IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1848, 6 September 1913, Page 12

IN THE RING.

,• - . [BY-"MERCURT.",]-' LATEST JOHNSON STORY. September 22 and 23.-—Australasian Amateur Championships, Dimedin. To Meet Langford at Paris. Once more the dark shadow of "Jack" Johnson crosses the purview. The cables ha'vo stated that ho is to meet Langford in Paris. What ground the report is based on we have yet to learn. American advices have led us to believe that as a pugilistic proportion Johnson is a "dead one," not only from tho fact that a boycott has been proclaimed against] him, but also because his physical powers have slumped. Tho boycott may not, hurt him in Franco where tho "colour lines" is not raised, but the reports of his bodily break-up have beeii 'so consistent that mention of his getting back a sufficiently fit condition to meet the sturdy Langford 'must be received cum magno grano salis. Believe It or Laugh? The match may really have been arranged, of course, but, when one recalls how stodfastly tho champion side-stepped Longford when in his heyday, it is difficult to believe that now, when he must be far on tho down grade, ho would risk his biggest asset, , his title, by singling out the toughest proposition of thom all for his "como back" essay. Johnson, we know, is trying hard to get on at "tho halls." One is apt -to put one's tongue in one's cheek and wonder whether it is not all just an elaborate advertising scheme. Publicity is : essential to the big black's success as a musical-hall draw, and tho spreading of such a report is a short and easy cut to the desired end. . However, if the cable is correct, tho battle is to take placo on December 20, at what the messago terms the "Paris Circus,'' which is probably the arena known as tho Cirque de Paris. English Exaltation .of Johnson. Apropos of Johnson, it is -hard to understand, at this distance, what is causing tho fuss that is made in England over tho black. Ono would havo thought that tho unenviable notoriety with which tho rccent law proceedings in America invested upon him would have been sufiicicnt to securo complete ostracism. It seems, however; to have had the effect of simply stimulating public interest in his doings. Lately we havo been informed by tho cables that his non-appearance at various music-halls was mado tho occasion of a public demonstration in his favour, and, in one case (according to a cablegram published in Sydney) two fouialo performers who had made, objections to appearing in- tho samo cast as Jdhnson, were booted and jeered off tho stage.. 11l short, the negro appears to havo lieon treated in London us a species cf martyr. The Sort of Man Ihey Bootn. Some months ago, before tho Johnson scandal reached its full height, "Itey-nolds'-s Weekly" published an article dealing with the English attitude to- , wards the champion. It began thus: — "It would bo interesting to know how far this country has contributed to the dangerously exalted state of mind of this man Johnson. Ho was petted and fed hero, and know that ho carried the sympathy of this country in his great battle with Burns, tho first white pugilist of | any protensions whom ho had onooun-..

