IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1378, 2 March 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING.

(By "Proxy.")

THE CLASHES OF THE WEEK. Sad Ending to a Fight. The fight between "Denier" Wells and Cox at Sydney last week had a very sad ending. In the third round of the fight, Cox's father was scon to stagger from his seat and fall. Ho was carried out by two of his sons, and while being conveyed to tho. hospital, died. Directly this information was brought to the Gaiety, where the match was, taking place, the bout was stopped. Jt had then reached the eight round. Wells, in tendering his sympathy to his opponent, refused to tolco his share of the purse, but instructed the management to hand same over for the benefit of the deceased man's family. Elderly Perton ha» had Enough. After his viotory over "Sid" Sullivan last week, Hock keys announced that he had fought his last battle His bout with "nuegoty Sid" showed that the old man had tost the greater part of his old dash. Ho is now comfortably installed as ninnager of a swimming bath at Bathurst, where ho has also a good class of college boys. Wenand and Foeman—Savags Ending, New Zealandor "Billy" Wenand and T. Jones recently contested the feather-weight supremacy of South Australia. The bout proved to bo extremely willing while it lasted. In the fifth round, Wenand, in rushing in, butted Jones. Instead of appealing, Jones retaliated in like manner, and repaid Wenand in his own coin. For this deliberate foul the referee disqualified Jones, and awarded the prize to Wenand. Immediately the decision was given, Jones rushed Wenand, and both fought desperately until separated. The two are to meet again to-night in Perth.

Thompson v. Lester, Aa was only to be expected, the match between Thompson and Lester proved to bo of the "slather-em-whack" variety. Each of the lumbering heavy-weights Bet out to win by tho shortest possible route, and, had they not been remarkably strong athletes, the.affair would not havo gone half tho distance. Up till the last round Lester had it all over Thompson on points. It was in the last round that the iroiibark-encompassed "Cyclono" made his final effort, and succeeded in "delivering tho goods" to Lester. In this round Lester was being so badly ounished that the police stepped in, and Referee Baker awarded the fight to Thompson. Tho following is a description ot it aa appeared in the "Argus :— In the opening round Lester made liberal use of his left, which was always blocked, as were also his right swings to the head. Then Thompson suddenly cut loose and swung a left to the body and a right to the head: In tho second round, feinting with his left, Lester scored three heavy blows to Thompson's head. Lester scored a right to the side of the head frequently, wjiile Thompson got his right to the body just as often. The third and fourth rounds were, if anything, in Thompson's favour, and there was little to choose between the men up to the tenth round. Lestor was getting in heavy blows, but Thompson was standing up to them bravely, and was forcing the fighting. Lester was now tired, but Thompson was not, and had the best of the thirteenth and fourteenth rounds. Tho fifteenth and sixteenth rounds went to Lester, who got home two heavy right uppercuts. Lester was tired in tho seventeenth, but fought ■ back pluckily. Thompson's right swing to tho body was followed by a left to tho other side. Thompson ignored Lester's left to the face, every one of them being countored with heavy lefts or rights to the body. A right to Lester's head did much damage towards the end of the round. Lester scored as often in tho eighteenth as. his opponent, but his blows lacked steam, while those of Thompson were just as damaging as over. The nineteenth round saw more givo and take all the way, and it ended slightly in Lester's favour. In the twentieth Thompson fought ferociously, and Lester made a gallant reply with a right. Thompson sent Lester to the floor. Lester was up at Bsec, but his opponent brought a successive right on, and Lester could not ■ retaliate. He stumbled back to the ropes, and Thompson sent in a blow that finished the fight.

Papke Emerges From His Cave. "Billy" Papko could not remain in retirement very long, the lure of the ring was evidently too much for him. A cable informs us that one _ Frank Xlantell gained a decision over him in a twenty-round bout at Sacramento on February 22 last. In two rounds only did Papke secure the major points.

Another World's Championship Changes Hands. On February 22, at Los Angeles, "Abo" Attell lost the world's feather-weight championship to "Johnny" Kilbano in a twenty-round contest. It is estimated that ten thousand persons witnessed the event, while six thousand could not gain admission. The following is a description of the contest:— , Kilba.no outfought his opponent in almost everv round. He made him look like a novice,'Atlell's boasted speed and wonderful cleverness not showing at any time throughout the contest. The crowd 'jeered Attell several times for foul tactics. Once ho butted Kilbane with his head. In the fifteenth round tho referee stopped the light in order to rub Attoll's bodv, which was covered with a greasy substance. Attell protested, hut tho referee did not heed the protest. After the fight the crowd shouldered Kilbane, cheering wildly.

He Tried His Hand on Mehegan. Again "Hughio" Mehegan's right to the light-weight championship of Australia was disputed, and, onco again, did ho prove beyond all doubt that he is top man so far as Australian light-weights are concerned. His latest opponent, "Rod" Standon, is a young boxer full of promise if properly handled; he is strong for his age, clever, and is endowed with a great amount of pluck. For three rounds he kept the champion very busy. He was up with him all the time, and had none the worst of the fighting. In the fourth round, Standon began to lose his dash, and, in tho sixth, was considerably shaken by a hard left hook. A moment afterwards Mehegan sent over a short hard right, and followed it up with a left which sent his piucky opponent down. Australian writers agree that young Standon is tho making of a champion, but that ho was very ill-ad-vised when he signed on with such an experienced person as Mehegan.

In-Fighting and trio Sydney Police. For somo time past efforts hnvo Wen made in Australia to stump out "infighting" as introduced by the American boxers. The police have objected to this method of gruelling, and have more than once stopped bouts where tho contestants have not complied with tho regulations in this respect. The action of the police has cHdcntiy not altogether been consistent, as will'be seen from "the following clipping from an Australian exchange:— The police are lino judges of boxing —wo don't think. They have laid down conditions under which boxing contests must be conducted, and notwithstanding a professed seriousness regarding their obedience they have transgressed themselves, and in a mnnner that is amusing. A couple of weeks kick "Cyclone" Thompson opposed '.'Dave" Smith, ami although ho fought fairly, and with every regard for tho police regulation regarding in-lighting, he was told by the police that he was indulging in the class of boxing that was tabooed. Mistake No. 1.

When Longford and Dairy fought the representatives of law ami order took a dill'erent view of things. Tho men not only in-fought in the manner that the police object to, but indulged in a lot of rough-house tactics. Hut not a word was said in protest. What do tho police mean to do to tho sport? Either they are going to have their ridiculous rules obeyed or they are going to abanchn their unnecessary interference with the sport. What is it to be?