IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[By "Meiicury."]

THE BID TO GET SUMMERS. August B.—Johnny Summers v. Hock Keys, Auckland. ' August- 20.—Hock Keys v. Jim Hagcrty, Town Hall. Too Big a Fish for Us? It is beginning to appear that Johnny Summers is too big a lish for tho Wellington Association to land, after ail. Last week "'Mercury" stated that tho English welter champion had lnlormed him that 110 was ratner keen on "allowing" in. Wellington, and that ho was prepared to reconsider his first demand of a iIIXI guarantee and JCSU expenses. Since then the local executive has been negotiating with Summers, with the result that tlio Englishman has reduced his terms (as far as tho item "expenses" goes) to JS2O, but he adheres to the X'loo proposition as regards tho purse. Ho wants tho "hundred" for his cut, win, lose, or draw.

Giving a guarantee has always been against the policy of the Wellington Association. To givo it in this case, even if it were a good business proposition, which is doubtful, would establish u precedent which would be followed by similar demands from every boxer who was wanted here. Tho opponent chosen for Summers would rightly expect similar terms. This, of course, would have the direct result of increasing tho working expenses of tho contc-st by a cool .£101). Then,- again, the lack of local talent of the Summers class would mean importing a fitting opponent from Australia, and that would mean further expenses. Altogether, the proposition looks too big for tho association to handle at tho -price. Of course, in the unlikely event of Keys beating Summers at Auckland next week, the case would be altered somewhat, and it is unlikely that any definite step will be taken until after this affair.

Wf(y Not Murphy? In the meanwhile the association has decided to put on a Hagerty-ICeys "return" on August 20, if the boxers can be brought together. This will be a popular fixture, but there are many, and among them the writer, who would have preferred seeing Denny Murphy to "Ironbark Jimmy," from Timaru, in action against the Australian crack. There is nothing like variety, and with Murphy available, a change would have been welcome from tho sporting standpoint. It would liavo been profitable enough, too. His win over Ireland puts Murphy "right in the boom," and it is quite on tho oards that lie would prove even a' greater draw locally than Hagorty, deservedly popular although tho latter certainly is. It is, of course, impossible to say what would be tho outcome of another Keysllagerty disturbance, but it is quite easy to anticipate exactly what form the disturbance would take, and it is quite possible that out public, knowing just what kind of bout it would be. would take it for granted, and stay away. D, Murphy, Champion "Middle" Congratulations to "Denny" Murphy are in order on his win over "Barney' Ireland, tho Dominion's professional middle-weight champion, at Masterton, on Wednesday night. The Dominion's special correspondent's report, published on Thursday morning, indicated that Murphy's victory was popular. Well deserved it seems to have been, as the winner would be conceding anything up to a stone in weight to tho Waipav/a man. The spoils of victory coming to the victorious "Denny" were tho titlo of middle-weight cihampion of Now Zealand and tho big end of a purse of .£SO. Smith's Latest Scalp. Last week, in anticipating the detailed reports of tho Sraith-O'Dounell battle at tho Sydney Stadium ior t'hs light-heavy-weight championship of Australia, "Mercury" ventured to predict that the accounts would ehow that the clash hud been a torrid affair ol' tho first magnitude, battled out beforfc a bumper house. Tlra Australian mail brings news that tears this out. Despite the fact that tho night was not a good one, a crowd of nine thousand mustered in tho big arena. Two Rattling Rounds. As the cable stated, Smith won in the sixteenth round, but his victory was faT from "easy." Hard a~s tha New lander fought—and he fought as perhaps ho never fought before—O'Donnell came kick at him time and again, trading a Poland for every Oliver, and it was only after twelve rounds or so that Smith began to get definitely in the. lead. In fact, in the ninth and tenth rounds O'Donnell made a great run. He all but had Smith "out." Hero is Mr. W. P. Oorbelfs story of the two grim sessions:—

