IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1551, 21 September 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Bt "llEßcnsr."] THEO. BURNS AND HEGAHTY. To-night.—Hannan v. Cook, at Wostport. Septoinbor H and 25.—Wairarapa B.A. Championships, at Masterton. October 3—Wolter-weight Championship, Murphy v. Trusoott, at Town Hail. October 9.—Hagerty v. Burns, at. Christchurch. November —. —Maxwell t. Hagerty, at Town Hall. The Battle of the Feathers-Burns Not Up to Sample. Great expectations had been raised regarding the Burns-Hegarty clash at tho Opera House, through the reports of Hogarty's prowess that havo reached us from time to time, and partly becauso of Burns's excellent record on tlio other side. Anticipations of Burns, however, were hardly realised. In fact, tho bout was rather disappointing—apart from its outcome. /This was in vu way due to any shortcomings on tho part of Hegarty. Quite the contrary, for ho proved all that he was boomed to be, and a littlo more. It cannot be denied, however, that Burns failed to deliver the goods according to sample. ■ His form waa considerably short of that shown in his preparatory "spars." In these training bouts he exhibited a speed and shiftiness that wero but seldom reproduced against Hegarty's stinging attack. It is an axiom in moat sports that a side can only do as well as the opposing side, will let it, and, on this occasion, the Australian side was not allowed to exhibit those tricks of attack—what no doubt it would have liked to show—which had seemed so effectual against the lesser lights with whom he had "tried out." In these he had been treated with some degroe of respect by his various opponents, so was not called upon to exhibit his defensive qualities to any extent—his swiftness on. his feet proving sufficient to get him out of trouble. On Monday it was very different. Ho was treated with no manner of respect at all. Eight from the gong he was bustled and harried; he was nover allowed to settle down; ho could never strike his own gait; he was swept away by Hegarly's impetuosity; and, well—that is the whole story of the battle. Furthermore, Burns's tactics were at fault. Taller and "reachier" than. Hegarty as he is, his "crouch" was a mistake. His wide "stance" (to borrow a golf term) completely sacrificed Iris natural advantages, and, moreover, deprived him of the proper use of his feet. Had he stood up he would have fared better, and gone further. Then he could either have met Hegarty's rushes with a straight Ifft—and tho Timaruvian mostly went in open enough to a straight left—or lie could have side-stepped out of danger. That he has , a good "side-step" and "slip" he showed onco or twice, but all too seldom, simply because hie feet were out of position, owing to the "crouch," also for the same reason he found himself frequently out of distance, and so was continually beaten to tho punch when ho essayed a stopping left As it was he was rushed to the ropes constantly, and in the resultant close work Hegarty was ' all over him."

His Foeman was Told to "Go In." Knowing his man to bo stronger and huskier . generally, Burns should have made a running long-range fight of it, 01 should have done his 'best to make it so. He did not, and so played into Hegarty's hands, a position, which the New Zealander—with that old eoldier "Tim' : Trac/' in his corner to keep him in the way ho should go—took every advantage of. Hegarty was told to go in, and go in lie did, and when he got in—well, thcro was always something doing—and he was doing most of it. _ "Wβ Want Hegarty!" It was the first time that we have 6een Hegarty in action, and we want him again. Big barrelled, deep chested, and sturdy limbed,, ,'lie' is .well '., equipped by, nature, and with ! hls quickne-se— both on his feet and with his hands—he weighs in a formidable proposition as a "feather." Besides, it is ■ plain to see that lie likes his job. He is both fighter and boxer.'but leaves the impression that he prefers the fighting side of the combination. A Bit from the Fifth Round. He was not called upon to ehow th 6 full extent of hie defensive tactics, except perhaps on one occasion. Towards the end of the fifth round Burns went down to a right upper-out and took eight eeconds. He got up sagging at the knees ■and looking very bedraggled, and Hegarty rushed him to his corner. Burus, looking; "all in," smothered up, and Hegarty let his hands down while looking for an opening. Thou Burns, apparently "stalling," woke up, and sent over a spiteful left, followed instantly by an equally wicked right. The left landed, but the right found Hegarty well covered up, and Burns's chance—tho outcome of a clevci stratagem—was gone. .Hegarty was still in his "smother" when the gong went, and no harm was dono, but the little incidont might easily have proved serious had he not sized up the situation so instantly, and covered up accordingly. Who Now for Hegarty? Ono would like to see the feather champion thoroughly tested out, but it is obvious that there is no pn« in his division in tho Dominion who can do it. The local feather, Frank Ellis, is the next best, bul he has gone down to the champion twice already, and, by tho way, it speaks very highly for Ellis that he was able on each occasion to stay the fifteen rounds,' seeing that Burns, with oil his Australian record, found half the distance more than sufficient. Hegart/s opponent for the next Wellington match muet be drawn from the "light" brigade, and it is the association's intention, to put him on in Noveuibci with Alien Maxwell. Hegarty is willing enough if tho Taranaki champion will come in at ?st. 91b., and if Maxwell will Kgreo to this—he is willing enough in other respects—the match is as good ai made.

