IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1384, 9 March 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Bl "ifEKCCET."] GREAT JUMBLE IN AMERICA. Tonight—M'Vea v. Barry, Sydney. Easter Monday—M'Vea v. Langford, Sydney. History of M'Vea and Barry. Inked on tho contract sheet foT tonight, at the Sydney Stadium, is tho smash between M'Vea and Barry. Nearly three years ago they met in Paris, and disqualification was the white man's portion. Tho thing had gone fifteen torrid rounds, when 11. D. M'lntosli stepped in and called "Haltez la!" Or'perhaps ho just said it in plain English, or, maybe, Scotch. Anyhow, it stopped at No. 15 in favour of M'Vea. Since then both have improved, Barry particularly so. In the Paris fight neither was a serious proposition as a world's champion, but things are different now. M'Vea is looked upon as secoud onlv to Johnson by virtue of his win from Langford, and Barry has claims on the strength of his recent twenty-round bout with the same sable gentleman. In this battle, though defeated, he proved himself to bo "tho goods." Since the previous clash with M'Vea this has been Barry's one and only defeat out of twenty-five battles. In the same period M'Vea has; fought fifteen times, scoring twelve wins. The other three contests—against Jeannctte, "Jim" Johnson and Langford, coloured men allwere drawn. The One who will Win To-night. . A line on the probabilities of to-night's match can be got by their recent Australian meetings with Langford, which makes it appear that M'Vea should win to-night, if collateral form goes for anything. There is certainly room lor doubt as to whether M'Voa actually beat his coloured brother in. their recent tattle, although he was given the decision, but there can be no possible doubt that Lanrford beat Barry. Therefore, should M'Vea also beat Barry —and, in the writer's opinion, ho willBarry is not boxer enough for M'Vea. He is a rugged, typically American fighter, and, 'as in the cose of Lester, his very impetuosity should settle him. With his shorter reach nnd lack of inches, theso shock tactics of Barry's would at least occasionally carry him into n position where he could score well against Lang;ford, but with M'Vea it is different. The "darkie's" wicked corkscrew left and his shifty footwork should simply tako br'cr Barry just where his guileful opponent will want him. Unless "Mercury" has missed his guess very badly, Barry will run into that left with disastrous frequency, and on the occasions when he does manage to get past it, ho will find the volatile M'Vea missing—carried out of danger by his clover feet. From these deductions "Mercury" tins the black man to win fairly comfortably, and in so doing sincerely

hopes that events will prove him wrong —for reasons bo obvious that they need not be 6et down. Johnson's Battles Outside of Boxing. Of Johnson's match with Flynn thoTe is nothing definite to write. 'In fact, at the time the American mail left the whole affair was so involved in a mass of newspaper wrangling that it is hard to say exactly where the affair has landed. As far as can be made out from the tangle of conflicting reports, tho position seems to be thut when the Johnson-Flynn fixture was arranged the latter had already signed on for two matches—with Al. Kubiack and Al. Palzor—the latter ing the latest luminary in tho "heavy" firmament. Evidently fearing eomo happening from these fixtures that would spoil his own bout from a financial viewpoint, the champion insisted on their cancellation before signing up with Flynn, and after much argument tho latter reluctantly gave way. • New York Ostracises the Champion. Then came the astounding news that Johnson had arranged a ten-round contest with Palzer himself—the affair to bo brought off in Now York. Naturally enough the disgruntled Flynn party objected strenuously to this finessing," and i'ust as the argument had reached its [eight came another complication. This arrived in the shape of an ultimatum from the Boxing Commission in New York—a committee of two eot up to control the sport in that metropolis. This was to the effect that on no consideration would Johnson be allowed to box in Now York. This was a staggerer 'indeed to Johnson. It hit him in his pocket, which was bad enough, and also in his pride— which was worse. Why should he, the world's champion, lie debarred from appearing anywhere that ho chose where boxing was legalised? The Boxing Commission refused to nrgue. Johnson Retaliates on New York. Then Johnson issued a counter-blast. He instituted a "lock-out" of his own, mid stated through the prcs9 that if New York would havo none of him, ho would have none of New York. In future, ?o long as tho ban was on him, ho would refuse to meet any boxer who boxed in New York. Aspirants for championship honours wcro given the choico between New York nnd "Jack" Johnson, and while a stunned community was trving (o realise the full force of the disaster, the mail left. Mere Confused than "Alice in Wonderland." So whether or not Johnson will meet Flynn nobody appears to know, and also whether or not the champion will meet M'Vcn in I'aris on June 21, as stated by Mr. M'lntosh, nobody knows either—npparenlly nnt even Mr. M'Jnloth, the promoter of the nllnir. In fnct, the ouly Hn'JWj that ne.vbndy kiioi". mill (■vor.vlxi/ly knowi, in that it ii n, caie of "too much JolwflCDu"

Will Wells Swoop Over?

