IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 12

IN THE RING.

£Br Mebcurt.],

LATEST NEWS & JOTTINGS. "Hlti Hltl All Over." Latest English files to hand show that Langford is still up and doing. After leaving Australia he spent some tinie in America, where ho altogether failed to cover himself with glory in a no-deci-sion bout with "Gunboat" Smith. In fact, the ex-sailor' was handed all the credit. Then Langford drifted over to Paris. In the French capital in January he defeated Petty Officer G'urran, tho English boxer, who was in Australia last year. This in itself was uot remarkable, for tho Irishman would not bo a formidable antagonist for any really first-class "heavy," but tho manner in 'which tho black man disposed of Curran claims attention. Only two blows were delivered in the encounter—both • by Langford. The exact length of Aims occupied by the battle was eeven'sc-oonds. ~ One English paper gives a detailed version of the;clash in these terms: — "Hit!. Hit I- All over." ■Tabloid Battles the Fashion. These- tabloid battles appear to be rather fashionable in the Old World. It is not so long sinco Georges Carpentier disposed of Bombardier Wells in 30 seconds. Then thero followed the lightning bout described above, and since then another of tho same nature cecurred, this time at Cardiff. On this occasion Wells ■ got some of his own back. Ho disposed of a countryman of his own conqueror—oneGaston Pigot —oneof the best of the French "heavies," in half a round, in a contest for a £700 purse. The Extraordinary' Bombardier Again. The foregoing serves to reintroduce the Bombardier.' The extraordinary, career of Wells has served as a text more than once for boxing articles, and his present position .in. tho pugilistic world puts him-in,line for further comment. When he.succumbed so easily to Carpentior it was, generally considered that even his genius for rising superior to calamities, one-tenth of which would have buried tho ordinary boxer irf oblivion, would avail hinvnaught. He was to bo thrown ,among the discards for good and all. He was—so they said—a sepulchre of hope,-- a tumbled idol, a man of straw, a falso alarm, and a, "lemon" —so ran public opinion, and so said the world's sporting Press. ' ' >' But they -were'!jll. wrong. As he has done'before, Wells started again. Ho signed on with a good English second- • rater named Eawles, and knocked him out. Then he came again and met Pigot, with the result as chronicled above. Then on March 3he tried , again. This time- , his antagonist was a man looked upon in England as a "comer" of the first quality—a man who had fought his way to the front so (juickly that he was regarded as something very much out of the common. This was Bandsn.an Blake. Wells simply did as he liked with him. What Keeps Him on His Pedestal? And tbo peculiar .part is that, dispite his unreliability, the -Bombardier seoms to command so much public sup-1 port. For example, a cablegram from London published in Sydney at the time of tho Blake contest, says: "Tho battle is exciting tremendous public , interest." It must bo either that the English public has raised 'Wells to tho eminence of a national institution, and can. therefore s«o no wrong in him, or else it is that he has' a- personality that makes a remarkable public appeal. 'Tho English journal "Boxing" would seem to inolino to this latter view. In its latest issue, an article on tho muchdisc.ussed boxer concludes:; — For, say what you will of him, it .1 ;:is-impossiblo to, deny,, that he is almost, if not'quite', the greatest ali- \ .-.round athloto in , history. Ho could . ■/easily earn tho .maxiiiiiun wage as a professional, footballer. He might ': .win distinction on tho cricket field. Ho , is a. splendid -lawn-tennis player, a splendid swimmer, ' and a fine ' sculler, wliile , ; no less' an expert ■ than Jack Donaldson has openly do- ■ clared tliat, if he had charge of Wells- for six months ho could readily make him ;the world's sprint champion. A man possessed of all ! these varied gifts, coupled with his striking personal appearance and almost unique personality, could ; neither keep out of the Press nor the limelight, even if he were to ; try from now to Doomsday. The pity about Wells appears to be • that he is a pugilist. He apparently I has chosen the only one athletic career > at which he could have failed.

A Foggy Situation. A cablegram recently published in. the Sydney "Sun" shows' that Freddie Welsh recently struck trouble in America. The Independent Cable Servico message runs: Jimmie Duffy defeated .Freddy Welsh at St. Louis in the' eighth round, though aio official decision was given. In tho fifth round a hard right sent Welsh to the mat, but ho got right up again and fought on.

Being at St. Louis, the contest would be a "no decision'' onej and how AVelsh could bo defeated in the eighth round (unless he were knocked out,, which apparently was not the case) i» hard- to understand. Certainly the knock-down, in the fifth round could not constitute a win, and, anyhow, who is Jimmie Duffy? As this is tho first time that Welsh has met with a check during his prosont search after Willie- Ritchie and tho light-weight championship title, wo would have been grateful to tho cablo-service for fuller particulars.

What Happened to Bronson, Matt Wells made a very auspicioui entry.into the welter-weight division in Sydney. Ho was matched with Ray Bronson, the clever American, who, somo little while ago, claimed the world's welter title, as his own. On the present occasion Wells entered the Stadium ring at lOst. sJlb.; Bronson at lOst. 61b. .it was a tine match ae regards weight. This was the one and only even i'oaturo of the contest. Tho' Englishman took charge of proceedings at tho outset. He was too strong and too speedy for Bronson. In tho beventli round the towel was thrown in from Bronson's corner.

