IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1663, 1 February 1913, Page 12

IN THE RING.

(Br Mercury.) STIRRING DEEDS IN LONDON. Jan. 81—Hegarty, v. Trusoott, Hastings, February 10—Ilegarty v.- Maxwell, Palmerston Nortli. Feb. 11—L. Robinson r. T. Thompson, Gisborne. Meeting of Welsh and Mehegan. ■ By tho English mail just to hand there oomes details of the recent Welsh-Mche-gan match, desoribed variously as being lor the light-weight championship of tho world, of tho British Empire,'and of England. Also from Australia coines the Sydney "Sun," wtih a voluminous report by that 'journal's London correspondent of the some contest. : The different accounts make very, interesting reading. While the English reports differ'slightly in detail, they agree on this point: that the Australian representative was beaten on points all along the line. That is to say, tliiat - whilo Welsh never, hold a decided advantage, he maintained a greater or iesser lead from tho first gong until tho finish. The samo correspondent begs to differ,' and he differs thus: "The rapier beat the In. ! ; this way the "Daily Mail" summed up. J the light-weight championship between! . Welsh and Mehegan. I would substitute "referee" for "rapier," and I am confident I would be much nearer the truth. ; The best, man did not win, for • the best man was no better than the. loser, but tho, referee said "Welsh, the winner," and JC3OOO and the lightweight championship of the "British Empire went to Welsh on his dictum. Aid again, in describing the closing scene of what must have been a great battle; the "Sun" writer says:— "The fateful gong sounded again, they broke away; Welsh walked quickly and expectantly towards jtho referee, Mehegan slowly and humbly, almost with some embarrassment,' like a boy who hopes to get a prize, but is not over confident.'Welsh the winner,' said Mr. Douglas, and in the hour of his defeat Mehegan overtopped his,victor, for walking to the T_p.il without a cloud on his face he said : 'Gentlemen, the. best man won.' It was a generous impulse, which came straight from'' a generous heart, but I still make bold to eay that it did not mirror tho truth. The best man did not win. There was no first, unless there were two firsts." "Gentlemen! The Best Man Won I" So muih for the Australian view of the verdict.- , Now for tho, English viewpoint; "Boxing," always a reliable authority, says: As Mehegan Said when all WEs : over, "Gentlemen, the best man won." But the; , loser was almost as good. He proved himself a great fighter, and a greater sporty man, tor lie struggled manfully against adversity throughout 20 tough and hard 'rounds, and took his defeat like a gallant man when all was over. "Freddie won,' • and won by a wide margin. He won even more handsomely on'points than ho did ..against "Matt", Wells.

: "Ccstfls," of "The Sportsman," testifies: .'TVelsh beat Mehegan by his brainy fighting,- combined to skill and science, and Btamina of the very first order. I nm always puzzled to know why certain writers put Welsh down as a sprinter. Now and again, I might truthfully: say frequently, tho remark is made: "Welsh would beat any man in the world ten rounds; ho is so fast and tricky.' On Monday ho appeared to be qiiite at his best, and Mehegan was in bad luck to catch him' at that.- Meheean was. tho game plodder, always on the look-out for tho opening that (seldom oaino. Welsh was the 'Will ; of tho wisp; d wonder on his feet, and with a defence that was impregnablo and superb." "Sporting Xife" corroborates his fellow scribes in this.wise: "Of Welsh one cannot say tod much. Ho waa the cleverer man unquestionably/and never in his life has he boxed sOjWell. JIo must havo been, in this writer's opinion, well ahead on points, , His work , in the first six rounds will always' livc in the memory.. Nothing 'finer than this will probably, ever bo seen." " , • ■ ■ ' . >

