IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2132, 25 April 1914, Page 12

IN THE RING.

LATEST THE WORLD OVER. [Br MercceiO May 5 and Provincial Championships, Town flailFinding a World's MltJdlO'welstit, Details aro now available of tho two birr Blister fixtures at the >S}dr.ey Stadium. These were "Eddie M Goorty v "Dave" Smith, and "Jeff" Smith v. "Pat" Bradley. The contests wore of world-wide importance iu their bearing on that very vexed matter—tho world s niiddle-woight championship. The Outcome is that tho two winners, "Jeff" Smith and M'Goorty, are to conio together as Soon as satisfactory terms can be arranged. Tho match will decide which of the twain is to meet Clabbv, who is now on the water oil the Ventura, en route from San I'rands co to Sydney. . . At least,- this was the original proposition, hut there aro indications that it may be departed from. One ot these indications is that the M'Goorty party is coquetting with "Bill" Lang regarding a. meeting. Of this, however, more anon; there are still the two middleweight fixtures to he reviewed.

How Smith Fell to M'Coorty,

The first of these, in order of importance and of interest to New Zealaliders, was the Smith-M'Goorty clash —the third of the series. The articles stipulated that each was to weigh list. Gib. at 2 o'clock on the day of the fray, and, in this one condition, is possibiy to be found the reason of the defeat of the New Zealander. This contention is not advanced in any way as an cxcuso for Smith, as, after Smith s three successive beatings, tho hefty American must be accounted his master. Howover, the battle unclor review proved conclusively that list. 61b. is a physical impossibility for Smith without a decided loss of strength and vitality. This must have been apparent to Smith himself—to nobody more so—but he allowed no misgiving to mar his opening tactics. In direct contrast to his previous showings lie started with the utmost confidence, and assumed tho aggressive right - away. For the big house of 11,000 that had crowded into the Stadium this was a great arid a pleasant surprise. The first round was an anxious time for Smith's well-wish-ers, in the light of his two previous disasters —in fact, by many it was looked upon as being the crucial round of the match. "Let him but weather the first," said they, "and lie is right." Imagine therefore the delight wlien ho not only weathered tho round, but actually went to his corner with an emphatic points lead. M'Goorty departed from his usual custom and started slowly. His opening attack was half-hearted and met with a repulse in-tho Bhape of a,hard stopping left from Smith. Thence on to the gong Smith out-boxed and outfought the American. And so it went for eight rounds. Smith was too fast, too clever, both in attack and defonce. He actually made tho redoubtable M'Goorty look like a novice—he did everything, in fact, but knock his mail out. But this is tho detail which tho delighted cheering crowd overlooked. Had the "fans" not been 50 carried away by the apparent success of their favourite, it must have been borne in to them that oil was not as good as it looked. They saw Smith hit M'Goorty how, when, and where he liked; what they missed was tho fact that, after each session of trouble and tribulation, tho much-emitten M'Goorty came up to each round as strong and vigorous as ever. This is really where the weight limit told its story. Smith must havo been weak. His punch must have lacked its usual sting. Otherwise M'Goorty, or any other man, could never have lived through what lie got.

The Full M'Coorty Battery. , This, too, is the explanation of the American's change of tactics. Instead of rushing matters, as is his custom, he elected to let Smith wear himselt out, knowing full well that his own time would come; and come it did— but let the : "Referee" describo the closing scenes: At tho beginning of all the preceding rounds (says the . "Referee ) it was noticed .tliat Smith was nrst to lead; but as they came up for the ninth he seemedieg-weary, and looked exhausted, whilst M'Goorty . was quite the reverse, and with left And right he scored to the head. Smith got in a straight left to "Eddie's" nose, but without having; the slightest effect on tho American, who quite ignored the blow, which ho countered by a short right to tho head, and, following up quickly with a rigid left lie sent the Austra-. ■ lian heavily to the boards. Instead ' of taking as much of the ten seconds allowance as possible, Smith foolishly arose immediately and tried to clinch, but a right jolt, caught him, sending him back a foot. "Dave" fought back .pluckjly, and tried to score .with his left, but ho was all in. M'Goorty missed with a left swing at tlio beginning of tho tontll and "last round; but by backing ■ moving "Dave's" straight left "Eddie" created an opening for ins own damaging hookj which landed) causing the Australian to totter. M'Goorty's body blows then rattled home. "Davo" managed to block a few left hooks, but their weight was sufficient to beat his right glovo up against his own head. From a bit of close quarter battling, in which M'Goorty rattled in heavy short-arm blows, Smith , staggered back, and would have fallen in any case, but a short right and left swing hurled him on bis way for- • wards, wbore he remained for a few seconds after the fatal "Out was reached. Woeful Tlmo for Bradley. Tho Easter clash in Sydney between "Jeff" Smith and Bradley calls for httlo comment. Smith was too good all along tho line, and tho well-meaning hard-hitting Bradley had a woeful time for sixteen rounds. His vimful' swings tore great gaps in tho atmosphere— ho smoto the place that his elusivo adversary had just, left, with much emphasis and repetition,, but, except, for a, fmv scattered occasions, ho failed to All the time Smith danced in and out, hooking, upper-cutting, and jabbing with force and precision. Jiradley did his best and hit with a gameness that was remarkable, but tho hail of blows that ho was stopping with every vulnerable- part' of him wore liiin down. In tho seventh round ho went down for seven seconds and thenco onward it became a question not as to whether ho could win, but'as to whether ho could see tho journey out. This question was answered by the police. In tho sixteenth a powerful right sent Bradley down again and, before ha could rise, tlio contest was stopped.' Under tha new. rules this counts aSi a knock-out against Bradley, although the redoiibtablo Irishman was able to get up, and wns anxious to continue.