At tho bigger weight Wells appears to have recovered all tho old power and speed that made him such a formidable light-weight before his increaso in poundage necessitated his constant banking and sweating down. There is no reason why he should not be just us good ;is a welter as ho was in the light division, an excellent man in the of his countryman, Tom M'Cormick, is now in Sydney, and available to give, him,a thorough trvout under the new conditions. Nn doubt a meriting between these two will figure as one of tho Stadium attractions of tho near future.

Tho Punch of Mlluurn Saylor. It must have been a strange, sceno that raug down the curtain in the Say-lor-M'Co.v match in Sydney last Saturday night. The first cablegram received staled baldly that the American had knocked out M'Coy in tho eighteenth round. This, in faco of Sayior's record, was not so much surprising as 'disappointing to the supporters of tho Australian, but the dramatic touch was added by tlio amplification of tho first message.

This advised 'hat it was Maimed that, when the referee had counted Jf'Co.v out and declared Saylor the winner, the electric clock used to tell off the fateful ten seconds had only registered

eight. It is stated that M'Coy was ahead on points at tho time, which in all probability was so, as Saylor makes no claim to being a iioitits* boxer, and the inference is that, had lie ueoii given .the full count, lie ooalii haregot up to time. Then, hating only ono more round to sfi, he would probably havo won the bout. Hence the dissatisfaction as advised by tho cable message. Still, the fact remains that M'Coy was counted out Isj' the refsrec, uiid that must settle it. Meanwhile, Milburu Saylor, of the United States, is building up a weighty record as a smiter. He must now ruft his countryman, Pat Bradltry, very in this connection. ' "I Feel Very Sor« About It." Johnny Summcts was a very surprised man at Melbourne on Saturday" week "last. Ho was busy settling the account of Alf. Morey, of Western Australia, in u maiinef thoroughly satisfying to himself, if gainful to MoTey } when a clinch took plloe in the seventh ■round. Tho referoo ordered tie usual break, and then separated tha boser's. An appeal for a foul fo.r butting came from Morey's coriief, and s to the surprise of the house. Summers- was ritjcd lUt,. ' _ ' Commenting on tho -ifleident,, Mr. W. F. Corbett writes as follows;—"If Summers did butt —and thos& in » position to see mostly agrco that h:& diet it was without intent." "Jt was my stylo," said Johnny afksnvar&s. "Vi'hsh. a j man's head is down he muat lcok up. I don't deal in fouls. I never have fouled, and sever will. I have boxed eleven contests in and always beeii acclaimed fair, until I met this Melbourne boy. I feel very soifiabout it." M'Farland Captured for syUnoy. In confirmation of the tiews that Packy M'l'arland had signed oii for tho Sydney Stadium management e.offies the following cablegram from America ;*- ' New York, March 8, Mr. Baker 'has signed ■ Packy M'Farland'up to go to Alistyalia. The clever boxer Will leave in 3x6x6. M'l f arlaud's friends say tho contract calls' for. at le-ist tiiree matches, for which ho h guaranteed 25,000 dollars. # ' He will alsp receive round trip tickets. He is' to meet men, weigoing. not more than 1451b. ■ Burns's Troupe In Australla. Tommy Burns was given .a great rer centum oy tne sporting itatetidty cf Sydney on his arrival" tfiere last week. He has a little band ef three bosers vith him, and is nivde-r cngagemeitt to the Olympic Athletic Club, of SydJie.y, an institution which is bogiftnalg to rival the Stadium by the size of its sporting ventures in the , box* ing world. rln addition to tlte weight, Arthur Pelben,. to vrhom refercr.ee was made. last ffeeis, Burns hasbrought out Lee Johnson, . a- coloured feather-weight, with- a resort of fifty battles, which shows only ttitee- d&feata, : Ho is 24 years of age, and boxes at Bsi. 121b. Ine other iinportation rt a welter, Fitz Holland by naflje, who shows sis defeats'out of 5Q- contests on li-is list of engagemeittS; "fEfflhnct strips at lOst. 21b., and, acc.o.rdrng to Burus,' is a good'one.- - ■ ' Obituary ; Author of "Flstlana." ' The news'of the deatji of 3tr. W, W.' Naughton will be Received with, regret athletib world, a»d particularly so : wherev«r the Bport of bqs-■ ing has .ts votaries.. As. suthor of "i''istiana" and pther boskig. tboks that are accepted, as; st-.antlard works, Mr. Naughton had a reputation that was world-wide, but it, was ifi. his smaller sphere of sporting pross.ftj.cii that he was best known in Australasia. Uh Aincricaa letter iit th© ' Sydney "ilolerce" has familiarised- his naino to all interested.in boxing, and his newsy ancf, moreover, autiiein.ic and atfehontative: matter will be giea-tty Biissed. Mr.Naughtoii. was am cjc-Aucklander, and revisited 'New Zealand oh a tealth trip last j-ear.