IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1437, 11 May 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Bi "Meeccet,"] GRAVE AND GAY-MQSTLY GAY. i Not very Gay for the Englishman. Quito tho most interesting item of boxing news that line conio through the eab!<j of lato is that announcing tiio defeat 01 Matt. Weils—Kngland's light-weight clinmnion—at the hands of "Pncky" M'l'arland, a week or so back. Boxing before nine thousand spectators, the American "eold the goods" to Wells in 10 rounds. The clash took place at Now York. Wells, says the cubic, lost hia head and sought to get in a knock-cut blow. M'Fariaml side-stepped this all tho time, and led at the end of every round. The fact that 31'FarInnd won is not greatly to bo wondered at, though "Mercury"'must admit that he had fond hopes that Wells wag tho little American's equal. Tho real surprise is that he should win so easily. Wells has proved himself to be, without the shadow of a doubt, tho host light-weight which England has produced for many a long day. At tho iirst time of asking he secured the English title by easily defeating "Freddie" Welsh, who has shown himself to be the equal of the best Americans of his class, apart from Wolgast of course. Then, too, during a previous visit to Yankccland, Wells created something like a sensation. It is hard to understand how ft boxer of his experience should lose his head, but tho chances are that his recent illness (which, by the way, all but counted him out for good) had a great deal to do with liis poor showing. Further, for a'l hie cleverness, he cannot, be as much at home ever « short ten-round course as his victor. Eighty Fight*—Never once Beaten. Excuses apart, however, M'Farland deserves all the praiso that can be showered on him. Ho is ft boxer in the best sense oi the word, and no so-called "natural fighter" has yet been equal to the task of defeating him. His record shows that, though lie has been one of tho principals in something liko eighty contests, ho has never been defeated— truly a remarkable record. The one thing which prevents him figuring with Wolgast foT the light-weight title is the fact that he would probably have eomo difficulty in making the weight. Thoro is no comparison in the cleverness of the two, but tho champion'a strength might possibly prove too much for M'Farland, with both fighting at the light-weight limit. They Tried to Convince Ons Another. Our old friend "Billy" Elliott has been getting it again. At Brisbane tho other day he tried to convince "Sid" Sullivan that he (Elliott) was the better man, but Sullivan refused to bo convinced. Nay, more, ho took a hand in tho convincing game himself with such good effect that ia the fiTst round Elliott all but admitted the strength of. his argument. Until the tenth round Sullivan was playing a lone hand in the game, but from then on to the finish Elliott made play, but not convincingly enough for the referee, whoso decision in favour of Snliivan met with tio opposition. Accounts show that in tho early stages friend "Billy" had a parlous time indeed, but his pluck held him up to the finish. The Great Joke of Hitting the Atmosphere, Once again Daniel Flynn has proved his superiority over his compatriot, "Jim" Barry, who has such a notable list of defeats—at' the hands of "Sam" Langford—figuring in his record. Tho affray incidentally showed that, even in these degenerate days, a boxor is still too much for a slugger pure and simple. Fiynn has done some slugging in his time, but, judging by press accounts of his latest imbroglio, the atmosphere has never received such a battering from him. The knock-out, blows landed by him on the unoffending air would, if by any cjianco they had struck Barry, have sent that gentleman to some mors favoured land than Australia. But they' didn't, and, apart from tho rumour that the atmospheric disturbances felt hero a day or two afterwards were due to him, his blows.did no damage, least of all to h>3 opponent. This is fcha second time that Flynn has triumphed over Barry, but, presumably, the latter will "call again," for his form of mania seems to be a passion for haying at least half a dozen defeats to his credit at tho hands of every fighter of note. And a fine healthy mania it is when every defeat means a cool hundred or two added to his banking account. As usual, Referee Scott endured fulsome praise from the "Rtferoo" for his share in tho affair. Poor Snowy Baker! How the Sydney paper continues to "give it to him" by tho fond terms in which it refers to his successor at tho Stadium. The Gay Way of Risking One's Money, If "Jack" Head was somewhat lncky in securing a draw with Douglas recently, he appears to have been just the .other way placed in his latest contest—that with Frank Thorn, who, after patiently enduring a solid thumping from him for the full twenty rounds, secured the decision, which is unceremoniously referred to as "a shockingly bad one" by our Sydney contemporaries. Rend is evidently stiil on the up-CTade, and, before long, should bo capable ef extending champion llehegan. The fact that Douglas has "come back seems to have impressed that young gentleman's manager somewhat unduly, for he lias rushed into print with, a statei incut that Douglas is willing to face Jlehegan in Brisbane and ivager JCIOO on tho side that he caji beat him. Further, he liurla defiance at "Jack" Read to the | tune of £50 on the side. If Douglas is wise ho will keep his £100 well oa the I side—in a side pocket to be precise—for, even in his heyday, he was never a match for Mehegan, who ia now admittedly better than ever. Clever "Jim" Hill bit off more than he could masticate when he essayed to gire one Harry Hull 191b. and a beating at Toowoombal Hill's cleverness enabled him to last eleven rounds, but he should have had more sensp than face the examatour welter weight champion of Australasia with such odds against him. Cyclones of the Ring—Humorous Hyperbole. • Australia has an aboriginal cyclone in the shape of "Jerry" Jerome, who celebrated his return to the ring the other day by cutting an inglorious figure before Yankee Koy Kenny at roowoomba. The cvclone fizzled out in three rounds. It is strange that all the human cycionos that have been hovering about Australia of late have not "cycloned" worth 2d. "Johnny" Thompson and "Jim" Barry, to name but two, might have been gentle zephvrs for all the serious damage which they'have been guilty of inflicting upon any noteworthy opponents that have faced their blast. The Gay Joke Tried on Burns. When "Tommy" Burns was out in Australia recently some Canadian sports took unto themselves tho pleasant task of showin," the ex-world's champion that lie had no" monopoly in Canada of that modern industry—the production of white hopes. Thev seized upon one "Bill" Ricknrds, kept him quiet till the e.illnnt "Tommy" came home again—possibly through fear that Burns might eomo homo did he but know what was waiting for him—and now they insist on the aforesaid Thomas meeting'him. The Joke That Burns Answered With. Burns did not appear to "catch on" till thevo appeared to be a chance of his making something out of tho bout, but, when lie did deign to show some interest, his intimation Hint a side-wager of JCIGOO roust: take its chance along with the two of them, took the breafu away from the oilier parties altogether. Now, however, it appears that the pair may meet some •inie next month if Rickimls's friends feel like risking their thousand. Probablv Burns feels that he ought to have a preliminary before his battle with Langford next September. The Tiresome Humour of "White Hopes." Talking of "white hopes," the .only satisfactory" war of determining which of them is" ren\ly n hone worth clinging to would seem to be Hint.of turning llipin iifl We in the one ami then keep (he survivor in pence and quietness till Hie newspapers wore writing obituary nV-irf* cnnroriiiiiK ,!nlm«on, l.nncrnrd, JI ; V«>. .Ic.-umdtc, nn.l Iho othor (iiad;> who Iwvp .Oinwii Ihrnl'plvp? in !:e thi> realisation of uur davkcEi fears. j