hand too late for notice in this column last week, and although by this time the freshness of tho affair has been rubbed of! by much local discussion, a few commeuts thereon may not be ont of place. Firstly, Hannan entirely disagrees with tho decision. lie considers that he won "all the way." "Tim," on the other hand, considers that tho verdict was about right. In his own words, as told to the writer, "the worst he should have got was a draw."

The Auckland papers are divided on the subject. Throe extracts from different reports follow:—

First: Tracy's fine footwork, bis generalship, his timing of the Australian lad s punches, and his clover blocking neutralised most of Hannan s punches. The number of blows which landed effectively on Tracy were few compared-with the total number delivered by Hannan. Certainly Tracy was bothered by Hannans usual method of boring in to a clinch as soon as he had led, but his sound defence seldom broke down. And in defence he scored far more points, taking the contest as a whole, than Hannan did, and this, combined with his splendid rally in the last two or three rounds, when he fought Hannan back, was more than sufficient to gain him tho verdict. It was a contest between a boxer and a fighter, and the boxer won.

Secondly: Mr. Burns's decision was hard to follow, for the worst that should harp happened to Hannan was a draw. Hannan for the most part was the aggressor, but Tracy showed considerable cleverness, in avoiding punishment, and time after time oscapod from a tight corner. In Iho early part of the bout Tracy seemed " a 1 at sea, nnd Hannan seemed to be able to land at will, although ho failed to do much damage. It was in the last two rounds that Tracy rattled up points, while his fitting ,;. throughout-..was on the whole cleaner than Hnnn'an's," but, 1 as mentioned above, Hannan was unlucky to lose. Inirdly: The referee's verdict-n win for Tracy on points—was greeted with tremendous applause, the decision being exceedingly popular. The fight was one of tho cleanest and most interesting seen hero for some time. Hnnnan, who forced the fighting, was beaten by tho cleverness of Tracy. Although some heavy punches were exchanged, neither man was marked. Mr. F. Bums was referee. When public opinion differs in this way it is safe to leave the decision to the reforce. Of one thing there can be no doubt-the popularity of tho Wellingtonian's win. "Tim" told the writer that he has never got so good a "hearing" anywhero, and that, after the contest, ho was carried shoulder high from the hall by the crowd.

Coming Dominion Matches. Tlio outcome of his victory was the offer to Tracy of a match with Gault for .£IOO purse and expenses on December 11 by tho Auckland executive, but "Tim," with the straight dealing that has always characterised his ring operations, has refused this tempting offer on account of his engagement to meet Arthur Kelly at Millerton on tho 2nd proximo, notwithstanding the fact that ho has signed no articles for this fixture, and that tho purse is only half that offered by the Auckland people. At tho time of writing ho was endeavouring to arrange for a match with Gault later on.

The next happening of importance locally is the Hannan-Gault meeting at tho Town Hall on November 28, provided circumstances do not deprive the association of the use of the arena in the meantime, and this will close tho local sea-son. There aro plenty of matches in view for other associations, howevor. Hannan and Kelly are both open for engagement, and Frank Fitzjohn has asked "Mercury" to state that ho is willing to meet any nine-stoner in tho country.. Billv Elliott, too, wants a "return" with Fitzjohn, which looks like n good opportunity for some enterprising body, for Elliott would make a better "go" of it next time. His four months' absence from the ring, ho says, slowed him up somewhat on Tuesday night, nnd now he feels that he can go the distance harder and faster. It is certainly up to ono of our associations.

Boxing Gloves in all qualities. Punch Balls and Extras. Physical Exercises of various makes, at Dcnton's, 58 Willis Street—Advt.