IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 19 July 1913, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Br "Mehcuby."]

THE DEEDS OF ONE BRADLEY. July 22—"Hock" Keys v. Hannan, Hastings. July 3D—D. Murphy v. B. Ireland, Masterton. July 30 and 31—New Zealand Amateur Championships, Timaru. September—Australasian Championships, Dunediu. Pen Picture of an Old Friend. To make up for the disappointment of the large gate at the sudden termination of tho Bradley-Sullivan bout, the Stadium authorities staged two no-decision "goes" immediately after. In one of these the contestants were W. Dibley and our old friend, tho ex-Manawatu boxer, "Billy" Shields. The "Bulletin" makes some remarks about this affair tbiit are worthy of reproduction if only for the pen portrait of friend "Billy." The combatants aro introduced thusly: A dark young man, tall, lithe, with a perfect skin, a classic nose, and an ■ eagle, almost sinister, eye, climbed into Sullivan's seat, while into Bradley's corner struggled a young old man, minus many- teeth, and a bored expression. He bleated plaintively to somebody about something, and an attendant appeared running with shoes, which were hastily put on. The voico of the announcer indicated the tall dark man as Mr. Dibley, tho wearylooking old young man as Mr. Shields. They both spoke to tho referee, but their remarks were cut short by the clanging of the gong; and thensmash, crash, biff! They fell on each other like avalanches, but the dark avalanche was terrific, and Shields, full of grit and splendid determination, was momentarily overwhelmed. It was not scientific, but it was the most, willing thing ever seen ill the Stadium. In seven minutes Shields was cut down the cheek, lie was otherwise battered, and men waited breathlessly for a knockout. But he was full of sand. He smiled through the wreckage, and fought like a lion to get a chance with a deadly upper-cut. Sometimes it missed, sometimes it was blocked, and sometimes Dibley wasn't there. Sometimes Dibley sent him reeling before he could let it loose. But still Shields fought on, and still Dibley smashed. In the eighth, Mr. Baker called 'a halt. It was tho first time Dibley, who used to fight at the Gaiety, had been seen in the Stadium, and if he alwavs fights as vimfully as he did on Saturday night, it is to be hoped , he is seen there again. Boom Time for "Hcck" Keys, Interest is now centred on the movements of "Hock" ls.cys. His next engagement is with Hannan at Hastings. on"Tuesday, after which ho is under contract to the Northern Association to meet "Johnny" Summers. Summers, by the way, passed through town and left for the front by the Main Trunk on Thursday, after a day at the races. Thence onward, Keys's movements aro somewhat indefinite. The Christchurch Sports Cluo wants him for August. The Gisborne Association is also endeavouring to arrange with him, and he has yet another match under the Wellington Association, if a suitable opponent offers. At present, the Wellington body's intention is to get Herbert M'Coy over, if terms can be arK.ngcd, failing which there is "Denny Murphy, and possibly a Hngerty return u> be considered. It will thus bo seen that the popular light-weight is "in the boom," and that his New Zealand trip is likely to bo remunerative, provided, of course, that nothin" untoward, such as a Knock-out by Hannan, for instance, happens along to darken his prospects. Why Not Murphy? As regard Keys's second appearance hero: In the event of M'Coy proving too bi" a fish to land, the association could do" far worse than bring the Australian and "Denny" Murphy together. "Hock is willing, provided that Murphy can make lOst., which "Denny" says he can. There can be no doubt that, as a spectacular bout this one would be hard to beat. , ~ ■ , Moreover, such a contest would dTaw well. Quito apart from Keys's popularity it is a fact that tho Wellington public lias not seen as much of Murphy as it would like. He gave us a taste j of his quality last season against "Lyn' Iruscott, and on that showing; is quite entitled fo a match with Keys—always provided that he makes tho light-weight limit. Truscott just beat him here, and he evened up the score in Auckland, whilo J'rnscott beat Hngerty wno drew W In addition to this is the fact that both men are essentially boxers. Murphy has a good left and is tricky and shifty, and tho result of a clash would be a fast, ■ open exhibition that would bo well worth seeing, and moreover, be an excellent foil to the recent Hagerty bout of pleasant memory. As Others See Us. How a Tecent piece of boxing legislation by the N.Z.B.A. is regarded ill Australia is indicated by the following extract from a recent Sydney "Sun":— Tho New Zealand Boxing Council has endorsed the Wangamn Association's disqualification of "Lcn" Porter for life. That severe penalty was, it is stated, inHicted because Porter is alleged to have said "that a Wanganui official backed Truscott to beat him, and 'squared' the referee, thereby making large sums." This is the first time any serious notico has been taken of such or any similar offence. Yet it is so everyday