The Losap' Absolves thb\Refereo.... ~ * '. "Hughie 1 ' Mohe'gan himself enters the witness-box. He, too, gives evidenco on the English side,. 60• The best man 1 won, and I am'per- ■ fectly satisfied with the verdict. He . is the toughest and cleverest man I . have ever met. 1 My one wish is to box 1 him again for a good side stake, and , I honestly think I-could turn the ' , tables. '• . • ■ ■ Thi9. should be conclusive enough to mnlco it tippear. as'though tho Sydney paper's correspondent, .evidently an Australian, had.allowed his patriotism to get the better 6f his judgment as regards tho verdict. ; , 1 : ' Pen Picture of the Sanctum Sanctorilm of, English Boxing. ' His report, however, is decidedly interesting'apart from this, not only in the description- of , the ebb and flow of the fortunes of war, .but also for the lijj-ht which it throws upon tho way , in which these affairs are managed in the real sanctum sanctorum-of English boxing—tho National Sporting Club of London. . Of tho areha, ho writes:—Hero Slavin and- Jackson and Fitzsimmons, and every other star in the fistic firmament have shone and suffered eclipse. It is the ring-' to which we are accustomed in Australia. It is tho hall which is unusual to our eyes. -For it is l-oally a theatre. Thoro is really a great gallery, which runs right round. The room is so constructed that evory person in. it ■ can get a clear viow of the oontest The seats all rise in stops from the ring-side, where thoy aro on a -level with ,the boards, and tho stage, elevated in tho 6ame way, is reserved for tho press. ' Possibly • accommodation :is found for a thousand, but hardly mo'ro; and those who aro not members gladly pay three guineas to witness a championship "go." ' , -

The Jeunesse Doree Who Looked On. And the . epectatora, you never see anything like it south of the Lino': Four-fifths of the spectators were in evening drttss, tlie most correct dresswhite waistcoat, white-winged dollar, white tic. Very many with silk hats - ! with a gloss of which only London and' tho stage -seem to know tho eecrct. Most unusual of all, perhaps, ;the I' majority woro white kid gloves, in which thev held aromatic cigars. • Amongst tliem, too, wer6 clerics." , Garbed in white, waiters flittered noiselessly in all directions, taking, orders for drinks and returning with miraculous speed. It must, indeed, have beon an extraordinary sceno for Mehegan when ho stepped into that ring. ■

Referee in Evening Dress, Gold Pince-Nez, • Etc.

The ring arrangements were perfect. The seconds were not allowed to cumber tho corners and obstruct tho view of tho spectators. -The Tpferoo never entered tho ring.' With immaculate ovenin? dress, gold pince-nez, shining silk hat, Mr. ,J. S. Douglas sat at a special tablo in the centre of. the stage, about five yards away from the ring, and on his right hand was an equally flawless timekeeper, who had control of an electric gong with a very brazen note, one which tho men could not possibly fail to hear. Mr. Douglas was himself an amateur champion in 1875. Since their ho has seen over a thousand fights. Of his knowledge there is not tho slightest doubt. Of his judgment there is almost equal oertitude. Of his impartiality no .question in the world. Before wo go any further, let that be clearly understood. . From • his place Mr. Douglaß watched the mon unwaveringly. "Break awoy," lie would say, or "Break away both of you." The command was spoken quietly, and* obeyed instantly. The discipline of the National Sporting ring could bo copied with 'some advantage in tho Commonwealth. Tho men never hesitated to do what they were told. Possibly it was for this reason that I had never soon a cleaner fight. "A Superfine Superman." The Australian critic has plenty that is good to say of Welsh, even though ho could not see him as a winner. In fact, at times ho waxes quite enthusiastic. For example:— Welsh is the cleverest, prettiest, daintiest boxer I have ever seen. Take tho late ■".Tackio" M'Gowan at his best, Griffo when he was at his top, and "Eddie" Williams, compound all their good points, purely artistic, and even then you have not the ntvlo, grace, and finish of Welsh, lie Is tlie fii'pcrune superman In the orthodox English conception of boxing,

