IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1960, 17 January 1914, Page 12

IN THE RING.

tßi , Msn«fßTj;f§fc;!'f%gi| on mxoorty/&;;sm:jth^9|S What Allod Smith? 'B;kS!s'i3&s Lat-est Australian files ■■tG; : iiiud 'corS* tain no further particulars'of the' two* minutes Hi actual boxing between Davo Smith and Kddie Jtf'G'oorty. Indeed sn little happened in that, short time that oven tlio brief esblo message con* tained it all. Nevertheless, many mid l< ng aro tho artioles atriviiig to explain away, or at teasb to account for tho detent of our champion. Tho raoet interesting of these is by "Solar Plexus," of the "ltefereo," who scouts tho "Indian sign" theory, which 1 is almost universally held by other writers. Ho holds that tho effort to reduce himself to tho middle-weight limit was tho real cause of Smith's downfall, his vitality being sapped to such an extent that his brain was slow to work, when M'Goorty brought off that feint with his right, and he became an oasy mark for tho American. 'This, combined with tho fact that Smith is notoriously a nervous beginner, is held by "Sola-r Plexus" to he tho eauso of Smith's defeat at such an early stage. Omens at the Ringside. There is a good deal in the argument, and "Mercury," though at the time an "Indian signist," is now half-inclined to agree with "Solar Plexus" that, should the two be matched again at the light-heavy limit, Smith would show Wβ true colours. For all the tragedy of it tho battlo—or rather tlje half-hour or so preceding it—had its touch of comedy. The great crwd, in its nervous anxiety to soe the native son win, seized every straw of hope that seomea to indicate a win for Smith. There is no more superstitious section of tho community than the average assemblage at a boxing contest, and this crowd was about tho limit in this respect. Tho Stadium, perhaps ovstf more than rao st arenas, is noted for its lucky and its "Koodoo" corner. Consequently, when Smith's sparring partner—Gordon Coghill—-came out to contest tho preliminary with 'Albert 1 ooley, ■ and after proceeding to the fray trom the lucky corner, won easily in a few rounds, doubting spirits wero raised. "When Smith himself climbed mto the' (same, oonser superstititiou took complete chargo of a 'jig section ot the. crowd. It is doubtful, too whether the result has brought that section back to earth. Smith's Wonderful Popularity. The most ■ extraordinary feature of tho wlibio affair, however, is the fact that bo far from such a defeat bringing him discredit, Smith is to-day even more highly thought of in Australia than ever before. Almost invariably tho publie turns from a man in tho hour of defeat, but. in this caso, it is overwhelmingly, with Smith. The publiq that has seen him gam brilliant victories over '•Bill" Lang, "Los" O'Doimell, "Jerry" Jerome, and Pat Bradley cannot bring itself, either collectively or individually, to believe other than that, in this caso at any rate, ho is "an ill-starred victim of giant circumstance." Everywhere he is being overwhelmed with condolences and cheering words. This feeling found its ultimate expression when Smith quietly slipped in late to a big complimentary dinner i tendered to E.X. Baker by a band of Sydney's most prominent public men. Proceedings were interrupted for a few minutes while all and sundry roso and cheered Smith to the eoho. His- next match will bo with "Jeff" Smith, who put up such a gallant battlo with Carpentier, How he, shapes in this will show what moral effect his treatment at the hands, of M'Goorty has had upon him. Carpontlor Coming. Mention of Carpentier reminds one that Mr. Baker has received a cablo message to tho effect that the Frenchman has changed his plans, and is. .now prepared to accept tho Stadium proprietor's offer for five contests in Australia. This will be welcome news for Smith and Co. Ccmo Australian Deeds. A strenuous, clever, and well-fonghfc battlo was that hetweon Frank Thorn aud "Joe" Russell at Brisbane, recently. During the first twelve rounds tlio exchampion feather-weight had the beet of matters, his skill, speed, and judgment being superior, but, in the last eight rounds, tho little Victorian, who seems if anything better than ever, came- with such a rattlo as to put tho verdict beyond doubt. Long, lean, and la»I;y Jlilburn Saylor, who_ knocked out "Freddy" Welsh— albeit tlio blow was declared , to bo a foul one—created something of a sensation on his first public appearance in' Australia. Standing oft. loin, in height, he is tall enough for a heavy-weight— taller than cither "Tommy" 'Burns or "Sam" Langford—but he weighs but i)bt. 81b. In action he is as wild and woolly as Jerome himself. Matched against West Australian "Alf" Moray, ho way sadly outpointed, but, with a punch that only needed to 'and half a dozen, times in the whole battlo, he knocked oiit his game littlo opponent in tho fourteenth round. Saylor is reported to havo mado a wager that ho will' win four out of five battles by the knock-out route. On this tho "Beferee" caustically remarks that ho will need to, for it cannot imagine him winning by any other means.. 3ummors In Deep Water. Tho cabled result of tho battlo between Summers and "Tom" M'Cormack (to tho offect that the latter had a good win on points) makes it clear that Summers will bo hard put to it to retain his hold on tho Lonsdalo Welter Belt. M'Cormack came out with a great reputation for cleverness, and. apparently, ho is as good as his tation. Tho Dollar Hunter. The match between "Willie" Ritdhie and "Harlem Tommy" Murphy was nostponed on account of wet wcatlicT. i Then Ritehio developed an abscess in tho nose, and declined to enter the ring while unwell. Then the promoter, in disgust, declared the match off] and then San Francisco told Ritchie what it thought of him. After a great deal of bickering, tho match was brought on again, and will be decided oil Friday noxt. Again artful one Ritchie has tho field to himself. With an eye first and always on tho dollar, he makes and breaks matches to suit his purse, with- ! out consideration for anyone or any- ! thing else. One San Francisco cynic snid of him: "When that person flinches with a dollar it is no «fio tolling him to break." Prowess of Clabby. ■■'-' ■ ;,• "Jimmy" Clabby still proceeds easily on his victorious way, , his latest, win i ! being at the expense of ono "Soldier" ILoqnn. Clabliv played with his man",! but, towards tho finish, he wadded in, j and dbplayod hitting power and a . knowledge- of in-fighting canal to the j best of tlio sluggers. Getting warmed Mm to bis work, he stopped to take out i bis fa be teeth, wo avo informed. I Anenfc those false teeth. "Mercury" remembors vending somewhere in Use dim past, that tho human jaw loses a f;rcat deal of its strength wiipti the teeth nfe I taken away from it, and nny hard blow 'is liable to break it. If this b<? true,'it is incumbent on some genius frith.V cood hard niinc]i to develop skill fn , land it once on that nnrt of Clonby. It would bo an nimtoinical way of ■feecomI ing world's middle-weight champion, inI deed, but. it would count, nevertheless: Tho trouble seems to be,'however, that Clabby knows only too well how to , proteot himself. >■ .■": ;-..&.W.Cs^.