IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 18

IN THE RING.

(By "Mercury.") NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE. Purely a Matter of Opinion. 3?ull details have como to hand during tho week of the recent contest between "Hughie" Mehegan and "Matt" Wells at tho National Sporting Club in London, which, as tho cable messages informed us at tho time, was won by the Englishman on points. Tho cabled message added that the verdict gave anything but general' satisfaction and perusal of tho English sporting files' to hand by last mail bears this out very strongly. Mehegan himself said he had won from the ring, but as this testimony may be held to be open to a chargo of bias it would not bo worth much were it. not for the handsome corroboration it gets from tho pfess reports. Among the supporters of tho Australian's claim is "Boxing," ono of tho most influential and certainly ono of the most trustworthy of the Euglisli boxing journals, and this paper's opinion is of peculiar valuo in tho present instance from the fact that it has hitherto shown itself as an ardent supporter and admirer of Wells. This time, however, it plumps for Mehegan. and that with no uncertain voice. Says "Boxing":— , In our own opinion, Mr; Douglas committed ail error of judgment. But then, wo may bo tho people at fault. The referee may havo seen things which wo failed to note, but wo watched the contest very closely indeed, and at the close, before tho verdict was returned, fully anticipated to hear that "Hughie" had got there. We don't think ho won bv a very decided margin; but then wo dont think that even a draw would havo rendered him full justico. We thought Mehegan had gained the day, because ho had had a bigger margin in his favour atithe in-fighting.,depart-ment than "Matt" had rattled Up at long range. Eo also lasted much tho better, of the pair. That was obvious to tho most casual observer. And then ho did at least ; 75 per cent of the forcing. Wo aro open to admit, anil indeed have frequently regretted in print, that many socalled boxing experts are in the habit of attaching far too much importance to this very' item. A' man may forco the exchanges all tho way and yet fail to do anything of note The other fellow may break ground all the time and yet contrive to score « vast majority of points. Bu when, matters aro otherwise equal, it is generally admitted that the man who attacks most frequently and most persistently is tho man who is entitled to the verdict. And really wo are inclined to faucy that things in this ease wero otherwise unequal, with a shade in Mohegan's favour. Another of tho English "pink" journals (why is it, by the way, that so many of the Homo sporting papers are printed on pink paper?) advances what may bo tho reason of Mehegnn'6 failure to catch the referee's eye. ■■ This authority says, referring, of course, ;to tho Australian:— He was ahead, clearly ahead, to our mind, at the close, and also in tho mindß of most of those spectators, who take tho trouble to weigh a contest up thoroughly. And if he nursed that view himself, ono can well understand his having been content to add just a little to his lead and to cschew fireworks. ! But he should havo remembered that Mr. Douglas nurses a positive passion foi sensational and spectacular boxing, and that he has little, if any, nso for close hard hitting and skilful in-fighting. Kecollccting this, and remembering that lie had done most of his best work at close quarters, and, further, that it was by his closo work mainly that ho had been' ablo to break down Wells's strength and energy, lie would have been wiser to go in for a break-neck wind-up. ■ ' However, of courso there i 9 ho use repining. The verdict went against Mehe' Ban, and with it went the .£IOOO ■ thatwent Homo as an earnest of Australia's faith in his chances. It is a pity that tho third and deciding contest could not take place in England—each now has a verdict over the other—but Mehegan's departure from England precluded all chance of that. Before leaving things in ttfeir presont unsatisfactory state, tho "say-so" of Mehegan himself on tho verdict, as given in an interview just after tlio contest, will be of interest. It runs thusly:— ; "I have no kick coming against 'Mat' Wolls. He's a good, gamo fellow, and put up a great, game light. But I never want to como to Ihisf country again. I lost my fight with I'reddio . Welsh, but if I didn't win this fight ■, to-night, I never won ono in my life. I was bothered all sorts of ways by Mr. Duiiglas but, then, what's tlio use, of talking. I felt heart-broken • when I heard tho verdict, because I wanted this fight as badly as I over wanted to win any one I have ever been in, and I reckon I won well. I 'know' I won. Tlioro isn't anything more to eay. I'm sick of it all. I'd like to ineot 'Matf Wells apain, and hope to do so in Australia. Ho's coming there, and I guess ho won't mind fighting mo again.", Who is Pelky? A budget of cablegrams from America received in Australia through tlio Independent Cable Service, tin own some light on the movements of tho big men 111 the States—'"big" here refers to tho status of the boxers in question and not to their poundage. As will bo seen from ono of these messages, our old friend "Tommy" Burns is findinp tho same old difficulty about retiring trom public new as most of his predecessors, and the sanio mee-sago shows that his fighting weight lias increased considerably since his championship days, when a little over 12 stono saw him at his best. One thing, however, tho cable man throws no light upon, which is the identity of his opponent-to-be, also ho docs not advise us of tlio dnto of tlio projected battle. Tho cable message in question runs:— (Independent 1 Cable Association.) Calgary, Saturday I.ast. "Tommy" Burns is trying hard to got into the best condition for his fight with l'elky. lie is now down to Ills lighting weight of 14st. !)lb. In the ring Pelky will bo about 3st: heavier (linn Burns, seven inches taller, and have a reach Ihreo inches ■longer. Burns hopes to set oIT these advantages by superior Hug tuctics aud speed.

Tho "Gunboat" In Action Again. From the samo source comes word that "Gunboat" Smith, the recent conqueror of Bombardier Wells, was to havo been in action again on April 2, so it is evident that (ho English champion's ill wind has blown somo good to somebody. This cable message is dated from New York, and describes Smith's opponent as " 'Fred' M'Kay, tho giant Winnipeg boxer." Tho Troubles of Johnson, There is considerable mystery attaching to tho movements and intentions.'of-Jack Johnson in these days of his, misfortunes, For somo lime past what littlo news that has trickled through has led us to believe that lie ivas matched with Al. Palzcr for a bout in Paris on the 25th instant, from which it is judged that he had successfully emerged from his troubles with tho law. The latest reports show that this is not at all the case. Johnson evidently has still to faco his trial for his alleged contraventions of tho "Whito Slave" laws, and also that when tho last mail left America, ho was lying seriously ill from pneumonia in Chicago. The big black has been very ill indeed. At ono time his death was actually reported, but'this was proved to havo been an exaggeration. Proof that he has been a very sick man is found in tho fact that his trial was postponed indefinitely, on account of his illness. Ho is reported at latest (the middle of last month) as being on the road to recovery, but as being regarded as a physical wreck. At tho conclusion of his convalescence will como his trial—or rather- his two trials—as apparently before • tho more serious charges ngainst liim arc heard lie has an oifenco against tho smuggling laws to answer for. It is thus apparent that tho Paris fixture with Palzer can be written off the list of possibilities, and, moreover, it appears that Johnson as a pugilistic proposition is dead, and done with, A Stadium "International." Last' Saturday, at the Stadium, Sydney, an international contest between English and Australian feather-weights eventuated, unless something untoward happened to prevent it. The contestants . scheduled to appear were' "Boyo" Driscoll, of England, and Charles Simpson, of Victoria, both of whom were to have made their first . appearance in Sydney. Simpson is the Victorian champion "fedder," and has not been heard a great deal of outsido of his native State, Ho is a recruit from the amateur ranks, and his best professional performance, perhaps, is a victory over Jimmy" Hill, - generally regarded as tho best feather-weight in Australia after champion Joe Russell, "Boyo" Driscoll is no relation to "Jem of that ilk, the English champion in this class, but ho is right in the foro flight of English feathers, and the outcomo of thin contest will give a good line on how the Homo and Australian small men' compare. As tho cable toan has seen'fit to keep silent as to the result of tlio meeting, news by the mail will ,bo awaited with interest. White Man and Black Follow. Next Saturday the Stadium management aro staging a contest of interest on this side. The participants are to bo "Dave" Smith," "of ours," and tho Queensland aboriginal "Jerry" Jerome, who has now come right to the front as a game and sensational boxer. This will, indeed, bo a battlo of styles. Smith is ono of tho best exponents of tho orthodox in bDXJ ing in Australia, whilo his black-fellow opponent has a style, or lack of style, ■, peculiarly his own. His methods follow no known rules. They consist mostly, of an ability of smiting his adversary with astounding force at the most unexpected times, and in tho most unexpected fnshioiii and at the samo time keeping himself from harm's way in a most incomprehensible manner. Not tho least peculiar thing about this match is that negotiations for .Jerome's services had to be made with tho Queensland Government, to whom Mr. "Snowjr Baker had to-pay,over tho aboriginals appearance money before tho contest could bo arranged. How Wenand Fell. "Billy" Wenand, who in 1908 won 'the bantam amateur championship of Australia, and who was at that time well known, to Wellington audienoes, figured in tlio Stadium recently with ono George Taylor, and was well and soundly trounccd. Tlio "Bulletin" makes somo scathing remarks about this incident in theso . terms! Wenand was suffering from stage fright, bluo funk, or . something, and tho ability to time a blow left liini absolutely. Most- . ly ho seemed to bo content to bo a, chopping block, but occasionally he ■ would rage round with a shower of blows, most of which failed to arrive within'the neighbourhood of tho party they were, presumably intended for. I Generally, however, the dazed youth stood still and allowed Taylor, to prac-"-tise fancy strokes on him. _ / Still, if Wenand's self-possession had evaporated, his physioal couxago and Btamina had not, and ho book his punismeut lilco a Trojan. As s<Son as the real state of affairs became apparent, ' referee Scott stopped tho affair (it couldn't be oalled a contest) and awarded Taylor tho victory _in the fourth round. - Tho pair was recommended to the Stadium by somo Melbourno people who have hitherto had tlio reputation of being good judges. Wenand is said . to havo put up some good battles; in the southern city, and the only explanation is that ho suddenly became stricken with_ a hurricane attack of general inability. The man was obviously not himself. Nobody who acted as ho did on Saturday night could ever have got a second fight if that weie his general demeanour. Some General Notes "Jack" Read, ex-resident light-weiglit champion of Australia, mot "Joe" Russell recently in Brisbane, and was out-pointed by' tho feather champion over 20 rounds. ■ L. O'Halloran, of New Zealand, was billed to have mot young Sullivan, of London, at the Newtown Pastime Club, , Sydney, in a 20-round bout last Saturday.