IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 12

IN THE RING.

fßi Mekouet.l

THAT BOAST OF SAYLOR'S. Not Mere Braggadocio. Truly, when two heavy hitters in any division get going together it is impossible to foretell what will happen. A week or two back "Mercury" waxed cynical, if not : altogether sarcastic,' at Saylor's boast that he would win four out of five of his Australian battles by the knock-out route. To-day "Mercury" is inclined to take Saylor's statement with a little less salt, the more so since the man on whom he relied to give tho American "some of his own," lias but helped the aforesaid boast a stage further on to fulfilment. ' For the second time in his honourable straight-thumping career, Hughie Mchegan has been forcibly switched through to Dreamland in the course of a battle. Tbo first occasion happened some three years ago, and Johnny Summers was the culprit; the second in this battle with Saylor. Anybody's Battle. But the American did not come out unmarked. Indeed,. np "to the actual round in which he landed the goods, Saylor, as often as not, was rcceiver- ' general in that little 24ft. state. Size at no time frightens Mehegan, • and, when tho gong sent them out from their corners, tbo Australian champion was the first to begin, his contribution being a left and right to the body. Saylor Teplied with a heavy right swing that caused Mehegan to bend. Two more swings landing, the Australian tottered slightly, but, recovering, he battered his way in, landing good and hard with both hands, but only to meet with drastic treatment in return. One for Mehegan. The, second and third rounds were rntfeti. the same, Saylor having the better of the former, while Mchegan had a slight advantage at the end of the latter. In tho fourth round the Australian, continually forcing, got right in, with the result that Saylor experienced a parlous time. ' At this stage it loked as if Mehegan were the more likely to live through the disturbance. The Changing Scene. But the fifth session brought a surprising change, which is thus described by the "Refereo":— . Like : » whirlwind camo tho exceptionally, tall ind long-reached

visitor in the fifth round. By means of heavy swings with both hands to head and/body, ho beat Mehegan aoross tho ring to his — Hughie's—own angle, and looked as if he would surely out him before tho end of the session. Left and rights to tho head Bent Mchegan swaying from side to side, though . never onco he looked like falling. This continued until tho American tired of his own exertions in attack, and as he stepped back Mchegan, with a smile on his goodnatured face, and amid the plaudits of fho crowd, went after him and jolted left and right to the body. Mchegan having survived such a heavy fusillade, it looked a 9 if Savior, ' hard hitter as he undoubtedly is, would not manage to secure a knock-out victory. Was there ever such a tough light-weight as Mehegan ? _ I think not, since old Iron- ' bark Jim's days. | Tho sixth was more or less even, but tho seventh was again a Saylor round, tho most noticeablo feature of it being the uncanny manner in which Mebegan accepted punishment without so much as a quiver. _ Not only this, but in the eighth and ninth he came again, boxing ' like a tiger, driving his -opponent ali over tho ring. Again in tho tenth round he was the stronger of the two, though Saylor scored fairly well. Eleventh Round, and Finis. As they camo out' for the eleventh, Mehegan's supporters were Jubilant, but the following shows tho lightning chance that came o'er the scene. Says the "Referee":— At the very opening of tho 11th round Saylor scored with left and right to the head' before Mehegan ' had time to get his famous Bmother into operation. The weight of these blows forced Mohegan to retreat to a neutral corner—the • north-east angle—and as he came back with the intention of getting under Milburn's long left belabouring with jabs, a splendidly- , executed left hook caught him. This was tho beginning of the end; for, as Hughie tried to back away from furthor onslaught, his movements were too slow to prevent a right and left dropping him heavily for Bsec. By aid of the ropes he managed to scramble to his feet, and block his opponent's, wild ' swings, and for a time appeared likely to weather the storm, for he suddenly unwound, and scored a left swing in the ribs. But this was his undoing, for it left an opening for a right smash that landed squarely, and put Hughie down for nine. He was a badly rattled boxer on regaining his feet, and as ho camo forward with both arms folded across his face characteristically, a - right upper-cut caught him on the . forehead,'and ho sank to his knees. That ho was far gone was shown by his not taking full advantage of the time allowance, for 'he rose at "three," and was an easy mark for tho left and right that sent him ■- 'heavily to the boards face downwards. ' Simultaneously with the count of "three" came tho order for hostilities to ceaso from Police-Inspector Matthews, and tho towel from Duke Mullins, as a token of surrender. Despite this interference, it >,will go down in history as a knock-out victory for the visitor, for brave Mehegan could not have recovered beforo the fatal "out" would havo been reached. In any case, according to the now rulej it was a knock-out. • ' • A Question of Time. A .slight difference exists between Eddie M'Goorty and Pat Bradley as to when they.shall weigh-in for their.battle. M'GooHjv'iW'hfi' ; has"' .'flesh; to '■ 'take'' off, naturally wants to weigh at' 2 p.m., while Bradley, having to build himself up to'the middle-weight mark, wants the ceremony to take place an hour before the battle. This difference calls to mind some remarks made in this column three years ago, wlien Dave Smith and others were haying considerable trouble with Mr. William Papko over this very .question of weight. In tho interim many opinions on tho subject have been launched forth by various writers, but "Mercury" sees no reason to* change in tho slightest his contention that, when a championship is at stake, weighing should take place at the ringside. Otherwise it is all Lombard Street to a China orango that if at tho noon or two o'clock weighing both men aro a pound of the limit, the one who has had to reduce himself to draw the weight will probably be a couple of pounds over it by nine o'clock. One good meal will easily effect this, and, with this accession of weight, comes a return of strength that gives the man a further unfair advantage. M'Coorty's Engagements. After finishing with or being finished by Pat Bradley, Eddie M'Goorty will bo hitched up with his compatriot, Jeff, of the Clan Smith,■who, in the meantime, will endeavour to convinco Dave Smith that the American branch of tho family cuts more ice, in these modern days, than tho off-shoot of it that abounds in the Commonwealth and the Dominion. Then Bill Lang has challenged M'Goorty for £500 a-side, but this match is not likely to eventuate, for M'Goorty has quite enough in waiting amongst members of his own class. The cabled news of tho offer for a match at I .Dublin between him and Carpontier being brought under his notice, has elicited from M'Goorty that he is agreeable to the match, provided that Mr. Baker does not bring the Frenchman to Australia. When the Dane's Head Clears. When, a boxer becomes a favourito in any placo he, as often as not, imagines that this popularity gives him carte to do anything he likes. The subsequent awakening js sometimes too painful even for reflection in the dim future by the erstwhile sleeper, but it affords a keen relish to tho looker-on. A case in point happened in Melbourne the other day, when Waldemar Holberg, finding himself a whole pincushion full of points behind Tom M'Cormick, resorted to overy manner of dirty tactics to lower his opponent's colours. Whereat the referee sent him to his corner, and tho crjiwd gave vent to its feelings against him in that straightforward, candid manner in which Australians lead the world. When the Dane's head clears, even he will bo surprised at the wisdom this reception will have instilled into his too, too solid head.