IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1563, 5 October 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Br "iIERcnET."j

e IS FITZSIMMONS A "HOPE"?

October 15.—Hegarty v. Burns, Christchurch.

Mr. Atack's Frontal Assault on the Referee.

The Australian mail this week brought details of the Australasian amateur championships, and in view of the strictures of Mr. W. G. Atack, the manager of the Aew Zealand team, on the refereoing, the full reports have been awaited with some interest. It will be remembered that Mr. Atack. cabled after Hie first night's bouts that the decisions against Fitzsimmons in the heavy division, and Gunn in the bantams were "disgraceful." This trenchant ?»t ~C - I sm 118 re P« at ed after his arrival in Wellington on Wednesday last. Coming from such an authoritative source this was exceedingly strong comment, and one naturally expected to see some Blight grounds for it in tho Australian press, taking a line through all tho reports available. Was it a Fair Blow? There appears to be little if any cause lor complaint. Fitzsimmons put up a great battle apparently, but, in meeting Ughill-the holder of the title-he was pitted against an infinitely more experienced boxer. - That he fought well is admitted wholeheartedly by the Sydney papers, but there is no evidence therein to show that he won. The "Sun" eays: Fitzsimmons, the New . Zealander, who came over to Sydney with a big reputation, met his match on the night in G. C. Ooghill, the big artilleryman. This was the light of the night undoubtedly. Many of the ring- ' siders considered that Fitzsimmon? ehould have got the decision. The boy iroin over the Tasman certainly dill most of the scoring in the early rounds. But Coghill's cleverness and hno hghting in the last two rounds more than made up for that. The referee, Mr. Arthur Scott, was called ' upon to give a decision in this fight after tho judges bad disagreed, and ho . gave the only verdict any unbiased man could give. Fitzsimmons certainly did most of the forcing, which, however, counts for nothing if the • other man evades and counters.

After its detailed report, the "Referee" sums up as follows:—"The judges disagreed, and Scott gave tho win to Coghill, 'the verdict being loudly applauded, except by a few, and it was correct, though no great margin existed." In Gunn's case opinions certainly were divided, and, on this occasion, the "Referee sides with the opposition. Its account of tho bout in question runs thus: "Gunn, a sturdy, blocky fellow, had the set and cut of a fighter, and he had that square jaw which.is said to boloken determination. His wnvs and appearance wero remindful of 'Teddy- Green's. Gunn was always pursuing and doing when hecould—a most persistent little chap, and a fighter, M'Millnn's efforts were whisk.-, and he was backing away continually. The judges declared for the Tnsinnnian, but my leaning was Gunn's way." The oilier papers mostly heo'no reason for questioning.the decision, so that, allowing for the difference of opinion that must necessarily follow upon a close contest, it is plain that; when the New Zealand mannger stigmatised tho verdict as "disgraceful," ho over-statedflthings. He appears to have allowed his patriotism to havo rim away with his discretion.

The New Fitzslmmons—Nephew of a Great Uncle, Itoverting to Fitzsimmnns: It wns an open secret when ho left, here that an mimteiir championship win would serve as an introduction for him into the professional class. It now appears that he will "go over" in any case. He has decided to.settle permanently in Sydney, having procured a situation there. So it is extremely probable that we will hear of him getting into action against the big men.

