MACH'S MAORI.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1302, 31 March 1883, Page 4

MACH'S MAORI .

How THS *CVTS YaSKIES SWAItOW THS “ TSAVBLWM' TaLM." Tie New York gang of self.advertising ■peeulora in sports pin their hopes of beating Sullivan now on Jem Mace and his Moon giant. Sullivan says of the Maori ; " What U it 1 Let me look at it. If it’s a man, I’ll fight it.” Mace says that he has retired from the prize ring, but he is prepared to meet anyone in gloves, and that, afteija little training he will match his Maori against any one, Old pugilists are sceptical regarding Mace’s “ Unknown.” Siam's Hog-stickisg Exremsxcx. ** I suppose you can stand punishment T” asked a veteran pugilist of Slade. " Oh, yes. I could challenge any man to walk with bare feet upon broken glass. In former years, in my own country, my business was hunting and killing wild boars. I used to go out barefoot in the thickets and run in the brambles and stubble after the animals. My feet were badly cut up sometimes, but I didn't mind the pain and Inconvenience as long as I caught lota of boars, The government wished to exterminate the animals, and a bounty was paid for every tail that we could prod uoe in proof of a boar slaughtered, I used to run until I caught up with the animal, and then kill him with a knife, My two brothers were in the same business. I am used to hardships and fatigue, and I dont mind punishment. THZ CXAXHOX AND HIS COSDITIO.V. One of Sullivan’s friends assert that he is in no condition to meet Slade, the Maori, if New York parties should arrange the fight, as he has been drinking heavily during the trip which he is making with Coburn. Sullivan himself said : •• I’ve had enough of the soft glove racket, If Jem Mace has a man that will stand in front of me on the turf with bare knuckles, all right. We can arrange a match. It looks as if there would be a fight. It will be my last, probably, win or lose, so it must be for big money or not at all.” WHAT SLADE LOOKS LIKE. Slade (says the “ Police Nows”) certainly looks as if he might “ lay out” the work for the best of them. He is 28 years, six fest two inches tall, and weighs 225 pounds. His muscles are all splendidly developed, the lower limbs showing as good development as the arms and chest His hand is in itself a menace to life, large and sinewy, with a grip like a vice. His features are rather broad and heavy, with dair hair and eyes. He has the large month which old-timers used to say is one of the signs of a good fighter. His arms are not large. He seems to be all shoulders and back and big hands. Mace seems to wear his years as light! y as he did 10 yean ago , but the top of his head is becoming bald, and his hair is sprinkled with grey. •• You’re getting old, Jem,” said the reporter, "and you can't afford to lead public opinion astray about the ability of Slade. Can he do it ** He’s the greatest boxer I ever saw for a big one," was the reply, “ If you’re as good a man as you were 10 yean ago,” the reporter said to Mace, " yon would have a good chance to try Sullivan yourself.” “ Ah, my lad, I wish I could go back. Sullivan’s style of fighting would just suit me.” “How is that F “They tell me he is a rusher, and will • come for it.' I’d stand and meet him, and U I got one or two * nose enders ’ you bet that he would not rush again. As ft Is, age and all thrown in, if ever I get in front of him ho won't knock me out in four rounds." The match between Slade and Sullivan will be to fight with bare knuckles for 85000. Maos says that, if Sullivan beats Slade, he will make a match to fight the Boston Hercules himself, with gloves, for A5OOO. John B. Deliny says he will bet from 81000 to 82300 that Slade can knock Sullivan out in one round. Mace says he is ready to wager any sum fIWU 825 to 8500 that blade can outjump, outbox, and outwrestle, in Cumberland style, anyman In the United States. The general opinion among the sports in Now York is that the Maori will stand little chance in the ring with John L. Sullivan. ” He is plenty big enough," remarked a well known sport, "but the question is, is he good enough!" “I think not,” joined in another sport, “ he’s too beefy, and mark my words, if he ever meets Sullivan in the ring Sullivan will make mlncc meat of him.” Many sporting men are of the opinion that there has been too much dissipation, sighteasing and late hours by Mace and his Maori pretext since their arrival, if it is really intended that the latter shall fight Sullivan, and Al Smith's willingness to back Sullivan for big money after seeing Slade is thought to argue badly for the Maori’s chances. MACE'S CONFIDENCE IX SLADE. Mace expresses the greatest confidence in Slade's ability to down Sullivan, and says that ho will put up his money on him. Mace layi’that he thinks Sullivan has not yet had a man in front of him able to take ar give punishment, bat that Slade can do both, and furthermore, when placed in front of Sullivan he will force the fight instead of allowing Sullivan to do the attacking. A San Francisco sport says that he heard Jem Mace’s Maorij pugilist, who is to make it hot for Sullivan in a slogging match, • battering in a room, and Mace showed him as his Australian champion. He was the ugliest man he ever saw. He was naked from the waist up, and very long and maacu* Ur arms were hanging between his knees. His face was simply hideous. The nose was flat, nostrils protruding, lips frightfully thick, forehead sloping straight back, and his eyes weren’t any larger than the end of my finger. When Mace gave a signal, the thing staggered up and put up its hands. ’* Why Jem,” he said, •• that isn’t a man !” “No," he answered, “ it’s a gorilla, but nobody can tell the difference when he begins to fight.” He put up his hands and made a pass at the animal. It parried cleverly and countered on Jem s smeller, following up with one on the eye that knocked the old champion bureau. Mace jumped up at once to close with the brute, and got a couple in the jaw that floored him in no time. Mace says :•* Slade is a half-breed Maori and the hardest hitter ever I saw in my life ; he had licked ever v man that ever crossed , him, and none of them ever came back for i for a second blow when he got his first right ■ horns. He can stand punishment, too, for I j have tapped him once or twice and he never i winced. He is a wonderful wrestler, too. Ho threw Prof. Miller just as I would a baby : and you people know that Miller is no j ■ slouch. He can outjump any man of his j size, and he is as active as a cat.” “ Did he ever fight in the ring ?” Mace was asked. ‘No,” replied Mace ; “there was never a man where he comes from that world dare to face him. But he knows as much about the ring as if he had been there a dozen times for I have had him in training for nearly a year. He was a natural fighter when I took hold of him and he soon learned all the trick. The best thing about him is Ids perfect good nature.” THI SAN FRANCISCO EXHIBITION. A reception and sparring exhibition was tendered to Jem Mace in SanFrancisco, January 8, the principal feature of the programme being the wind up between Mace ami his gigantic half-breed pupil, Herbert A. Slade, After a number of boxing

bouts by local eelsbritiw, Mass wd 81a<le appeared in the ring in full fighting costume, and were greeted with great applause, Both stripped in capital form. Mace weighed just 220 pounds and Slade 222. The first round wan a good display of science, Slade proved that he could hit straight from the shoulder with terrific force. Three exciting rounds followed, and the general opinion at the end was that Slade was nearly as clever as Mace,