Boxing.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 6, 20 February 1911, Page 12

Boxing.

The match between W. Rudd, of New Zealand, and J. Blackmore, of Sydney, for the Heavy-weight Championship of New Zealand, took place at Hastings on January 26, and proved a most unsatisfactory affair. The following report is supplied by the correspondent of the " Dominion" : —

'' Hundreds of people howled with mingled disappointment and disgust when the referee tapped Blackmore on the shoulder and dubbed him winner of the fight with Rudd. Less than three minutes had elapsed from the start when Blackmore went down and was then struck by Rudd. Blackmore and his seconds immediately claimed a foul and the referee stepped into the centre of the ring. After some hesitation he then advanced to the front of the stage and announced Blackmore the winner. As may be judged, so brief a contest gave no guide to the respective merits of the competitors. As the men entered the ring Rudd showed several inches taller, and looked bigger all over and stronger than his opponent. When the gong sounded both sparred carefully and Blackmore several times beat Rudd's guard, feeling his way with light taps. Then Rudd commenced to force matters, and Blackn ore slipped to the ground. lie wss quickly on his feet, Bivl the New Z< alarder again became Blackmore seemed content to guard warily, and then a. blow from Rudd and an apparent slip of the foot resulted in the Australian again finding the boards. He kept down, and immediately Rtidd advanced and struck him. The fiasco inevitably produced much unfavourable criticism. There were many who raised the usual cry of ' fake,' but it is not easy to believe that any sports promoters would deliberately invite their patrons to be satisfied with one tame round. Another suggestion is that both Blackmore's falls "were made with a view to provoke Rudd to indiscretion. Seen after the eyent, Rudd expressed the utmost indignation with the decision. He said : ' Blackmore had his hands off the floor when I struck him. I watched for that, and therefore there was no foul. I wil never box under the Hawke's Bay Association again.' "

A meeting of the association's committee was held on the following evening, both Rudd and Blackmore being present. After a lengthy consideration, it was decided to pay over the first prize to Blackmore, and to disqualify Rudd for three months. The committee also decided that there was no evidence of collusion between the two men.

Lester, Tommy Burns's latest find, is a Pole, nineteen years of age. His real name is John Jubeck. American papers are paying some attention to Lester, and credit him with being the possessor of enormous strength. For instance, it is stated that he can take a horeshoe and with his bare hands twist it to pieces. He can put a spike nail in his teeth and bend it double by the strength of his jaw.

Bill Lang and Sam Langford. a cable announces, will meet at the Olympia Annexe, London, on February 16.

Johnny Summers, who recently returned to England after his Australian campaign, evidently found it impossible to get any of the light-weights to meet him, or else could not safely get down to the light-weight limit, for he took on the American welter, Harry Lewis, whom some authorities regard as the best man in his class in the world. The men met at the Olympia on January 26, and Summers had no chance whatever, being beaten in the fourth round.

Jack Johnson, a cable states, is itching to get back into the ring, and is endeavouring to persuade promoters tc match him against Kaufman.

At Boston, on January 10, Sam Langford defeated Joe Jeanette, the coloured heavy-weight, in twetlve rounds. So decisive was the defeat that Jeanette'« prospects of a match in Paris with Johnson have about vanished.

R. Arnst has definitely declared that as no fresh rivals in rowing have come forward he will take to boxing. He is being tutored by Larry Foley.

The Sydney "Referee" says:—The quest for a " white man's hope" of heavy-weight dimensions still goes on. Joe Choynski has taken Myles McOloud in tow; Tommy Ryan, an old-time middle-weight champion, has big Oon O'Kelly under his wing ; Jack Johnson still pins his faith to his sparring partner, Walter Monahan; and Oklahoma boasts one Garl Morris, who, as far as I know, is not hampered with managers or coaches. Of this bunch three have already been tried out. O , Kelly and Monahan have been found wanting, and Morr ; s has made good.