in its happenings here that no ono takes serious notice, or oven gives ii passing attention. Eight-tenths of defeated boxers go about talking of being robbed by the referee or the promoter. There was a good deal of the stuff yelled out during the demonstration made against the decision for Thomas, on© night recently, but it troubled nobody. The samo thing is just as bad all over the world, whereover boxiig has a hold. Tho Nev: Zealand authorities are to be commended for their firmness, and have set an example which other boxing promoters would • do well to follow. If Porter said whit he is charged with saying without having foundation 'of any kind for making the statement, ho certainly deserved what he got. Tho Suddenness of Bradley. Sydney has been getting its share of boxing sensations of late. .Recently there was the sudden and startling end to the M'Coy-Russell bout, which lasted just 37 seconds. On top of this camo a finish to the Bradley-Sullivan contest almost as dramatic in its unexpectedness. Sullivan is tho ex-champion middleweight of England, whose only Australian appearance (bet'oro this one) consisted of an easy defeat of Reg. Midwood, tho Tasmaniau "middle." Bradley is an IrishAmerican boxer, who has rapidly oome to the front of late in Sydney by. virtue' of a hard punch that to date has carried him victorious through everyone of his Australian 'engagements. This meeting had been eagerly looked for in Sydney, and the fact that between nine and ten thousand "fans" assembled in tho Stadium speaks significantly of the interest. The Englishman was known to be a clover, experienced boxer, and it was generally supposed that, as ho was conceding half a stone in weight and inches in height and reach, the ambitious Bradley was "biting oft' more than he could chew." The end came quickly. Sullivan camo nervously out of his corner, and, after half a minute's sparring for an opening, assailed Bradley with a long left. Bradlev covered up. and bored in close. They "mixed it" for a while in mid-ring, and then Sullivan broke ground, with his man still working in. Suddenly, Bradley swung his right, got the Englishman where lie wanted him, and then launched ■a venomous left hook. It was stopped by Sullivan's jaw, and that was the end of Sullivan. Ho went down and outtime, one and a half minutes. Bradley—The Destroyer. Bradley's left hook is evidently something extraordinary. This was no chance blow. He worked for it as lie has worked in his previous battles, and it has always stood him in just as good stead. Consider his record in Australia. He arrived laat year unheralded and unsung, He was not "imported," eo had no ono

to boom him. For this reason he had to start among the third and second-raters. His first victim was a visiting South African—Maurice Fleming—who was knocked out in 15 rounds. A month later came our Bill ltudd, himself a smiter glim and great. ltudd departed for dreamland in the second round. On both these occasions tho deciding blowwas sent in in tho form of a left hook. Then caino two victories over Jean Audony, the Frenchman, who "quit" on both occasions, overcome by one or two narrow escapes from that left. Then followed the Queensland champion Godfrey. ll'o departed ill half a round. .Tack Clarke wa» the next in order. Uo dodged that liook for quite a while, but in the 15th round it arrived, and it was "good-night" to Clarke. Then came that clever English boxer, Sid. Stagg—but he departed by the same road—"hooked it," so to speak. It rather looks as though it will require something out of tho middle-weight class to stop Bradley's career of destructionsay, Dave Smith or Les O'Donnell. The "destroyer," by the way, is only lOst. 131b., so is small even in his class. Or perhaps there is an even smaller man who could stop him—ono Johnny Summers. In any case, Mr. E. L. Baker can bo relied upon to find somo ono for him, as tho Sydney crowd is bound to clamour for him again. Mehegan Still Champion, Hugliio Mehegan has signalised his return to a Sydney ring alter his English tour by a meritorious defeat of Waldeinar Holberg, in the Dane's attempt to wrest from him his Australian lightweight title. Tho cablegrams informed us on Monday that ho won in tho 17th round. Holberg is the Danish champion in the light division, and has some good performances as an amateur and professional in England. In the first-class, h.e represented Denmark, at tho Olympic Games in 1908, when he was beaten by Matt Wells, then also an amateur. As a "professional, he has fought in England, France, and America, and has a record of 35 fights, and' up till last Saturday only three losses—twenty of his victories by knock-outs. One of his last English contests was with Jack "Ward, whom he knocked out in the first round, and who subsequently went 20 rounds with Mehegan in London. The Australian champion's real test, however is scheduled for August, when he again meets Matt Wells. To-night will be a big occasion at tho Stadium. Dave Smitli and Les 0 Donnell meet in their "return" for the light-heavy-weight championship of Australia— an honour at present held by the New Zealander.