I tered." The article then proceeds to deal trenchantly with Johnson's subsequent career, ands ays:— "Ho was later on to show a total disregard of t-lio binding force of his signature to an agreement; te drive his motor-car like a maniac, and to exorcise a repulsivo fascination for a certain typo of whito woman. His successes, his boastfulness, his lawlessness havo exalted him into a position of champion of his race in t'ho eyes of many of his fellow countrymen. "How much responsibility for this evil lies upon tho white man of, Great' Britain?" Thus it would appear that the state of mind.that led to the reported scenes ill tho music-halls is 110 passing phase with tho Londoner, and that all along there has ljeen some strange—te us, inexplicable—sympathy between Johnson and the English public. One can only wonder why, and leavo it at that. England's Blind Faith In Wells. "Tho purse for the coming match between Carpenticr and Bombardier Wells amounts to £3400, a record for a European boxing match." So rail a cablegram published during the week. It goes to show how much an English institution Bombardier Wells has become when, despite his many failures and particularly his recent decisive defeat by Carpentier, a promoter can hold such faith in his drawing power, as to risk such, a sum. And this, too, despite the fact that, on latest advices, Wells had signed up for a match for the heavyweight championship of England with his old opponent Gunner Moir. This clash was to have occured this week, but at the timo of writing no result liad reached here. Wells and 1 Moir met t-hreo years.ago, arid on that occasion tho gunner outed his fellow artilleryman in tho third round! It is quite on the boards that the present meeting may end—may even'havo ended by tho time this is in print—in the samo way, and then how would tho donor of tho £3400 purse stand? It looks a poor gamble from this distance. The Bad Luck of Freddy Welsh. Englishman Freddy Welsh is still meeting with bad luck in his quest for tho world's light-weight title. It will be remembered how. when A. A. Wolgast was tho holder of tho honour, Welsh journeyed to America, and after a deal of timo and trouble he pinned the wily Wolgast down to a match. That contest fell through, owing to Wolgast going down to a bout of appendicitis on tho very night before, and Willie Ritchie was substituted at tho last minute. Ho was beaten by Weslh. That was'two years or so ago, and since then time's changes have brought tho self-samo Ritehio to the top of tho light-weight ladder. Once again has Welsh betaken himself to America, and once again after a deal of time, trouble, and expense ho pinned the champion —Willio Ritchie, this timo —down to a match. The meeting was te have evontuatod at Vancouver, 8.C., on September 20, but now word comes that it has been postponed indefinitely. This time Welsh is tho delinquent. Ho has sprained his ankle so severely in his training work that boxing for some timo to como will be completely out of the question. And the chances aro by tho timo he is fit .and well Ritchie will have mado other arrangements. Who V/ere the World's Best Men? .E. Grauoy, of San FranciscOj isprobably tho best-known of American referees of to-day—possibly tho bestknown that t-horo Jias been with the exception of tho great George Syler, and he has handled or seen every ring batt-lo of note in America for many years. Wherefore, he should be an authority on things pugilistic, and, as such, was recently asked to state whom ho considered to bo the greatest ring men of his day. He listed his choice asunder: Greatest heavy-woights: Peter Jackson and James J. Corbett. Greatest middle-weights: Bob Fitzsimmons and Jack Dempsey. Best welters: Joe Walcott and Tommy Ryan. Best light-weights: Jack M'Auliffe and Johnny Herget.Best feather-weights: George Dixon and Terry M'Govern. Greatest bantam champion: Goorgo Dixon. Hardest hitters in tho history of the ring: Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Choynski, and Kid M'Coy. Gamcst moil he ever saw: Joe Choynski, Jimmy Britt, Bat. Nelson, and Jack Dempsey. A Warlike Affair.at the Stadium. The Sydney side boxing barracker is having more than his share of good ring feasts. Tho last of those saw Arthur Everndon, an English welter, make his bow to an Australian house. He was opposed to Frank Picato, the much-travelled Austral-American-Italian welter, and the Englishman proved that ho is' "the goods, and-then some." The "Bulletin" report,tells the story in characteristic vein. In most of the battles he has put up at the Stadium, Picato has been tho attacking force, and, when repulsed or evaded, would sigh, glanco sadly at his opponent, and come back doggedly to the attack. But on Saturday night he mdt as eager and aggressive a man as himself, who rushed into tho fray with all tho ardour of a youth of 20. Tho newcomer is a mighty hitter, and in tho very first round he got homo a left and a right which sent Picato to tho boards for seven seconds. . Almost immediately he got up -ho was sent down again by a terrific right swing. But he bounded to his feet and attacked tho Englishman so fiercely, that Evernden gave way and smothered as ho Tetreated, while the house roared in excitement. When tho gong sounded both men had to think for a second to get their chair bearings. Tho mighty blows of Evernden during the next two rounds convinced Picato that he would havo to fight a defensive battle, lie did, and repelled attacks in qiiick succession, and, then following up, he resumed the offensive. Tho: way both boys followed up tho slightest advantage .was beautiful to see. Picato got a left hook home, ana 'sent him to tho floor. It was a badly astonished floor. But tho dropped gladiator bounded up, and assumed the offensive, and prevented Picato reaping any benefit from his success. It was obvious thai, .'■he Englishman was faster on his feet than the Roman, and a much harder hitter. Ilis blows were terrific, and Italy staggered under tho impact. But in tho fifth (continues the "Bul>. letin") it was Evernden who staggered, and, like a whirlwind, Picato swept down on him, and banged him across the ring. There tho Englishman blocked a series of knock-outs by.'adopting a sort of Mchegan crouch aim smother, till the gong gave him respite. Tim sixth 'saw Evernden, wonderfully recovered, -rip through Picato's defence aitain and again. But Italy was game, and fought back desperately, and succeeded in baulking a dozen slaps, till, in his turn, the bell brought respite. Eventually the knees of tho Roman started to go, and ho could no longer avoid t-lio savage .and sustained attacks of tho liriton, who was avenging Cai»rtacus, Boadicea, and a few others. But he was a generous avenger. He saw a bravo opponent was dono beyond recovery, ar.'t lie stood off for a moment before tho bell went, and, as it did so, the towel soared through the light from Picato's corner.