Is it Only a Rumour? Reference was made aboro to the possibility of M'Goortv boing matched ivitii Ilili Lang. When the mail left Sydney tho project was "only a rumour," hut that thei'o is something in it is ovidenced by the following paragraph in tho latest "Itefcrco""lt. is quite on tlio curds that oro the present week lias espired Lang and Eddm jrUoortx will have aigucd articles for

a match to he decided at the Sydney Stadium. Such a battle would probably draw an enormous attendance. It lianas on a case of terms to the American." Carpentior-Mltchell Joke. The following cablegrams published in Sydney adds some interesting details to the message that reached us ancnt Carpentier and his amateur (?) challenger:— London, April 15. About 100 people assembled to witness' the match between Georges Carpentier and George Mitchell, tho Bradford amateur, last night at tho . l'aris Gymnasium. Mitchell stands 6ft. 3in. high, and weighs 12st. 91b., but tho match wan ridiculous. Tho Englishman's defence was preposterously weak. After tho fourth palpable knock-down Mitchell still wanted to go on. but his seconds threw in tho towel. The contest lasted limn. 3osec. London, April 16. George Mitclieli, tho Bradford amateur, who stood up against Carpentier far linin. 35sec. in Paris, and so won a bet that he would stay longer than Bombardier WellSj returned to London yesterday. Ho explained that he did as well as he expected to do, and never imagined that ho could seriously test tho Frenchman. But he believed that, hi could make a better showing than Wells. He made £100 over,the affair. R. L, Baker "A Live Artist." Bombardier Wells is keeping in the public eye. The following cablegrams give a rccord of his present activities :— London, April 23. Bombardier" Wells knocked out Luri in the seventh round at the Canterbury Theatre, London, yesterday. Sir. It. L. Baker was referee. It is worth}' of note that Mr. Baker's performance as third, man in the ring called forth a volley of flattering comment from the English Press. 1 Lven the London "Times" takes him "to its heart' and hands him a bouquet in tho iollowing terms, which were cabled by the Independent service:— "Mr. Baker gave an excellent illustration of a difficult craft. He should be engaged to leoture on refereeing at the National Sporting Club. ... He is a true artist." i Luri, by the way, was the heavyweight champion of France until Oarpentier knocked him out in three rounds at Bordeaux in June last year.

Foeman for tho Croat Ceorges. Apropos of Gecrgcs Carpentier, it is good to learn that he is at last t<S be put up against something really good in the way of white heavy-weights, for Gunboat Smith must bo voted good., as white heavies go nowadays. This contest will really test liini, and it is time that this was done, for, notwithstanding the position which he ocpupies in tho public eye, it must bo remembered that he has really done nothing yet to justify the high place which ho has been given. Tho only good heavy whom he has met so far, excluding Bombardier Wells for obvious reasons—is Joe Josniictto, who beat him. As a middle-weight he was beaten by the only roally top men fee met—Billy Papke and Frank Elans. Quite recently, too, Jeff Smith, noiv jn Sydney, gave him a very difficult tweftty rounds.' If he ever comes against "Gun. boat" Smith, we shall get a lino tin the true Carpentier. Till then wo must sus» pend judgment.

Another. Middleweight "Hope." George Chip, twico conqueror of Frank Klaus, was knocked from ms middle-weight pedestal on Wednesday at New York by A 1 M'Coy, who accordingly strides into the limelight of tho middle-weight world

All tho World Over. The Independent Cable Service has sent the following cablegrams to the Sydney "Sun." Parlsj April 10, Jack Johnson has notified the law authorities in Chicago that ho will return to tbat city to undergo, his scicoivd on tho white slave charges after his match with Frank Moran. Los Angeles, April lj. Ad. Wolgast, ex-light-weight champion of the world, has agreed to meat J'oo Rivers in a twenty rounds battle, either on May 19 or 22. London, April 1WJoe Jeannette and Andrew Johnson met at Liverpool. Jeannette knocked his man out in tho fourth rsund< London, April 16. Harry Stone, who won some clever affairs 'in Australia, has been matcfec/1 to fight Freddie Welsh. The battle J? for the championship of Europe wd for £1000. London, April IQ. With Olabby and his manager. Lick* tenstein, aboard the R.M.S. Ventura, which left San Francisco for Australia yesterday, are Shugrue, Meore, Well' ing, and Steve Ketcholl. CW>by lias a guarantee of £5000 for three contests. London, April 16. Private Basnam and Gus Plaits, tho English boxers, have contracted Mr. "Snowy" Baker to sail for Sydney in Jun«.

Dave Smith 111. Writes Mr. TV. F. Corbett; >"That widely-known and popular boser, Davo Smith, is lying seriously ill at Ims hotiie, Mosman, and' his medical attendants, aro unable to say what the trouble really is, though they i'elfc inclined- to attribute it to appendicitis. Twice during one night tho patient seemed on the verge of collapsing, and bis candition engendered grave. feats.' ■ A few hours later a slight improvement curred, and tho latest bulletin was to the effect that indications we.ro more promising, though grounds fer alarm still existed. Suspecting; that the- resuit of his match with 3Md)O M'Go.orty. or something that happened during tho battle, might be responsible for the attack, 1 rail"; bis people up, and learned that he had been most cheerful during the several days intervening since the contest, and beyond the fact that ho suffered from a mild attack of i.iifl«e.m there had been nothing to create the impression that ho wis Cot his tistial self."