IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 30

IN THE RING.

SORE SURPRISE OF THE WEEK. FIXTURES. July 3-—Hock Keys v. J. Hagertv, Town Hall. IBt "Mercuet."] Porter Stopped from Boxing Here. "Tho best laid schemes of mice and men aft gang agley," so runs au adago, the truth of which has been forced upon the local Boxing. Association since last week's notes wore written. Tho "scheme" in this particular instance was a good one. It was formulated as an outcome of the victory of L. Porter over "Jim" Hagerty at Auckland last week, and consisted of a return match for the light-weight championship to be staged at the Town Hall. This, then, seemed a very desirable contest from every point of view. The boxing public of Wellington has, through a variety of reasons—of which endeavour on the part of tho association is certainly not one—never seen Porter in action since he started his_ professional • career. Hagerty has appeared here once only—when he. defeated Allen Maxwell—and his showing then was such as to create a very strong desire for an "encore." Then the Auckland contest of last week was so favourably commented upon that another meeting between tho two appeared just the thing that the public and the association wanted most, both from the sporting and the box office aspects.

Well, to get to the point, the association had been successful in securing both Ijoxers for the much-looked-for return when there came a bolt from the blur—a telegram from Wanganui. It was hero that tho well laid sclieme went "agley."

Tlio iiKssago from Wanganui came from tho association there, and was briefly to tho effect that this body has recommended to the New Zealand Boxing Association that Porter bo disqualified for life..

No reason's were given for this drastic measure, but apparently the Wangauui people think that they havo reasons for their action. These have no doubt been sent to the council, with the recommendation, and the decision of the head body, will be awaited by-the boxing associations and public. What can Porter havo Done Wrong? M'janwhilo the case is sub judice, and therefore not open to discussion, but "Mercury" understands that a letter from Porter to the Wanganui executive, which is considered by the association to be offensive in tone, plays a.prominent part in the affair.

.The Wanganu recommendation necessarily calls for the endorsement of tho council before Porter's services with regard to the Hagerty "return" can. be definitely looked upon ns unavailable, but it is considered as being highly improbable that such extreme measures would bo adopted unless there was ample cause. Therefore the glow of exultation with which the mcmljers of tho local association received tho news that the men had signed on for another meeting has changed to an uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty that can be expelled only by a sfieedy decision of the Now Zealand Council one way or another. Our One Gleam of Good Fortune. Fortunately for tho Wellington Association, the result of the recent PorterUagcrty clash last week was not allowed to interfere with tho intention to match Hagerty with "Hock" Keys. On tho receipt of the news that the Timaru lad had been knocked out by Porter, there were many—of whom "Mercury" was ono, —who considered that the substitution of the victor for the vanquished as an opponent for the Australian crack, would make a better draw and perhaps a better contest. This certainly seemed so at first blush, but the association considered the matter with full reports of the Auckland match before it, and, fortunately, as it'j has turned out, in tho light of the Portodevelopments, decided to adhere to its original design of putting up Hagerty against Keys. New Light on the Hagcrty-Porter Fight. That this decision was a wise ono i 9 evidenced by a report of the recent contest appearing in tho Auckland "Sportsman." This account shows that notwithstanding his subsequent "knock out," Hagerty had not only out-boxed but actually out-fought Porter up to the time of receiving his quietus, and this report is borne out by the referee afte,r tho battle,

as is shown in tho following extract from tho Auckland paper:—

The question everybody was asking himself and the other follow after tho excitement of the termination had subsided was who would have won had Hngerty avoided the'knock out'? Tho referee, Sir. Frank Hums, was frank in filating that llagerty was too far ahead for Porter, who, no doubt, was likely to havo secured the majority in tho two and a-half rounds that remained, to gain sufficient to equalise ilis loss over the first seven rounds of the match. llagerty was always tho more aggressive, and very little of his work was desultory. His attack might have shown a sameness, but the effeclivoness was there. All Ready to Rcceivo "Hock" Keys. Willi regard to tho forthcoming KeysITagerty match, everything may now 'bo regarded as settled, except the date. Hagerty lias accepted tho association's terms, since Keys's acceptance arrived; the articles and his expenses have been sent to the Australian, so the only thing necessary now to completo tho business is tho news of his sailing dale, so that the day for this much-lookcd-I'or battle can be arranged at this end.

