IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1449, 25 May 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Bt "Mebcubt."] FROM LAS VEGAS TO PETONE. Juno 7—Provincial Championships, Town Hall. June 16 and 17—New Zealand Championships, Town Hall. July 4—World's Championship, Johnson t. Flynn, Las Vegas, Mexico. So M'Vea Would Not Box I The cables on Monday failed to briEg news about the M'Vea-I'lynn disturbance, scheduled for last Saturday night in Sydney. This time, however, the cable man was not to blame. It is, in fact, rather hard at this distance to learn who was oulpablo, although the reasons for the lack of news is a good one—simply that there was no contest. The abandonment of the fixture was brought about by an objection by M'Vea to the official stadium reioree—Mr. Arthur Scott, and the consequent determination ot Mr. M'lntosh not to give way in the matter. M'Vea gave the Stadium management the choice between Mr. Scott and himself, and the management in return gave M'Vea the choice between Mr. Scott and an action for breach of contract. _ M'Vea, evidently taking what (to his mind) was the least of two evils, decided upon the latter alternative—hence tho deadlock.

Naturally the dispute has given rise to discussion, and to some, acrimonious correspondence between the parties. From the latter the outstanding point of argument appears to be a claim on M'Vea's part to have some say in the choice of the referee. As a precedent for this claim the case of Langford's objection to "Snowy" Baker, and its substantiation by Mr. M'lntosh on the occasion, of the Langford-M'Vea "return," is advanced on the one side, and ie met b> a statement from the executive that a clause in Langford's agreement specifically gave him the power to thus object while there is no such stipulation set forth in the M'Vea covenant. Therefore it is held that the negro has no voice at all in the choice of the arbiter of his fate whilst in the ring under the M'lntosh management. And Now a Lawsuit Threateni. Mr. M'lntosh is very angry over the whole thing, and asserts that 'ho is tired of M'Vea, and all that is his, and that ho will invoke tho aid of the law to make the recalcitrant one realise that he cannot play fast aad loose with his bond.

M'Vea's objection to Scott was based on the ground of the letter's inexperience— an argument that is hoofed at by the other side with much vehemence, fjcott's lnog service as a referee, and as a teacher of boxing is pointed to in refutation of the charge, and the "Referee" in particular (in its role of Trunipeter-in-Chiof to the Stadium Proprietary) waxes wrath on Scott's behalf.

Whether or not this official is competent to adjudicate in an important battle is, of course, impossible to sav at this distance from first-hand knowledge or observation, but the fact remains that the "Referee," in its previous issue, differed with Mr. Scott over his decision in the recent Land-Keller match. This difference of opinion was voiced very apologetically, it is true, and much space was devoted to show how it was possible that the referee—the official not the journal—may have l>;au riirht after all. Nevertheless, the difference was a decided one, and goes to show that, in the."Referee's" opinion, Mr. Scoft, as tho third party in tho ring, is not infallible. Meantime the Stadium Closes. However, he has been held to be good enough for his job by his employers, and it is to be left to the law to say whether or not the men most immediately concerned—the boxers—are to be considered. In the settlement, if the affair does get into Court, some interesting details of the ethics of modern pugilistic match-making should bo brought to light, and, in the meantime, tho Stadium is to be closed for the present season. It is to bo turned into an enclosed and roofed hall. The present intention is to reopen it on July 22, after which only one season per annum will be observed—from January 1 to December 31 in each year, Ave Atque Vale—The Black Brigade. Also in the meanwhile the sporting pub. lie will get a respite from the eternal matching and rematching of the eteninl black brigade with the eternal "Witito Hope" division. Even in Americt same of the boxing scribes ore crying "Enough," as witness the following from the pen of a seribo in the United States on one of the matches in question:— "That Xangford-Barry fight down in Australia, last, week caught us all napping, as from the dopo sent on here by IJn.rry we supposed his bout wiffh 'Sam'" was to cmno later on. The foot that Harry went tlio twenty rounds with Lnnpforu is ?. pretty strong indication that tho visiting boxers are making hay while tlio sun shines. .Vow M'Vea, Longford, and Barry are all matched up again, it is not inopportune to observe that it takes some pretty clever matching to get five championship bottles out of three heavyweights. Think it over." Wolgast's Narrow Escape. The cables during the week brought us news that Ad. Wolgast had sustained a rn titer parlous time in his recent iioufc with one Ritchie, a San Francisco lightweieht, and it is apparent that liis recent operation for appendicitis hns made more difference thaa w.aa expected, We I

aro told that he "winced perceptibly" from Ritchie's body blows, and that he \!l.is fortunate in scraping homo a winner. It will be interesting to sec just \rliat effect this affair will havo upon Wolgast's market value, tlio size or which i≤ indicated in a cablegram received recently us follows:—VYcigast has received mi offer of j;3MO to meet M'Farland nt New York, The men expect the match will draw a .010,000 gate. Wolgast. wants half the. gate to go to the- winner, "I think," ho says, "that I am entitled to half the money, and I will bet that I get it." It rather looks now as though Wolgsst should hnvo olosed on the .£3OOO, "win, lose, or draw." proposition. The Reducing of Johnson, i The Independent cable service is responsible, for the following messages ro the July championship fixture: — Vancouver, Saturday. Jack Johnson is still engaged upon the process of getting off flesh. Letters that he has sent to a friend in San Francisco state that he is keen on getting into similar condition to that which ho was in when he met Tommy Burns in Sydney. "I know I am too fat now," eays Johnson, "but I mean to be the fittest man on earth when I meet Fireman Flyr.n." Asked whether he thought ho would win, the negro said, "Of course I shall win. riynn is not half the man Burns wag when 1 met him, and if ypu put a straight proposition to me I say that Burns was the hardest nut I ever had to crack."

