Papke on Australian Boxers

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 8, 20 April 1911, Page 19

Papke on Australian Boxers

Among the passengers - who left for - London by the R.M.S. Oranto, Avas ■'Billy, Papke, who is going to England to box Jim Sullivan, the English middle-weight champion. In an interview he said: "T can't 6ay that I think Australian boxers compare favourably with Americans, with the exception of Smith and Mehegan. They are only* a very moderate class of fighters. Neither Smith hor Mehegan may be champions, but they would .always keep the best moving. I advised 'Smith to give America a trial, as he would do well there. My opinion of the Australian boxing .public is very bad. They are no sports; they treated mc badly. in Sydney, and it Avas •the same Avith the other American boys. "The trouble started in my fight Avith Ed. Williams. That boxer butted mc Avith his head and used his elboAVs, and Avhen- I returned the compliment the . orowd hooted and howled. The referee interfered, but 1 did not want any referee to protect 'nve from a plug boxer. Then there Avas a fuss over my ay eight. Some of the newspaper Avriters, whom you Avould expect to ha\:e brains, 'roasted' mc and the other -boys" 'unfairly. They, in effect, demanded to know Avhat these Yankees Avanted in Australia. t am, of course, only speaking of some of the crowd. I have met and made the acquaintance .of some fine felloAvs, who are excellent sportsmen. I guess that I will not be anxious-to come to Australia again. I have been in Australia 6even months, and have not made much money out of the trip. I did not like Sydney from the first time I saw it. My defeats by Cyclone Thompson and Dave Smith may tell against mc in America, but I suppose I must overcome that. In Thompson's case it -was poor condition (having taken another boxer's place) and a bad hand that lost mc the fight, while I beat Smith easily enough the second time. I did not forfeit .£IOO for being overweight, as, according to the articles, my weight could have been a ton. The Stadium people may have forfeited My weight on that night was list 131b, and not 13st 21b, as has been published. "The other day I weighed in my ordinary clothes 12s t 121b."