"People with Weak Necks Mustn't Clinch," Apropos of a recent event, a correspondent comments on "Mercury's" puzzlement '■.as expressed in this column last week as to tha manner in which Luther M'Carly sustained (he dislocated neck lhat ended his career, Ho goes on to say: If "Mercury" will look in the Sydney "Sun" of three weeks or so ago, he will see a remarkable (so remarkable that I am surprised no New Zealand paper has reprinted it) description of a returned French soldier at Genoa greeting his sweetheart with a hearty embrace, and finding to his horror the girl die in his arms with a' broken neck. As "Mercury" describes M'Carty as dying immediately after a clinch, which the referee had to 'separate, it is pretty evident that a new danger has arisen, and boxers as well as sweethearts will havo to be careful. People with weak necks mustn't clinch."'

Important World's' Fixture. An important fixture—in fact, a world's championship contest—is reported by cable as having been arranged for tho "Glorious Fourth" of July, at San Francisco. Tho title in dispute is the lightweight championship, and the contestants will be the holder, "Willie" Ritchie and "Joe" Rivers, tho Mexican boxer.

It is not improbable that the arrival in America of "Freddie" Welsh, tho English champion, who went to the States with the expressed intention of forcing a battle upon Ritchie, has in no small degree led up to the arrangement of this fixture. Sinco winning the title from Wolgast, the champion has been notoriously coy about risking his laurels in tho ring, and as tho Englishman lias already a decision over him, it can be understood that there are plenty of light-weights whom he would prefer to meet before, public opinion forces him into a ring with his onetime onqueror.

Apparently Rivers comes 'under this heading, but although no doubt ho will be an easier proposition, than Welsh, the Mexican is no "lemon." Ho is of the tiger-cat type of fighter, and although Ritchie is an infinitely better boxer, he will know that he has been fighting before he disposes of Master "Joe Rivers.

Then, after that should come Welsh's chance—always provided Rivers does not get away vita tho goods in the meantime '-and mere surprising things have happened. Truly Astonishing. The following appeared in tho last issue of tho "lkferee" to hand:— Brisbane, June 3. "Joe" Russell was awarded the verdict over Harry Stone at "Snowy" Baker's Stadium to-day after twenty fast and clever rounds. During the early portion of the contest Russell's forcing was a dominant feature. The manner in which ho ' blocked and beat Stone's leads was superb. Iu tho ninth round matters were more even, and thero was little advantage either way until tho 15th, when Stone had slightly the better of matters. Kussoll, now tiring, allowed Stone to land with more success with his left. The 17th to 20th rounds were in Stone's favour. Referee Duncan Parbury's verdict was disagreed from by many, but a close analysis of the wholecontest shows it was tho only possible decision, which was a credit to Dun-

can Parbury's judgment. Although apparently this news has passed without further comment in tho Australian paper, it is really extraordinary enough to command a whole lot of attention. Consider Store's performances in Aushalia. Firstly, the American was matched with "Hock" Keys, and surprised all hands by out-boxing tho cleverest lightweight of thorn all. Then a fortnight latw he is stacked against "Johnny" Summers, and causes a furore by defeating the English welter champion—welter-weight, 1» it noted—and/now, in his third essay, lie is defeated on points by "Joe" Russell, the feather-weight champion. What can one make of this? Only that Russell can be little short of a marvel. Russell, however, was recently knocked out by "Herb" ll'Coy, who is by no means a marvel. Verily collateral form in boxing is hard to follow.

Russell, by the way, meets M'Coy at the Stadium to-night, which occasion will bo his first appearance in Sydney. His acceptance of these matches with lightweights would seem (o show that ho has out-grown the "feather" iimit, which would leave the way clear for a new champion in this class—"Billy" Elliott, for instance. A New-Zealand "Fedder," Another "Refeito" note of interest to Now Zealanders runs: "'Billy' Shields, the plucky young New Zealand featherweight has signed a contract with tho Stadium management for five contests." Bromwich Convalescent. A match lias been arranged for June 28 at Millerton between "Billy" Hannan and "Alt." Bromwich, so it would appear that the last-named has recovered from tho indisposition which so suddenly overwhelmed him when in the ring with ' Hagerty at Hastings last month.