"What about Langford and 11'VeaP" Johnson was asked. "Well," he replied, "they have been fighting one another, and I think the boxing world will agree that I could beat either of them. But there's more money in the battles between black and white." Vancouver, Monday. Jack Johnson will not leave for Las Vegas, Mexico, until the middle of next month. The champion is already doing light work for his fight with Flynn, and is reducing his weight at the rate of 81b. a week. At present Johnson indulges in four training . bouts ft week. A Brass Band for Flynn. Fiynn, too, oomes in for a word: — NEW YORK, Saturday. Messages from Las Vegas state that when Flynn arrived hundreds of citizens had assembled at the railway station to meet him. He was greeted with neat cheering and music by a brass bana engaged for the occasion. NEW YORK, Monday. Flynn is steadily, improving in his training for his right with the black man for the world's championship; He expects to enter the ring at 1951b. (13st. 131b.). Flynn is just "as confident of victory as is his future opponent. "I'll beat the coon or die," he says. Langford in Melbourne—Rather Wild Time. In Melbourne, on the night of Monday week last, "Sam" Langford amused himself somewhat at the expense of Jim Barry. Hi 3 amusement was not shared by tn<* Victorians, before whom he was making his maiden appearance, and the latter moments of the battle were, to put it mildly, rather tense owing to the bitter feeling of the "house."

Incidentally a peculiar incident occurred during tho sixth round. This happening is described as under in the *WV . i ■ . In a frantic effort to escape this punishment, Barry burst his right glove, and as the men went to their corners the crowd cried out, "Give him a new glove," A pair of gloves wore quickly produced. Langford, sitting in his corner, objected that they were too light, Tho crowd hissed and howled at him, A new glove was put on Barry's right hand, and the gong went, but Langford would not budge. Great boxers can)be as petulant and as unreasonable as schoolboys. He insisted that die also must have another new glove, it being understood that he would wear the left as against Barry using the Tight, but in the end he put on two new eloves, while Barry only had one. The gong kept on sounding time, while the spectators grew fiercely angry, and Mr. M'lntosh, rushing to Langford's corner, entreated him to go on. Such a break in a fight had never been seen in Melbourne before, Now it is a very moot point (if tho above is correct) whether Barry should not have been awarded the verdict on Langford's refusal to continue at the sound ,of tho gong. None of the Australian papers raise the point, perhaps because Barry was so obviously a beaten man, but by the strict letter of the Queensberry law thero is no doubt that Langford gave an opportunity for being disqualified, or oven "counted oat," on net resuming at the end of the minute's spell, and he would have had cmly himself to blame had he met with such.a fate.

Another "regrettable incident" occurred before the action closed, and in all the occasion was not one likely to make tho Black Invader popular in Melbourne. Again the "Sun" is quoted:— The referee was talking to Barry or his supporters in Barry's corner when the gong sounded again, and Barry did not rise at once from his chaii, but Langford was half-way across the stage-. Before its notes died away, and as Barry rose to his feet, and before he was frep of tho chair, the black man landed a right and left heavily on the body. The spectators fairly screamed with anger. Their Eense of fair play was blurred by their colour hatred. Langford fought like a demon, and added fuel to the fire. "All in, Jim, make it all in," shouted some ■ sports in the guinea seats, and tho ominous cry was taken up in other parts of the house. "Make it all in, Jim." It looked for n moment as if the black would be rushed by his critics, who became more exasperated because Barry could not respond. He could not make it "all in." Ho was all out.

in English note,.states that Bombardier Weils was to have sailed from London for the United States on May 11, and that it is expected that he will be matched with Al Palzer in a twentyrouiul bout on July i. On another page will be found ,in account of the Allen Maxwell versus "Len" Porter argument, set down for discussion nt Wangamu last night. . This, was too late in the week for any comment thereon to appear in this column, but Mr. T. W. Sampson, who acted as reieree, has promised to supply "Mercury" with a noto on the contest for next week. An Evening at Petone, On Wednesday night several local enthusiasts journeyed to Petone to fee the members of the suburban Boxing Club in action in their gymnasium with representatives of the Kia Ora Pastime Club from tho city. The entertainment supplied well repaid the trouble of the journey, and it would be greatly to tho good of the eport locally could more of tiie kind be available, foi it, is a fact that in these semi-private displays the average standard of boxing attained is far ahead of that seen at tho championship tourneys. The absence of stage fri'ht is perhaps accountable for this to a certain extent, but whatever the reason the ' fact remains that our amateur boxers, with few exceptions, do not giva us' of their best in public. There is a iiiornl in this for these members of the Boxin" Association who are not giving j the executive the help it deserves, and =hould ret in its efforts to obtain club nre-nises", where similar "evenings" could be held at regular intervals.