IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1693, 8 March 1913, Page 12

IN THE RING.

(By "Mercury,")

BLACK FELLOW & THE GAUL. Jerome Floors De Balzac. Aboriginal "Jerry" Jerome "made good" oil his visit to Sydney. Pitted against Frenchman Ercole De Balzac at 'the Stadium, before an enormous attendance, ho won on a knock-out in the fifth round. The Frenchman attacked, swinging wild rights and lefts, which now and again got home, but more often lost themselves in untenanted sprtce. All the time Jerome showed good footwork, .uhl got home many effective blows through the Frenchman's guard. The fifth and Inst round opened with tlio Frenchman attacking in great style, connecting with both left and right on Jerome's head. Cheered on by the crowd he hustled in, and swung a mighty right which would have caused trouble had it landed, but the black fellow was too quick. Instead of backing away, he stepped inside it, and drove a weighty left into his opponent's body. De Balzac sunk to tho boards, and was counted out, amid thunders of cheers, for tho winner, and hoots for himself from the fickle crowd whic.h had applauded him vigorously at tho opening of the round. Chances of Matching Jerome and Smith. A .couple of days after the battle Jerome went back to Brisbane, where, the cable ihforms us, lie bent "Bill" Souter in seventeen rounds. His two w;ins linve created a public demand for a, battle between liim and "Dave" Smith, which will probably be complied with in the hear future. Another Injustice to Ireland. Another boxer with claims for a match with Smith is "Les" O'Donneil, whoso rights and titles are thus urged by a , correspondent in the "Referee;":— 'In your issue of February 19 yon call attention to tho fact that 'Les.' O'Donneil is willing to fight "Dave* . Smith, 'Jerry' Jerome, or any of the prominent men in liis division. He is also prepared to find a substantial .side-stake. "O'Donneil complains of his treatment by promoters in not being matched, and rightly so, as all good sports and followers of boxing will admit. "O'Donneil is one of tho cleanest, earnest, and cleverest men in the game to-day, which is well illustrated by the fact that he has never been knocked down, or otit, or lost a. figlit on a foul, during tho whole of his boxing career. _ lie can always be depended on to give a good exhibition of boxing, and it is unknown of him to take an unfair advantage of an l > opponent. Surely these are the men we want to seoin the-ring. Such, as he reflect credit on the Noble Art."

There is a good deal of truth in, this, for 0 Donnell lias certainly not- been given the chances that liis talents warrant. A scheme that Would work up considerable public interest and consequent profit for, K. L. Baker would be to match Smith and Jerome aiid O'Donnell, and Midwood separately, the Winners then to. meet. American and Austrai Lad. ' American, Roy Kenny defeated "Larry" Foran in a ten-round bout at the Stadium recently. The winner has displayed very in-and-out form during his visit to Australia but on» this occasion gave one of his best displays, easily accounting for the Austral!#®. Arthur Douglas Oiited. I One "Joe" Atcheson has achieved somo measure of fnmo by practically , outing Arthur Douglas in eight rounds, thus doing what no other boxer, except Mehegan, has done. From the beginning tho South African was outclassed, his opponent's fusillade of left hooks being'isoniething too much, for him. It was claimed for Douglas before the battle that ho was as good as ever, which, however, seems very -unlikely. Shields and His Venture. On Monday next ex-New Zealand feather champion Shields is to meet Tlieo. Burns in Sydney. The clever Palmerston North lad's first appearance in Australia will be .awaited with much interest in these parts. Probably one of the cleverest boxers ever produced in New Zealand, Shields, has not, one fears, the stamina necessary to carry him through a journey of more than ten rounds. Fortunes of Herbert M'Coy. Herbert M'Coy seems to have made a recovery from his indifferent form in Sydney a few weeks back, for at Brisbane, oh February 22, lie gained a decision on points over the Australian feather-weight champion "Joe" Russell. Says the "Referee's.'.'. Brisbano correspondent:— "M'Coy,.railing 9st.. 91b.. cot the decision over "Joe" Rnssell, 9st. 351b., .on Saturday night.. It was a battle to awaken the enthusiasm of old ring-goers, and keep it on the btibblo all through tho twenty rounds.. In, the .opening rounds M'Coy's masterful use of . his left,. and his generally attractive style made him a favourite in the betting. It looked, indeed, as if he would outpoint "Joe" comfortably, but by. the fifth round the virile Queensland lad.had got into his old fighting gait, and lie began to even up the scores. On two occasions lie sent the right across, opening up an old trouble over M'Coy's. left eye. From the tenth .on to the end tlio features were M'Coy's skill and Russell's vigorous, forcing. In the 19th, indeed. Biissoll seemed the stronger, but ill the 20lh M'Coy came again with.brilliant two-handed work, the referee, Mr. F. Craig, deciding in his favour.. M'Coy appears to liave established .himself "a decided favourite here, lie leaves for Sydney.on Wednesday.