IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1527, 24 August 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Bt "Mercuiit."]

ENTER ONE ALLEN MAXWELL, September 25.—Johnson r. Jeannette, Chicago. Disappointed Ones who Stayed at Home. Disappointed members of tho Wellington sporting fraternity were to be found in plenty last Saturday. These consisted of tho usual "patrons" of boxing matches who stayed away from tho Hannan-Max-woll contest of the previous night on account of its anticipated onc-sidedness, and thoro wero many who allowed their judgment to mislead them in this respect, which fact goes once more to show how useless collateral form is as a guido in theso matters. Why they Stayed Away. On paper, of course, the contest looked easy for Hannan. There were Maxwell's defeats by Porter and Gault to be used against him, and they wero so used—much to the disadvantage of tho local association. But, in their summing up of tho situation, the wise ones overlooked tho true inwardness of theso sot-badts of Maxwell's. Firstly, in regard to tho Porter bout, it was forgotten—if it was ever realised—that this was the ex-ama-teur's first essay over a 15-round journey, and that he had brought about his own downfall by rashly endeavouring to "put his man away" in tho same short order that he had found so effective in his three and four-round amateur bouts. Porter was general enough and elusive enough to keep more or less out of harm's way until Maxwell's shock tactics had exhausted not only themselves, but also Maxwell himself. After that the rest was easy. Then, regarding tho Gault affair, it wns also forgotten that the margin of differonco was so small ns to render the verdict in the Aucklander's favour anything but a popular one with the spectators. These matters the association committee had in mind when making the match, but the outsido view was that.it was made more to keep faith with Hannan and the public than with the serious intention of staging ,i .first-class contest. Even those faithful ones who attended at the lown Hall hopod-but faint-heart-1 edly-that their desire to see a "good go" would bo gratified, and so, in inverse ratio to their pessimism, was their measure of delight at the entertainment ■which, was really given to them. Was Hannan Up to Sample? Tho details of the contest have been dealt with, so it is not the intention to traverse them here. How Maxwell won is now well known, bo now tho matter in hand is to go into the "why." The short answer, of course, is "Because he was the better man"—and so ho was on tho night. But did Hannan produce his true form for the occasion? Or, to put the query another way, was the Hannan that Maxwell beat the same Hannan that we saw dispose of Kelly, Tracy, and Gault last Eeason? Without wishing to detract from tho Taranaki boy's very fino performance, "Mercury" must say that, in his opinion, Hannau was not. Hannan. appeared to have "slowed up" considerably, he lacked his one-timo sting in attack, was less agile on his feet, and also had mislaid his punch. It is true that Maxwell's puzzling tactics, his clever ducking and queer shift from the hips, and his spiteful, demoralising left may havo made this condition of Hannan's more apparent than real. Still, there is no doubt that the West Maitlander lacked his accustomed "fire," aria lacked it the most just at the moments when it was most needed. In short, he showed decided symptoms of staleness. This is his own explanation—not his exmiSß, for ho makes none— and there is good reason for it. He was "cherry ripo' for the postponed meeting with "Denny" Murphy nine days previously, and it,is quite .likely tliat, in tho interim, he had all unwittingly got over the edgo of perfect condition. Had Previous Rough Handling Told on Him? ' There is another theory that has been advanced that may account for the apparent falling-off. Sinco Hannan left New Zealand last season he twice "stacked up" against that hard-battling South African Arthur Douglas. In this he was toor ambitious. On the first occasion Doug; las's rough-house methods wero too much for our visitor, who sustained such a severe experience that the contest wns stopped by the police in the third round. In the second contest he fa'red little better, being knocked out in the eighth round. It has happened before that such experiences take the , sting out of a boxermake him unduly cautious, andi generally less combative, until he' has fought himself back to his old confidence in his own powers. •So it might be with Hannan. One needs to see him in action again bofore finally judging. Hannan's Tactics—Good and Bad. In the Maxwell battle there can be no doubt that Hannah would have required all his old-time dash to havo beaten his opponent on Friday last. 'After the first round or two Maxwell shaped like a vet,cran, and here, by the way, is where a, charge of bad judgment may bo laid against Hannan and his corner. In starting slowly as ho did, he displayed bad tactics. 'He might havo considered that the strangeness of Maxwell's surroundings, the weight of the occasion, and the fact that ho was then ugainstthe most formidable opponent whoiji ho had yet met, would have their usual effect on a young boxer. And, having considered this, ho should have gone aiter his man right away. That might have put Maxwell out of his stride, and induced him to go in and mix things before ho had properly settled down to the work in hand. Then Hanuan would,have had his nan where he wanted him. ' However, instead, Haiiuan. started off very quietly, and thus allowed Maxwell to box himself into a state of confidence, from which tliere was no shifting him. In fact, it was not long before lie began carrying the fighting to his opponent, and. thereafter, except in che I eleventh ronnd (in which Hnnnan took charge in his old stylo) he never looked back.