The jumbled up American situation, as outlined above, may by now be in danger of being even iv littlo more tangled up. English boxing files to hand bring news (hat Bombardier Welle, the pride and champion of England, lms at last determined to try his luck in America. If this proves to bo so, l'alswr, Flynn, and Co. mo bound to bo invited to discuss Iho question as to whether they havo first right to meet Johnson with the lengthy Englishman, and if the Bornbnrrtier proven to be a 9 good an his admirers say, tho whole situation may bo changed entirely. Properly handled, there is a Eood harvest in America for tho Bombardier, and his career there will bo watched tho world over. Wot, But Willing, of tho third ef tho SmithClabby series of meetings are to hand, 'iho first clash was won by the New Zealander, tho second (fought in January of Inst year) was a draw, and tho third and present is described as under by tho "Sun":— With a referee minus his shoes and stockiugs, and with tho ring as slippery as the fastest of dancing floors, .Smith and Clabby slithered around tho enclosure at tho Stadium for tho majority of tho twenty rounds fought. When tho journey had been completed, "Snowy" Baker considered that honours wcro easy, and called the contest a draw. The battle was practically a repetition of the memorable tusslo put up in tho rain by tho same pair last year. A fairly heavy ehower fell immediately prior to tho men entering tho ring, but when it had finished it looked like clearing off altogether. For seven rounds it was possible to gain a reasonably good foothold, but then the rain tap was turned on again and the water came down in torrents. "Snowy" Baker got drenched, and as he could not move about tho ring except with the greatest difficulty, he moved his shoes and socks. At the end of the tenth, round Smith discarded his boots, and three minutes later Clabby removed his feet coverings. Even then they had to move .cautiously, and were always troubled to prevent themselves from going down. They slithered all round the enclosure, and each man Ml on at least ono occasion. All the same, there was a good deal of heavy punishment. Each, man knew he had been fighting. It was a clever, elusive boxer against another of the same sort, and neither would take a risk. Smith had tho advantage at tho finish, but the referee was unable to seo daylight between them, and declared the contest a draw. "Dave" Smith for England. This will probably be Smith's last Australian appearance for some time. lie has decided to seek further falne and fortune in England, and has booke'd his passage by E.M.S. Osterley, and so will sail in company with Australasia's Olympic Games contingent on April 7. Smith is wise in his generation. England should just suit him, and he certainly will just suit England. He is the type of boxer to reach the heart of tho English public. That is to eay, Le is a boxer. His free, open ring tactics, and showy, but effective, style will ensure him a good reception anywhere, and a bout between the English middle-weight champion, Sullivan, and tho Now Zcalander would bo a contest worth walking many miles to see. This is a contest that is sure te follow upon his arrival in England, for Smith will need no preliminary booming before he gets good matches. He is known as the conqueror of Papke, and will get his footing at once. After that the rest will be easy. Hugh Mchegan Packi Hit Bhq. Another of Australia's champions • is leaving her for fresh woods and pastures new.. This is "Hughie" Mehegan, the, light-weight champion,' and the most consistent champion of them all. Ho also leaves early in April, and will arrive in America just at the psychological moment. At present, 'Ad." Wolgast, the world's light-weight title-holder, is convalescing after a bad bout of pneumonia, following upon an operation for appendicitis, and consequently a big batch of "nearly" champions is wrangling as to tho custody of the title during its holder's resting. It is among this batch that Mehegan will be projected, and his presence will be made manifest at once. The Australian will have no difficulty in making the American limit of 9st. 711>., nnd when lio does tho "Knock-out" Browns, "One-round" Hogans, "Matty" Baldwins, and the rest of tho American "big littlo men" will have questions put to them that will take Bomo very careful answering. Dominion Doings Merely-. Only ono local affair clamours for comment—the Tracy-Maxwell bout of yesterday week. Jh\ T. W. Sampson, the referee, has kindly furnished "Mercury" with some notes on tho contest, but unfortunately lack of space prevents their publication in full. Briefly stated, they show that Maxwell got to work right away, scoring freely with a straight left and right cross, and so led in tho first two rounds. Then "Tim" livened up, and tho .third and fourth saw some good vigorous boxing with honours easy. Tracy kept going, and placed the next thrco sessions to his credit, after Blow work on both sides. In tho eighth, both got going well, and hard and good fast boxing brought npplauso from tho house. This round also cut even. In the ninth, Maxwell cut loose again, and had "Tim" in soveral tight corners, but the pace slaokencd off again in tho tenth, and both went to their corners very tired. Maxwell came again in. the eleventh, but could not stay the pace, nnd Tracy evened up agajn in tho twelfth. The veteran also placed the thirteenth to his credit, and the fourteenth was drawn. This was o. good round, Maxwell scoring well with a right upper-cut, and Tracy retaliating with left Look "downstairs. Tracy had a slight lead now wiith one round to go. The interest was intense, and a sensational finish was looked for that neTer came. The last round was uneventful, Maxwell doing tho cleaner hitting, and so evening matters up again, and getting a drawn verdict. Maxwell's rounds were:—Nos. 1, 2, 9, 11, 15; Tracy's :-Nos. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13. Tho rest (Nos. 3, i, 8, 10, 14) were drawn. In Mr. Sampson's opinion, Tracy fought below form, and, while Maxwell showed much promise, he is not yet class enough to send against Gault.