"O'Donnell made splendid play throughout tho ninth and tenth rounds. In tho ninth ho ducked, olevorly, Smith's right swing, and jolted his own right with such force as to rattle 'Dave.' Twico again did . his blows shake Smith from neck to heel, and, seeing his advaiitogo tho man on top for tlifl moment followed up, using both liands with such power that the houso fairly shook with excitement. "Smith began tho next round—tho tenth— - with a right that rocked O'Donnell badly, but he pulled himself together and went in to fight. And fight ho did, while Smith responded every bit as gamely, but not as ofTcetively: O'Donnell drove in two rights in succession, and ho drove in and forced Smith back to tho ropes oleso to a neutral corner, then the milling was fine, and the ioy of the crowd great. Two brave follows drew largely upon th?ir resources. O'Donnell certainly had tho better of matters, and twice looked on the verge of scoring a knock-out. Tho chances wero there, but tho blow was not, though he struck bard enough to bewilder Smith.' Smith Wades In. This, however, was O'Donnell's last big rally, although ho battled bravely till his finWli. In the fourteenth round came the beginning of the end. Towards the close Smith swung a Tight that sent its recipient reeling. Before ho could recover, a left sent him down for "five." The dazed O'Donnell staggered to his feet so badly rattled that he hurled a loaded left 'and right at an imaginary opponent, while the real oue was standing at the other sido of the ling, and incidentally lie nearly "outed" the referee, who only just avoided trouble by a timely sidestep. The bell saved O'Donnell this time, and he recovered sufficiently in the interval to survive a round and a half more. Through the fifteenth round lie had a parlous time, but would not bo beaten. In the sixteenth, however, exhausted nature had her wny. Smith went' straight in at the bell, and swung right and left. Then ho drove in two rights and a straight left. As O'Donnell endeavoured to rccovcr his balance a right uppercut ended tlie battle. Ho was counted out. It was a treat victory for Smith, and firmly establishes him as the lwst man in his class in Australia. Tho win is the more meritorious from tho fact that he was conceding O'Donnell over half a stone in wpicht. the respective poundages of tlie gladiators boin? Smith list. 11 Jib., and O'Donnell 12st. Clb. Pat Bradley Wants Smith. Tho problem now is to find a suitable opponent for the scientific, hard-hitting ox-Dunedimte. There is a demand to see him in action with the harder-hitting but less scientific and unbeaten Pat Bradley, who has expressed a desire to most iii'm at list. 91b. The trouble about this is that Bradley is going our of his class altogether to meet Smith. He does not scale list., and relies solely upon his durability and (so far) all-conquering punch. So lie has everything 1 to gain and nothing lo lose in stacking these attributes fo pugilistic success against Smith's superior weight and soience. Slnith, on tlie other hand, lias a lot to lose in reputation if he sets bra lea and nothing particular to gain 'except, of course, tho big end of Iho purse) should he win. So ivaybc the lisjht-hoavy champion will decline the risk.

The Progress of Welsh, Freddy Welsh, the English light-weight ■champion, now in America in quest of the world's championship title in his class, is in a fair way to have his desiro for a clash with Willie Ritchie, the hold-

or of tho title, gratified. A cablegram of interest wns published in Sydney last week to the following effect:— Vancouver, July 19. A. match botween "Willie" Kitchio and "Fraldio" Welsh nt the Itrighonso Arouu, near Vancouver, is practically assured for September 1. Kitchio's terms for a 20-round battlo are a guarantee of .£IOOO, with tho jirivileg-cs of taking instead 50 per cent, of tlio gate anil 50 per cent, of the picture rights. "Harry" Foley . i< acting for Welsh, and asks for a .CiOOO guarantee ami the same amount from tho pictures. It is believed that the match will attract a vcconl crowd.

Tho Championship Tourney, Comment on tho New Zealand championship meeting at Timaru is held over until next week. At time of writing only the first night's "ties" uro to hand, and these show that Brice, Kerr, and Murphy of tho local team survived the first round. .1. Hunter, our light-weight, was knocked out by J. I'enroso, of Christchurch—a far more experienced lMxer, who attained New Zealand representative honours ior the Australasian championships last year. A. Dalziell, tho Jlanawntu l>oxcr who was our "middle" representative, also succumbed to a Christchurch man, whoso nam*, P. Manning, is new to the writer.

Answers to Correspondent. Awahuri.—"Dave" Smitli lias never mot "Barney" Ireland at Waipawa or Waipukurau. Ho has not fought in New Zealand as a- professional. Imported Goods. The two latest arrivals from England for the Baker circuit in Australia are two welter-weights of soino distinction— Arthur EverndoE and Charles Woods. The latter gladiator is more generally known by the euphonious nom-ue-cuerre of "Young Nipper," which pseudonym he has borno so persistently that the boxing public has forgotten that ho ever possessed a proper, name. Ho makes his first appearance to-night against Sid Burns, also of England. Everadon makes his bow on August 10, his opponent being Frank Picato, the American-Italian welter-weight. \ Next Thursday the Stadium will witness the long-looked-for bout between "Hugliio" Mehegan and "Matt" Wells. This is the "rubber" meeting, as each has a verdict over the other in England, tho Australian champion winning the first contest and the Englishman the second.