IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1812, 26 July 1913, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Bγ "Mercurt."]

CANNOT WE STAGE SUMMERS? July. 30 and 31— N.Z. Amateur Championships, Timaru. August B.—Hock Keys v. Johnny Sum- ' niers, Auckland. ■ , • Our Contingent for Timaru. - Serene little Timaru is to have its quietude disturbed on Wednesday and Thursday by something which—for onco in a. way—is not a lumpers' strike. Timaru will no doubt tiiul the change lightsome, as tho clashes for the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championship will, not doubt, be a good deal moro interesting than tho clashes of strike-steer-ers with employers. However, that by the way.

Tho Wellington Association is sending down a very fair team to uphold the honour of tho province—the selected gladiators being: J. Brico (bantam), i'reddio Kerr (leather), C. Hunter (lightweight), J. Murphy (welter-weight), and Dalziell, uf the llanawatu (middleweight). That extremely clever "feather," Lcary, was originally included, but he found that ho could not get away. All the men have been working well, tho chief obstacle to their striking form being their vaccination. At tho tinio of writing, Brice has a very bad arm, and is naturally losing a certain amount of condition. It is hoped, however, that by Monday, when the contingent leaves for the" front, he will bo.past the worst, and ablo to put in a good "wind up" to his preparation at Timaru. The team is in the capable hands of Mr. E. Staples, who goes as manager, and is accompanied by Mr, R. W. M'Villy, who (with Mr. Staples) will represent tho local association at the annual conference of centres.

Hock Keys and His Latest Scalp. Hock Keys has "made good" in tho second essay of his present tour of the Dominion. On Tuesday night, at Hastings, ho outpointed Billy Hannnn over 15 rounds, In a contest for a , purse of .£IOO. A detailed account of the disturbanco nppeared in Wednesday's issue, and subsequent, reports have brought nothing to add to it. Hannan, showed up well, and did some hard, forceful boxing, that would have proved effective against an opponent less crafty and full of guilo than the "old Waster." As it was, however, he was outgeneralled, and so beaten. He was, however, by no means disgraced. What's Ahead of Keys Now? Next appearance of Keys will Lβ against Johnny Hummers at Auckland on August 8. This ought to prove the most importtint fixture held in Now Zealand sinco boxing came under its present legalised control, Summers is tbo present welterweight champion of England, and Keys is ex-champion light-weight of Australia. On the face of it, however, it does not strike mo as being a particularly good match—not from the Keys standpoint, that is to say. From the box officn point of viow, and as regards Summers, it should certainly work out satisfactorily. Summers will box at 10st., so that Keys will bo oonceding a slight weight handicap, about 21b., to a younger and huskier man—and that without haying any preponderance of ring experience to .even matters up, as has been his case 'with Hagerty and Hannan. Summers has not been in the gamo as long as Hock, and has not perhaps fought as many battles, but he has been in tho ring long enough, and has travelled sufhcentl) to'absorb tons of experience. Ho has had three trips to Australia—it may not-be generally known that ho began ' his ring career on, this side of the world—and four tours of America to add to his list of English engagements. As far as oxperienco goes, he is something of a veteran himsell. Keys has a hard row to hoe. The Englishmnn is of tho rushing, hard-hitting, "got-in-close-and-punch-with-both - hands" type of boxer, and clever withal. The cleverest 'tricks that Hock is master of will need to be brought into play if disaster to tho Australian is to be 6ide-stepped.

Why Wβ Did Not Stage Summers. Apropos of Summers, it is a very moot point whether the Wellington Association should not reconsider the decision not to tjut him on here. This determination was, to a largo extent, the outcome of a misunderstanding regarding the purse and spense9 naked for by our visitor. Ht advised the executive from Sydney that ho was willing to box here for a guarantee of .£IOO, and .£SO expenses. The chairman, however, had previously been advised—erroneously as it has since transpired—that he had accepted the Northern B.A.'s invitation for a considerably less figure, and on the strength of this information, -tho project of finding a local opponent for him was turned down without.-further discussion. Summers Willing to Fight Here. "Mercury" discussed 'the matter with Summers on his way north, and ascertained that he liad asked and had received tho same terms from the' Auckland people that ho asked for here, but that he was willing to open up negotiations again seeing that he was octually in the Dominion. Ho pointed out that his prim? object in coming over was to see the Dominion and also to bo with his stable mate "Boyo" Driscoll, the English "feather," while the latter was undergoing curative treatment for rheumatism at Rotorua. At tho EOime time ho was naturaly nothing loth to make tho trip remunerative —but, as he pointed out, a "cut" of XIOO from a purse, although very ecceptable, was nothing very special for him. In support of this he stated that in his last two Stadium appearances he netted just over .£7OO.

