IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 18

IN THE RING.

i [BT "Merctjet."] "TOMMY" BURNS-HUMORIST. June 24—World's Championship, Johnson v. M'Vea. All Silent Save Burns, Boxing news this week is at a premium. Item of chiofest importance received is tho cablegram announcing that "Sam" Langi'ord had beaten J. Barry by points over 20 rounds, after a stubborn bout. No particulars were given, so one can only speculate as to how the war was waged, and, as these speculations nro as likely as not to be upset, when tho reports reach us by the next mail, it is hardly, worth while yielding to the guessing temptation.

It is in times of leanness, such aa the present, that one naturally falls back upon tho big men of the game. Here again, on this occasion, one draws a blank, or nearly so. There is, strangely enough, not ono word of, or from, "Jack" Johnson, as a text to build a discourse upon. No newly-found "Whito Hope" has burst meteor-like into the firmament —even the details of tho recent "Clem" Hill-M'AUister contest in Sydney have been seized upon by the cricket scribes as their own particular property, and, generally, there is "nothing doing"—with one exception.

Burns in the Role of Mark Twain.Let it be known, "Tommy" Burns is np and doing—that is to say, he is talking. Nothing has been heard of "Tommy" for a few weeks—in explanation of it may be said that he has been on the sea, en route for Vancouver. However, he has arrived within touch of the cables again, and hastens to dissipate the long silence in a manner described as under in a message received in Sydney last week, and running thus:— Vancouver, Thursday. "Tommy" Burns, who arrived by tho K.M.S. Marama, stated in an interview to-day that after having trained carefuly on the trip over from Sydney he felt confident that, he could not only last ten rounds with Jack Johnson, but that he could deliver a knock-out. It is probable that the , ex-world's champion will return to Australia by the Marama, which will sail in a couple of weeks' time. So there!! Hot Work at the Stadium. A new "heavy" has' appeared in the Sydney ring. This is one Alf. Thompson, the last Australasian amateur champion heavy-weight, who made his (jpbut as a professional in the Stadium on the night of February 3. His opponent was "Tom" Townsend, a sturdy, hard-hit-ting, second-rater, who is in demand as a sparring partner, with the big men, and altogether a stiff "try-out" for any amateur.

The battle was fought at a fast clip all the way, and resulted in Thompson "making good." He wore his man down, and gained tho verdict through the referee stopping the encounter in the 13th round. One round, the sixth, appears to have provided somo Homeric "dealing," and has. como in for quite a chorus of remark from the Sydney papers.

"Lefts and Rights Flew Like Flails."

Of this torrid period one critic writes graphically

It was a round which will live long in the memories of those who saw it. Thompson cleverly took two right crosses on his right glove, as they did it in the great old days. Towdsend came in like a tiger to meet a jab to the face, which wrought him to the pitcli of fury, for a fierce rally began then, and again did Thompson retreat to the rope wall, where ho stood as a soldier in the last ditch, and in the give and take, without an attempt at defence, which followed, the ex-amateur had the better of matters until be weakened, then, .all, or tho greater part of the effective play, was on 'J'ownsend's side. Punch after punch did tho broad-shouldered, shorter uuui drive, while his lengthier antagonist often hit somewhat blindeyed, and consequently missed a good deal.

Hundreds rose from their seats and urged the boxers on. A more stirring sprctacle has never been witnessed in a boxing ring. They broke away from the western boundary, and, still slogging, carried the battle to mid-ring, and then over to near the northern side. Here Townsend swung a left which staggered Thompson, and then Townsend hurled his right. Down went Thompson, to rise at "nine," and stand and fight like a Spartan, spring blow for blow, lefts itnd rights flew like flails, and few of them missed their, objeotive. Townsend was the first to crack up. He weakened so that it loVed as if only a fairly strong punch might send him prone; but tho other fellow was partially dazed, and tbo far pone himself to rise to the occasion. The gong sounded, and the boxen turned to their respective angles, followed by rrild nnplause, which had not. ceased when they came out to fight tho next round.

Thomson has now been matched to meet "Tim" Land, who also lxiasts of a victory over Townsend, on February 21. Maxwell "Goss Over." On March 1, at Wanganni, "Tim" Tracy is to meet Allan Maxwell, the winner of the light-weight division at the last New Zealand amateur championships, for a purse of „CSO. Thus is another of our best men lost to the amateur ranks, and a further los.s, in the pei-son of Frank Ellis, is expected as scon as a tempting enough proposition is put before him. A Note or Two. In Melbourne last week veteran "Hock" Keys advanced another step on his way back by beating F. O'Grady, a ■rising light-weight, in IS rounds. On Tuesday last, Keys, who is evidently making the most of his return to form, was scheduled to have met "Sid" Sullivan in Sydney. A can test of some importance takes place to-night at the Stadium, Sydney, when "Rod" Standcn, of America, will dispute Hugh Mehegan's claim to the Australian light-weight supremacy. "I have Brains Enough to do without Boxing." Apropos of Mehegan, tho. following appears in a recent American file:— Britt says that he has received a message from Hugh Mlntosh, who wants "Jimmy" to fight Mehegan in Australia. Mehegan is an Australian light-weight, who h;n cleaned up Unliolz and a good list of/other light-weights. Tn Australia they eall him tho "little iron man.-" "I'm not going to accept," says "Jimmy." "You know, I can fight still. But this Mehegan is no slob himself, and it would mean a long period of training as well as a lone trip. I'm flattering myself that I have brains enough to get along without boxing. I've been at the game long enough to wear of! the novelty, although I u."td to box for fun. I have a good theatrical offer here in New York, ami I'm going to takeit and show that I can do other things just as well as I could fitrht when I beat Young Corhett and 'Battling' Nelson and the rest."