IN THE RING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8338, 25 January 1913, Page 15

IN THE RING

Tho Northern XSoxing Association will hold a carnival in Auckland on February 18th and lUth. 'i'iio principal attractions will ho contests between Barney Ireland and Brivato Valmcr, and block Keys v. Ilod Standen. B. Lowe and F. Williams are to meet at Gisborne on February 12th to decide tho question as to who is to bo heavyweight professional champion of New Zealand. J. llagcrty and A. Bromwich are matched to meet at Hastings next Wednesday evening. It should bo a good go. On December 6th, at tho King’s Hill/ South London, Bombardier Wells, champion of Great Britain, easily accounted for George Kodel, tho South African. This contest, though freely advertised, hardly created tho anticipated interest, and, as a result, a poor attendance was in evidence. Kodel led promptly for the face, but Wells stepped back quickly. The South African devoted his attention to tho body, only twice reaching the head during the contest, but found an elusive opponent, who forced his man to a corner and swung tho right heavily to tho jaw. Wells outboxod his rival completely in tho first round, and upon resuming did nearly all tho leading. Ilodel was almost helpless in defence, and Wells simply lauded whore and when he liked. The South African was down twice from righthand blows to tho chin, and another light one on tho point settled matters, Ilodel failing to rise in 10 seconds, just before tho close of the second round.

WHO ARE AUSTRALIA’S CHAMPIONS ? Who aro welter and middle-weight champions of Australia? This question wo uro frequently asked to answer, and wo have to invariably state that. tho matter is iu abeyance (says “ Solar Plexus” in tho “ Arrow”). Regarding tho welter division, an_ unsatisfactory state of .affairs exists. When Otto Gribb died in 1901, Georg© Johns claimed tho title, and successfully defended it against Tom Mitchell, Ted Nelson, and Bob Quigley. His last contest with tho latter took piano on J uly 24th, 1906, after which ho did not enter tho ring again until September oth, 1909, when ho lost to Rudie Unlinks, who, iff tho December following, was beaten iu turn by Thoru. Iu his turu Thorn lost to McCoy in a catchweights contest, and he, therefore, claims to have tho best right to tho title. However, as Unholz was a bird of passage, tho claim must, according to the majority, fail. Therefore, there is no ono who can justly claim tho title. -

In the middle-weight division tho state of affairs is similar. There are many who lay claim to it without any right whatever. Arthur Cripps, the last legitimate champion, retired in 1911, when the title should have reverted back to the ex-champion, Eddie Williams, who, through being unable to make the weight, has retired from tho game altogether. Tho matter of settling iho question, once and for all, as to who-is-who in the different divisions, will bo attended to by Mr “ Snowy” Baker in promoting elimination bouts for bantams, welter, middle, and heavy-weights. Notwithstanding tho fact that Toddy Green is tho undoubted champion bantam of Australia, it is years since ho met any opponent at tho Bst limit, and should he defeat Young Holden on Anuiversay night, he will be matched against Spider Elliott, champion bantam of Victoria.

Tho heavyweight championship will be decided in tho same manner. This' will he tho means of bringing out tho many embryo champions that we often road of from tho country towns of New South Wales, besides giving a chance to such men as Jack Chiddy Ryan’s “ White Hope,” Coghdl (amateur champion), Fitzsimmons, and others, to say nothing of Colin Bell, Doran, Waddy, Jack Howard, and Les O’Donnell, THE INDEFINITE RULES OF BOXING. Quito a controversy is going on among followers of boxing as to.whai boxing nowadays really is, and what arc tho standards by which it is to be judged (says “Side Step” in tho Sydney “Daily Telegraph”), Tho Marquis ot Queeusberry rules did you say? Yes, those rules are very good, as far as they go, but they leave so much to individual interpretation, that it is extremely difficult to get two people to agree on their reading, more especially in the light of tho modifications and variations that obtain in Australia—the New South Wales police rules, for instance. And, indeed, it is often the case that a referee will decide tho same point differently when it crops up on separate occasions. There is the question of tho clean break. One day we see the clean break enforced literally, and with the utmost strictness. Both boxers aro called on to “break,” almost before they have actually clinched. Another time we see tho man with his hands free using them in all manner of ways, delving away at an opponent’s body or raking them up for uppercuts. There are other points, but this is “tho” one that wants clearing up. As things are, it would sometimes appear that one man is permitted to do all tho close hitting, and when that man happens to he an Australian opposed to a man from overseas, a rather sinister suggestion is liable to get uppermost in the minds of the onlookers. And that is not good for tho game. Lot the onlookers go away quarclling as much as they like about a decision, but do not let them leave tho ringside suggesting that one man—a foreigner—has received unfair treatment. The trouble starts with the indefinitenoss of the rules that govern the game, and that is where tho remedy should be applied. From what the writer has picked up casually among those who watch boxing. ho has learned that there is quite a big body of opinions with the sinister twist referred to. We like to be called “good sports.” and generally aro regarded as such. The claim to that designation should he jealously guarded. Until there has been some standardisation of methods of judging, of points to be awarded, and a clearer definition of what is and what is not j>ermissible in boxing, there will not he satisfaction among ringsiders, and among tho boxing public generally. Recently decisions have been given, not by the referee—the man who can admittedly see most, of what happens in a contest, and is therefore host able to judge of the result—hut by judges who. because of a certain set of circumstances, are appointed to "assist” tho referee. Sneh derisions, doubtless, were perfectly honest. But tho point is that judges cannot see the game as the man in the ring can. Whenever the borers’ barks are towards them—and that is very freouentlv the ease in a 1 >w ’■■•..{ the judges must suffer the disability of being qnitn unable to see what is happening. Tho referee system pure and ..with. tho. .rules -tet-io ohscrrecL

clearly defined, is tho only satisfactory way of adjudicating on a boxing contest. And, when the rules are clearly set out, they should be enforced with all strictness. Breaches should bring disqualification more often than they now bring mere cautions.