Ho would sond a crowd ot a biograph show into costasira by his agility, his adroitness, and his artistry. Ho is as light on his feet as a ballet girl, as quick in movement as a panther, as fast in slipping his opponent as I'apke. Ho is delicious and delightful to watch, and ho makes any other man not possessing his showy qualities look commonplace. The Longer it Lasted the More Bellicose Mehegan Bocame. After this it is naturally hard to see how ovon tho most "ono-eyed" Australian could hold that Mehegan, who is only an ordinary mortal after all, could_ nave beaten this prodigy. But our critio is equal to it. He explains:— ' , If an olnsivencss which renders it '''impossible for an opponent to knock you out is the sole qualification for tho championship of the world, Welsh is entitled to the belt. If attacking eeven-tontlis of tho time, landing heavy blows repeatedly, and inflicting sovere punishment is of any value in boxing, then Mehegan did not get his due. The last five rounds Mohegan was tho stronger .man. You will read tliat Welsh, being well ahead, was content to stand on his points. ' Tho truth was that ho. hadn't a, olmnce to do anything else, for, as. in Australia, the longer it lasted the livelier and more bellicose Mohcgan becamo The Future fo; Both Mon. This oloses Hugh Mehegan'a attempt at a world's championship— for the time being at any rate—as he is now en route to Australia to box under "Snow/' Baker's banner, and incidentally to cut tho comb of Herbort il'Coy, now an out-and-out aspirant for the titlo of lightweight champion of Australia, held by the traveller. Welsh, at was contemplating a trip to America m search of "Willie" Kitchio and a world's title. Johnson Again. The following cablegram wa« published in Sydney last week. It will be seen therefrom that apparently the projected Johnson-Bombardier Wells match iB "off." As for the present mossage, it is publish•ed for what it is worth—as yet it scarccly calls for comment:— .. . Chicago, January 14. It is. definitely stated that Jack Johnson will fight Al. talzer iu Paris on June 25. The winner is to receive 60 per cent, of tho gate receipts, with a guarantee of .£SOOO. In New York it is insisted that Johnson will be permitted to make the journey to Paris. O'Eourke, Johnson's manager, exhibits a telegram from the champion saying that all his troubles will scon be smoothed out.'' O'Rourko also says that Johnson will get a guaranteo of JJSOOO. Wells, Burns, and Luther M'Cnrty. The Independent Cabio Service is also responsible for the following further messages as to tho movements of the l;ig men: London, January 13. London "Sporting Life" announces that Wells has agreed to fight M'Cnrty at New York about the middle of February. ' London,-January 12.. Provided Bombardier Wellß is successful in his contest with Luther M'Carty, ho will be matched with Tommy Burns, or the. best American, for the whito heavyweight championship of tho world, and guaranteed .£3OOO, tho contest vto* take place in, London next March.- / Noah Brusso Soes Visions. Apropos of Tommy Burns—the ex-cham? pion. has to Mr, "Snowy" Baker's cabled inquiry regarding the monetary inducement which might attract lira, to Australia to engage; in three contests. ' Tho ex-world's champion asks >£6000 'for the first engagement,. .£3OOO for tho 'second,' and >22000 for tho third—Jßlo,ooo alto-, gether—and, on top of that, return fares for three. Whowf If "Tommy" cannot be,prevailed upon to let up a bit he may never be seen in Sydney again as a boxer.' But the Stadium proprietary still' have hopes. Evidently the ex-world's champion is not anxious to figure in the ring ngain, and wants to bo paid handsomely if he does. , ■ \-' ■ 't" 1 ..fi>} •' , : A.New Zealand Reverse; .. "Alt'" Brorawieh; tlie.New Zealand light- , Wight, .who has been 'doing well. alnorig 'tile second-raters'"on the other side," recently found himself stacked'up against ox-champion "Bob" Turner, whoso draw here with "Tim" Tracy in the old Choral Hall some years ago will bo romombered. The "Referee's" account of the meeting runs:—Turner's ; superior, boxing- knowv ledgo nnd < greater experience were too much for his" stronger, younger, ! and plucky opponent, who, however, was ever willing to lie fighting. Consequently tho one-time great light-weight'had to keep moving right up to the termination of the last i round, wnen "Ted" Robbie, .the referee, gave his decision in the latter's favour, amid much cheering. ~ Poor .Fortune for Hannan, V , The Hannan-Standin-match, which'was. scheduled for Wednesday' night last at. Auckland, was abandoned owing to an injury sustained to the latter's arm when training. ' ■ This was.bad luck for the West Maitlander, the more especially as he has deferred his departure for Australia especially for this match, which ho looked upon as likely to put him firmly in. the game again in New Zealand, where hisiuclc as regards matches has not been of tho ; best during this last visit to our. shores.';: