IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 14

IN THE RING.

(By "Mercury.")

SMITH'S ONFALL ON JEROME. How Black Beat White. Last week, in commenting upon "Davo" Smith's victory ovor aboriginal "Jerry" Jerome—the bare lact of.which was advised us by cable message—"Mercury" opined that the detailed accounts would snow that tlio isew Zealandcr's victory was duo to the triumph of his scientific "conventionality" over tho hard-hitting of tho black fellow, rather than to tlio adoption ol the mure vigorous "slugging" tactics which he employed so successfully against "Les" O'Donnell. A Right That Got Left. The press reports now to hand show that this surmiso was correct. Smith won by sheer boxing ability and shiftiness. Tho "back p'iellcr's" ring style has been commented upon. Ho follows 110 recognised rules at all. His style, or lack of style, is his own. Its weirdnes.s is evidenced by a description by Mr. W. F. Corbctt in the "Sun," and relates chiefly to the manner in which ho used his right. Says tho expert:— "The aboriginal's right is tho trickiest tiling in a boxing way ever seen. Ho usually extends it", but often does not, and at that is not a left-handed man. Never did a right outwit a scientific boxer more frequently than Jerome's did Smith. On many occasions tho black jabbed that member ill as a boxer would his left, and though it was only an openhanded flip n-i a rule, nnd it nearly always landed with Ilia back knuckles to

tho' faoo, many of tho blows had a foir amount of powdor bohind thorn. "To drivo hiß right to tho head or faco, 'Jerry' would got half, and sometimes three-quarter, sitlo on, and then 6cnd it over from a position that suggested tho easy possibility of Smith knocking it asido und crossing his left, or side-step-ping tho lead, and still placing a leifccress. Tho boxer woulu ridiculo tho niero mention of such a blow—it would l» nothing but rank heresy to hlui—but 'Jerry' Jcromo's jabbing right enabled it tjmes out of number." "And thon they Counted Ten Over Him." Tho "Bulletin" lias a characteristic account of tlio battle, and as this seems to cover tho chief features of what must liavo been, u stirring conflict in as littio spaco as possible, it is appended in preference to tho more detailed reports to hand. Thus:— Tlio battle between Jcromo aud Smith drew an enormous concourso. Jeiomo was as crafty as men aro iiiiwie. and as patient as Job. Tlhto was one particular biuilo which ho felt certain would "out" Smith could ho but got it home, and he took punishment, feinted, played 'possum, and resorted to all niannor of devices to got in what ho considered his allcontjuoring body punch. But Smith was full of respect for tho aboriginal, mid ho was just as doterniinod that Jcromo should net got that smito homo. As tho best dofonco is to bo tlio aggressive party all tho time, ho sailed in with a crouch, head to head, and banged Jeroino unmercifully. Sometimes he hit him on tho top of tho head, sometimes on tho temple, somotimes on tho back of tho neck; but wherever tho hits landed they must hnvo hurt, for Smith never hit harder than ho did on Saturday night. Jerome gavo up leading with his left, and mado his right his engine of war. That disconcorted Smith badly. Tiuio and again Smith would appear to liavo tlio elusive black hopelessly cornered. Jeremiah Jerouio would stand, apparently helpless, swaying his body from sido to side, and suddenly ono 6\vay would bo longer than the others, and Jeremiah would bo gone, carry- . ing his Book of Lamentations with, him. Jeroino didn't havo tho bottor of a solitary round. Smith was top doif all tho time, although, admittedly, a vory worried and anxious dog, with his kennel weighing heavily on 'his chest. In tho eighteenth round, Jeroino incautiously lifted his chin out of his chest, where hp had kept it buried) and, liko lightning, Smith smote him on it. Down wlicnt "Jerry," aiid- they counted ten over him.

Fight Figures. Tho "gate" that witnessed Smith's victory numbered just over 14,000, and it cfillectively paid .£2IOO ior its little treat. Of this amount a littio over half was divided among tlie boxers, but how tlio purso was "split" has not transpired. While on the subject of figures, a comparison of _ the combatants' measurements makes interesting reading. will bo seen, that the physical proportions of tho men nro almost identical: "Davo" Smith's.—Reach, 6ft. OJin.; height, sft. 7Jin.; neck, 15|in.; chest, normal, 40in., expanded 42in., deflated 35in.; biceps, 13in.; forearm, 11 Jin.; wrist, Tin.; waist, 32ijin. ; thigh, 23in.; calf, loin. "Jerry" Jerome's.—llcach, Gft. OSin.i height, sft. Bin.; neck, 15Jin.; chest, normal 40in., expanded 42in./deflated 33}iu.; biceps, 13Jin.; forearm, lljin.; Wrist, CJin.; waist, 31in,; thigh,'23in.; calf, 15in. Smith's Finish in Sight. Smith now has to meet "Les" O'Donnell on May 14, in their return match for the light-weight championship of A ustralia. After this, win or lose (if our "Davo" sticks to his present intention) tho ring will seo him no more. Ho has announced his intention of marrying aud Bottling down, but, of courso/ ho will bo allowed several "absolutely last appearances." This is only one, and even Smith, exceptional boxer and all that he is, cannot bo so different as to retire on tho first announcement. Championship Days Gone. Ever since ho lost his world's title to "Willie" Kitchie, "Ad." Wolgast_ has strenuously sought to prove himself worthy of another battle with his conqueror. To further this end, ho 6lgned up with "Tommy" Murphy for a match somo two months ago, and a keen contest ended with honours easy.

' Lost. Saturday week saw these two lightweights oomo together again, and the story of tho clash is told as under by tho Independent Cable Association:—

San Francisco, April 23.

"liarleni" Tommy Murphy mot Ad Wolgast, ex-light-weight champion of tho world, and- decisively out-fought him for 15 rounds of the scheduled twenty. Murphy's well-timed hard left swings rocked his opponent. Wolgast's showing fully justified the suspicions of thoso who believed his championship days have gone. Throughout -Murphy fought a careful, heady fight, lie showed himself clearly the "Michigan Wild Cat's" master. Up to tho seventh Wolgast had tho worst of it, but not 6eriously so. In that term Murphy sent a hard left swing on to Wolgast's jaw. Ad's knees buckled, but ho survived wonderfully. It was clear to - the spectators that "Tommy" had the fight won, and hp fought safely for the remaining rounds, especially in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth, liei'eree Grilliu's points decision in favour of Murphy was a popular one. Wolgast was as game as ever, but tlio old fierce attack and wonderful stamina have gone, and the crushing power of his punch lias passed. After tho fight Referee Griffin said there was not a>. great deal of differen6e in the first part of tho contest, but Murphy won as he pleased in tho last four rounds.

Ritchie's "If." The result of tho battle chroniclod abovo at once put Murphy into line for a contest with Champion William Ritchio, and apparently his party lost no time in getting into touch with the soniowhat elusivo Willie, hence tho following Independent Service cablegram, which arrived in Sydney the day after that published abovo reporting Wolgasfs downfall:— New York, April 28. The, manager of Willie Ritchie, light-weight champion of tho }vorld, declares that Ritchie will fight "Harlem'' Tommy Murphy at'any time, provided tiie money offering is all right. Ghent as a Battle-ground. The fight between Bombardier Wells and Georges Cnrpentier lias teen fixed for May 25. It will take place in Ghent, not in Paris, as stated previously. Harry Stone Makes Good, Our old friend "Hock" Keys has met with another reverse—this time at the gloved hands of Harry Stone, ono of "Snowy" Baker's recent American importations. This was Stone's first Australian appearance, and how successful his debut was is shown by the fact that he not only beat Keys, but actually outpointed him all the way over 20 rounds. Wo havo known Keys to bo beaten, but generally in the same way—by younger, and stronger opponents, whoso virility gradually won the "old master" down, ailov Ihe Australian crack had piled up a big credit balance of paints through his wonderful speed and boxing ability. It is something new to find Keys not only out-fought, but also ouUboxcu, but this is what happened in the present instance. On this showing, a meeting between Stone and "Hughie" Mehegan will bo watched for. The Digging Up of "Bob" Turner. Last Saturday was to havo witnessed another "come-back" act in Sydney, Ihe returning warrior in this case being "l!ob" Turner, who has beeu brought out of retirement to meet "Johnny" Summers, of England. Turner will bo remembered in Wellington for boxing a draw with "Tim" Tracy nt the old Choral Hall some years back) and for the little speech in which he expressed his dissatisfaction at the verdict on (hat occasion. 1I« stated at length that he had come twelve hundred miles to be robbed—a statement that was reciv.ved with much derision. A Gentle Little Reunion. To-nisht, in Sydney, felly Officer Curvan, late of tho British. ISavTi will be

tried out with "Bill" Lang. It will bo remembered that, during Lang's ill-fated English tour, ho met Curran, and, when winning tho contest handily, lost his head most ..lamentably, and struck tho Bailor mail when tho latter was on his knees, and so was incontinently disqualified. Sinco that day Curran has been continually in tho ring, while Lang has been on the retired list for o long while, and while the former has 'undoubtedly improved, it is pretty safo that tho latter lias ({ono back, so things point to an English victory in Sydney to-night. A World's Championship. Johnny Kilblano, the holder of the world's "feather" title, was to havo do. lendcd tho honour.last Monday at Venion, Lus Angeles, against an onslaught by "Johnny" Dundee, of New York. Whether the lack of news is owing to tho hattlo not oventunting as scheduled .or to remissness on tho part of tho cablo man wo havo yot to learn.