And what a match it will be! Those wiho saw Hegarly on Monday last and Allen Maxwell in action with Hannan last month will need no assurance on this point. Those who did not have missed much, but they will still have something to live for. Always providing, of course ; that Hegarty and Maxwell can ba brought together. The association in Christchurch intend conducting a return Hegarty-Burns match, and, in all probability, it will take place on either October 9 or. October It. The local association also has a fixture for October—"Denny" Murphy v. "Lyn" Truscolt, for the welter-weight championchip. The two gladiators were introduced to the "house" on Monday, and it is to bo hoped that, for this occasion, -the succession of misfortune that has kept Murphy out of a local ring for so long will be broken. Mehegan "Does Things." Now to go further afield. On Monday the cablo messnges informed us that "iiughio" Mehegan had added another jewel to his crown, the particular ornament in question being the light-weight championship of England, which he has acquired by virtue of his defeat of "Mat!" Wells, the'Engii'h champion. This is a set-off to the set-back to Australian boxing sustained through "Dave" Smith's linglorioiiß showing in America, and the result will bo to open the door wide tn Mehegan as far as French nnd American mutches are concerned.

Within the -Dominion. "Billy" Ilaniian sailed for Westport on Thursday to keep his appointment with Peter Cook, whom ho moots to-nklit. On Thursday night the light-weight championship will be in dispute ngnin, this time at Waniinnui, where ]~ lVirtcr, Hip hiildt'V, meets the ej-chnmpion "Alf." Oaiilt, of Auckland. , Mastorton, . Mr. W. Savillo Smith, honorary secretary of the Masterton Boxing Club, writes, asking "Mercury" to draw llio attention of local boxers to the championship in all clashes to ho held in the Mnslerton Town Hall on September -* <" ul 25 - The Advice WhiclvMehegan Threw Overboard. This match was foreshadowed in an .issue of "Boxim" to linnd by the Inst English mail, in which tho Australian's wie-

dom in flying 60 high a3 Wells for a beginning was queried. Tho English journal snys:— Tho Aiistralian champion has come hero inniiily on tho track, of "Matt" Wells. Tho Liverpool Stadium people havo already instituted inquiries as to Mehegan's terms, so it would appeai that "llntt" is quite willing, but wo cannot help feeling that should ifehegan's campaign open with this contest, everybody concerned will hate cause for repining. The match is too good to waste this way, and Mehegan would do welt to reflect that in the.event of Mβ prov-, ■ ing successful, ho will not only pretty DPiirly have completed his English Programme, but will also have gone irough his severe tost, with far loss profit than would otherwise accrue to him. "Hughio" is a rattling good man, as • his Tecord proves, one of tho most scientific boxers Australia has ever produced, but he will do well to supplement his reputation a trifle here ' before going out for such lights as "Matt" Wells and Fred. Welsh. What the English writer overlooked is that llehegan is already well equipped with worldly goods from his plethora of Australian successes that a few small purses would not mean so much to him as the "open sesame" to the topmost circles that will be his now tlftrt ho is tho English, as well as the Australian, champion. Where before he could only ask for big matches, he can now claim them.