Maxwell in the First Flight. His chief weapon, both for offence nnd defence was his left, which camo in from all angles, and from any old position, and this despito tho fact that in his amateur days ho built up his list of quick-time victories chiefly by meane of a wicked right wallop. His evasive tactics, too, wore attractive, especially his ducking, while his peculiar swinging movement from the hips tendered most of Hannan's leads for the head inoperative. In short, in Allen Maxwell, of Taranaki, we have a boxer who can fairly .take a place in tho front rank of our lightweights, and one whom a Wellington spectatorate will bo glad to see in action again as soon as possible. The "Clean Break" and a Clean Fight. There ia one feature, and a pleasing one, of the- Bannan-Mnxwcll contest that must be referred to before lraving the subject. This is the clean boxing that characterised the bout from first to last. Hoiv clean fho work was, and how successfully both boxers strovo to make it attractive is evidenced by the fact that Mr. Sampson's office of-rcforoo was practically a sinecure, so much f-o (hat it was Dot uniil the 11th round that lie had even to "break" his charges. Tho contestants had agreed to fight with a "clean break," and both adhered scrupulously to the agreement, with tho result that the contest must figure as ono of tho most, attractive yet .staged hero from a spectacular view point. What Next in Light-weiflhis? "Len" Porter is, since Wednesday last, the new light-weight champion of the Dominion—a fact that those tvho have only seen him box as an amateur—previous to his Australian trip, thai 15— find an infinite source of wonder. Still, there ho is at tho top, and by virtue of Rood work, too, but it is good work that will liftvo to be persevered in if ho means to stay there. This seoins to bo where I ho local association can gratify the public desire to soe Maxwell ugain, and overtures will no doubt be made at ouco with the objccL of conducting n Porter-AlasiveU champion-„

ship bout at the Town Hall at tho erjliest possible date. If Johnson Fights Jeannette ? Sinco last week's notes wero written wo have been briefly informed by cablegram that a match has been arranged and will shortly lake place between "Jack" Johnson and "Joe' Jeannette. Fuller particulars oi the forthcoming clash have been received in .Sydney through th o Independent Cable Service, and may be gleaned from the following messages:— „■, ,„ T Chicago, August 11. Jack Johnson has called back his declaration of retirement, and eavs now that ho is ready to meet nilcomers. ' Tho criticism levelled at liim over us last fight and his statement that he had given up boxing has caused his wifo to urgo'his return to the ring, and as a result ho is arranging a match with "Joe" Jeannette. The champion says ho will give .Teannette the worst biding he has ever had. Johnson will agree to weigh 2471b. at 12.35 on tho day of the u'ght, p.nd will commence training immediately after articles have been signed. Chicago, August 13. Jack Johnson has signed articles for. a ton rounds fight witli Joe Jeannette before tho St. Nicholas Athletic Club in Chicago on September 25. The champion has been guaranteed .£SOOO, with tho privilege of taking 50 per cent, of tho first .£IO,OOO of tho receipts, 35 per cent, of tho gate over ,£IO,OOO, aud half of the moving picture rights. A forfeit has been posted by both parties to tho agreement. Just exactly how Johnson is to fight Jeannetto on September 25 in Chicago and also leave for Australia early in September, aa per arrangement with Mr. H. D. M'lntosh is not quite clear, but one ha» grown to expect strango doings fioin Arthur John Johnson. Sydneyside Datos and Doings. At the Stadium, Sydney, last Saturday week, "Kid" M'Coy beat ''Jack" Eead on points, after, twenty rounds of splendid boxing on Loth Bides, and so achieves the honour of representing Australia in the first battle against the foreign lightweights now either in or on the way to Sydney. He is billed to meet the Frenchman Paul Til on August 31. Apropos of Australian light-weights, it is stated in tho Australian papers that tho Stadium authorities have cabled to Hugh Mohegan to return immediately from America, and'as presumably tho invitation is being made pecuniarily attractive, it is ' probable that the little champion will have had his trip abroad for nothing. To-night "Bill" Rudd makes his fcow at the Stadium. He hns been matched with tho American middle-weight "Ernie" Zanders, this being the latter's first appearance, in Australia.