Cannot we Get Him? j •This all: seems very reasonable from his standpoint. The tinestion for the local association is whether the financial aspect is "within the sphere of practical politics." It is unanimously recognised that it would be a great pity to miss such a chance. It is very seldom, indeed, that wo have one of the world s best—for Summers is nothing less—with us, willing and anxious to appear if satisfactory terms can be arranged. So no doubt the association executive will endeavour to surmount the financial obstoclo and find a satisfactory opponent for the English champion. An Item in Summors's Luggage. Among his baggage Summers lias a trophy of which he is justly very proud. This is tho Lonsdale Belt, symbolic of the welter-weight championship of England. The belt has considerable intrinsic as well as sentimental value. It is composed ot mounts of gold and silver plates, handsomely embossed end engraved, and before it could bo brought out of England' its present proprietor was required to enter into a bond with the National Sporting Club, London, for an amount of dMOO as a guarantee of its safekeeping and return. Two Students Who Did. Writing from London under date June 11, the London correspondent of the "Canterbury Times" says:— W. C. Hartgill, tho Wanganui College "Oil Boy," who captained the London Hospital ltugby team last winter, appeared in another role at tho National Sporting Club ou Tuesday night, when lip represented London Hospital in the middle-weights at the annual inter-hospital boxing competition. The boxing throughout the events was of a most strenuous character, but for pure hard punching, "without stopping for repairs," the final of the middles between the New Zealander and Mitchell, of Westminster Hospital, it is a long time since anything better was seen. From the hand-shake the two went for one another in a. fashion that roused tho audience of students to o, freuzy of excitement. Science was at a big 'discount, and the 'pair punched one another so vigorously that it seemed one or other must crack ore tho first round ended. Once Mitchell was brought down, but ho rose quickly, and fought fiercely till the bell

In the next' round fierce slogging was resumed, and early on Harigill was brought down with a heavy right which shook him up badly, and caused him to take eight of the ten seconds allowed on the floor. Hβ recovered quickly, and, stalling off his opponent's strenuous efforts to finish him off, paid back with interest all that he had received ere tho round- ended,- Mitchell opened the third

round in promising fashion, but HartRill was tho stronger, nud completely outfought his man. ' It was an extraordinary bout, and tile , participants each received as- nuiny really hard knocks during the three rounds as are handed out during the. run of an average ' twenty-round professional contest. Only men in the primest condition and veritable gluttons for punishment could have. lasted the three rounds as these .men did. Aβ boxers'.they have a great deal to learn, but as'fighters pure, and simple they are "great." Still Dave Smith. The big boxing item of tho week from Australia was the cablegram announcing that Dave Smith, "of ours," hud succesv fuily defended iiis title of light-heavy-weight champion of Australia against the onslaught thereon of his old and worthy foeman, Les. O'Donnell. They met last at tho Stadium on March 15, on which occasion tho huge arena was filled by a crowd which has only been exceeded once sinoe its construction, on that historic Boxing Day, when "Tommy" Burns lost tho world's championship to the sons of Ham. The contest was worthy of tho crowd. In the thirteenth round, however, the "powers be" intervened, to tho great disgust of ODonncll, who was in a somewhat parlous condition at the time, and the verdict went to the New Zealander. Both have won a big contest since then, Smith beating "Jerry" Jerome in 18 rounds before 10,000 spectators in April, and in tho following month O'Donncll beat Harry Mansfield, one of the English importations, on points, over 20 rounds. Since then also Dave Smith has been married, but, judging from the result of tho affair under review, his matrimonial bliss does not appear to have subdued his martial iro any. And Now? Can Bradley meot Smith? No particulars ore to hand except that Smith won in tho sixteenth round, but when details do come they should showa rousing, stirring conflict and a record crowd. There appears to bo no one in sight for "our Dnvo" now, except perhaps Fat Bradley—ho of the mighty left hook—but the difference in weights is so pronounced .hero that it may be hard to bring them together. Bradley is a welter and could get perhaps 10st. 121b. ot Ills best, while Smith could give this all of a stono with ease.

"Every Man Has His Price," .Truly Sydney is tlio pugilistic mecca just now, Evidently the success of Mr. E. L. Baker's regime at the Stadium has spread abroad, and tlie boxer himself has determined that he, too, is going to take a hand in the profits. All of which is apropos of the outcome of Mr. Baker's endeavour to import a few of the topliners of the sport from America. Frank Klaus, of Pittsburg, who has a decision on a foul against Georges Carpentior, hns signified his willingness to come out for .4255(10 and four all-round transportation tickets for his staff. "Freddy Welsh, light-weight champion of England, at present in America, is quite modest alongsido this. Hβ has intimated that his services may bo relied upon if a guarantee of .L'looo and soine (number not stated) "transportations" are given him. "Jimmy" Clabby, too, is willing to come on his own terms. These are not published, but they are not Mr. Baker's terms—so thero is nothing doing with, Mr. Jas. Clabby. There is every probability that Mr., Baker and Sydney will have to struggle nlong also without Messrs. Klaus and Welsh. An English Note. Bombardier Wells, despite his recent inglorious defeat by the French champion, is still in tho game in England. Hecent cablegrams show that he is matched with Pat'. O'Keofo ;(wcil known in Australia) for August i, and in September he is to meet Carpeutier iii a "return." '