—or the biggest that he can get a match with—very shortly. There is no reason at nil why ho should not do well, although, of course, at thi' early stage, it is not possible to do more than make a guess at his prospects. He has youth, physique, and a natural likinc for the game, and is, moreover, hi< uncle s Jiephov. jf t ] lD oI(] ft(1(lg0 •■ B i 00( i will tell' has any ring application this should count for a lot. That he mado a good impression therc can bo no doubt. As stated above, hi' opponent, D. S. Coghill, a gunner in the Australian Artillery, is an old and experienced championship contestant and winner, and, furthermore, he has had tho great advantage of having been nssocinted with ninny of the best professional' in their training work. Thus for weeks ho acted as "sparrin" partner to "Tommy" Burns. Even witl" this tho Australian was forced intc his best pace by Fitzsimmons. "Are We Downhearted?" From the "lteferee" account cspeciallj we learn thnt there is no need for the young New Zealnnder to bo downcast over his defeat—in fact, quite the contrary •lhfe Amateur" (Mr. W. F. Corbett' Waxes more than complimentary over hi' Australian debut, and, after a laudatory oomment on his conqueror, writes: Tliis was the man who beat Fitzsimmons on points, but he did not have it his own way, or anything like It, and only (.'oghill's greater skill pulled him through, for it was that which enabled the placing of those body punches so punishing for Fitzsimmons, particularly as his condition appeared to be not quite thorough. There woro times—several—when Coghill seemed beaten; he weakened plainly more than once. Fitzsimmons never let upj he kept boring in and battering, and, with better direction in his work, might have won tho day* Direction and judgment, however, can only come through experience, and it will couio if he sticks to boxing. The lad is undoubtedly a fighter. The marks of that class of boxer were noticeable in many things he did and in many things he tried to do, but couldn't bring off. In justice to the winner (Coghill), it must be said that if his pluck had not been a high quality brand, tho de- . cision might have gone tho other way, and the ambitious relative of a fighter who was tho greatest of all contemporary pugilists, except one, would bo marching along a comparatively clear road towards the goal aimed at. Young Fitzsimmons did uncommonly wellso well that if old "Bob" had seen him in action the lad would very soon 1m trailing his coat for the white hopes clustered, in and around New York just now. The Unsuccessful New Zealand Raid. Tho other Now Zealanders engaged—G. Ban- (feather), J. Penrose (light), 11. Witney- (welter), and D. Boreham (middle) —justified their selection, inasmuch as , y ,?,v put llp £° 0(I sporting fights. Barr and VVithey won their heats, but, as with tho others, they justified the popular idea in tho Dominion when tho team was chosen, that they wero not, quite class enough. Tho drain on our resources through tho loss to tho amateur class of Hegarty and Maxwell, and the inability of Wntchorn tfi make the trip, proved fatal to NewZealand s chances, with the result that tor the first time for many years—if not for the first time on record—our, team returned on Wednesday empty-handed The Enigmatic Rudd. "Bill" Rudd is a puzzle. His ring form surpasses all human understanding. But a few short weeks ago he stood fair in the sporting light of Australian boxing fame. He was then selected as tho representative of the Commonwealth to give battle to the Amorican invader, Ernest Zanders. He justified tho confidence reposed in him by giving tho said invader the father of a beating, and was generally looked upon as having "arrived. , And what does he do next?' Merely goes to Brisbane and gets knocked out liko the veriest novice in the first round by Jerry. Jerome, the black middle-weight, ? n l * i after hav 'ng soveral pounds the best of his black brother in tho weights. l'rom the accounts of the tragedy, it that Eudd, as usual, went right alter his man from tho gong. Jerome avoided tho rush, and scored with' his left. Then, as usual again, over went Rudd's wicked right, only to find tho aboriginal ducking into safety. In tore Eudd again, only to be dodged once more. Then, throwing caution, guard and everything elsß but a desire to annihilate his man in on© fell swoop to the winds, he rushed in again. This time the fell swoop materialised all right, but it came to -light on Rudd, through the agency of a vimful left from Jerome. The New Zealnnder dropped, and it was only at tho count of nino that his gameness got him to his feet ngain. Then it was Jerome's turn to rush, and Rudd fell into a smother and clinch in soro straits. Then a right to the head, a left to the body, and another right made an end, and "Bill" Eudd was counted out. Rudd is consistent only in. his inconsistency. How Porter Held His Owm The Porter-Gault oontest for the lightweight championship of the Dominion at Wanganui last week occurred too late for comment in last Saturday's notes. The bout was a good one, and the result left the holder of tho title—"Len" Porterstill in possession, although he had to Bhow liis best and brightest paces to stop there. - Gault apparently showed up much better than against Peter Cook, and so named' the champion that tho referee, Tim" Tracy, oould'not separate them at tho finish, and so called a draw. ' "Mercury" was told by an eye-witness that the Aucklander sustained two broken ribs in the thirteenth round, but, so far, has not heard this confirmed. The, Movements of Mehegan. The latest intelligence from England about "Hughio" Mehegan, the Australian light-weight champion, is to- the effect that his talked-of match with "Johnny" Summers will not take place owing to the latter s Tefusol to make the weight required by Mehegan'. To Summers's credit stands tho only knock-out recorded against the Austraian. They fought twice during the Eng. lishmans visit to Sydney some two or threo years ago. The other occasion was a draw, and Mehegan is displaying good common-sense in declining to" concede weight under the circumstances. Is the Victorian Flying too High? Apparently his next move will be to America. It has been cabled to Sydney from New York that he is expected there some time this month, particularly in pursuit of a match with "Pncky" M'Farland; This is ambitious indeed, and rather doubtful policy at that. The Chicago boy is admittedly the best there is, ana there are many others whom Mehegnn could hitch up with, in the States, with both honour and profit, before throwimhis cap as high as M'Forland. There are "Pal" Moore, "Tommy" Murphy, Leah Cross. ' Knock-out" Brown, and so on, up to Champion "Ad." Wnlgasl, whom he urn now claim matches with. But if defeated by M'FaTlond down would go his stock at once. On the other hand, should he boat M'Farland, the immediate result would be a decided oovness to come to tonus on the part of Ihc American light, brigade, and in such \ case none could blame 'them. At the Town Hall Last Night. Comment on lost night's contest hetweeu Murphy and Truscott is postponed until next Saturday, owing to the lateness in the week of the clash. A detailed do', smphon will lie found in tho reporting columns. ° How Cheer on the Ur pronouncing? Last Wednesday "Hock" Keys and Herbert Jl'Coy were to have met at tho Sydney Stadium, and next Wednesday Graver Hayes, the American light-weight, will fight his first battle in Australia, his adversary being "Jack" Read. On Octobei 12, Uorstoiu, one of the quartet of French boxers lately arrived in Sydney, will 1* opposed to an adversary not yet o.hosrui! The other Frenchmen, now in Sydney arc Trufiier, Balzac, and Audony. One see' trouble in store for (ho Australian barlacker. "Puul Til" look some handling but. it is easy compnrvd to the wgD.-mion< or tho newest arrived*