BECKETT AND CARPENTIER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3372, 29 December 1919, Page 6

BECKETT AND CARPENTIER.

STORY OF THE FIGHT. FIRST AND FINAL BOUT. ' ‘ .y LONDON, Dec. 4. _, The first—and fin!al—round of the fight between Beckett and Carpentier is thus described by Rcuter’s corresrpondent: Carpentier rushed ‘in and got home his left to Beckett’s head-—it was a light blow. Then Beckett tried for the body. .Carpentier feinted with his left, and then brought his right hard over to Beckett ’s jaw and knocked him out. Beckett hardly got a good punch home before he was flo(;red. He fell with a. tragic thud, and there was nev_er «any chance of his rising again niithin the tithe. When ten seconds had expired there was a terrific roar 10f cheering, which .-had not subsided when Beckett returned -to consciousness. He s'ee'm'ed to be quite unaware ofvwhat had happened. The whole bout did not exceed two minutes.

After the fight Carpentier was carried round the ring shoulder high. The Prince of Wales, who was present, shook hands with both men. The duration of the fight was officially given as '74 seconds. The news of the result of the contest greatly excited members of the House of Commons, who deserted the .House while a speech by Mr Churchill was in progress. ‘

‘The correspondent..of the Times states that terrible swiftness was the keynote of the contest, between Becktt and Carpentier at the -Holborn Stadium. Almost .with the gong, Carpentier darted in and planted a left flush on Beckett’s face. After a little sparring he landed another swift left, and they clinched. He followed with two heavy" lcfts in swift succession. Coming out of the next‘ clinch Carpentier flashed his left to B'ec.kett’s head, and followed it with a terrific’ right t.o the jaw. Beckett fell face downwards on the boards, and was counted out. Excitement in the fight reached feve_r—heat early in the morning of the dfight, and crowds thronged the -drab Holborn streets_ inthe vicinity of the Stadiumfllall day.long, eagerly discussing the chances of the two men. Never before had two boxers such tremendous publicity as these. The only fact that was not definitely known was thedlactual‘-.amoun't of ‘the stake, but, although it is still strouded in mystery, there ‘is reason to believe that the boxel"s share will be £14,000, on the basis of Carpentier £IO,OOO, and Beck" ett £4OOO. This -leaves the promoter a handsome profit, as it is- estimated that the House will yield £25,000. The frantic demand for tickets at the last minute enabled speculators to reap -a rich harvest. ‘Seventy shilling tickets eagerly‘ changed hands at »£3‘(_)_. During the day bet.lf3lligt'veered -curiously’. Big sums were wagered at even money. Carpentie-r’s supporters accepted all that was available, but demanded odds. Beckett entered the‘ring favourite. Beckettfs superiority in- weight and reach was responsible for ‘the betting being in his favour. The Englishman weighed 13st. 21b, and Carpentier a‘ stone less. Beckett had '3. reach of 71-?_.»in, and the Frenchman 69in. Beckett was favourite at 7 to 4, though even money was obtainable in Paris. The veteran Jack Angle refereed the fight from inside ‘the ropes for the first time in his career. ‘

People in ‘the densely ' crowded streets‘ Watched the arrival of the notabilities. The .‘Pri_nc=, of Wal'~~. received an especially warm welcome. The inside of the small hall. presented 9. wonderful scene. It was crowded from floor to ceiling. Among the distinguivshdd; English‘ lthrong were _numerous pofiifificaal, fprofessional an_gd sporting faces. There were peers and titled mem galore A. typical modern touch was the presence of numl)Cr.~l

of richly dréssed ladies. Beckdtt journeyed from Southamp-

ton early in the a.ft.ern‘oQn__ His.happy disposition permitted him to _enjoy some hours’ sound sleep at a. quieit

hotel. Carpentier rested _at Stamnore, which is c4-lose to Lond<_)'l'l, until the last lfidinenf, whim he {IIIO-t0I‘(;‘(1~t(')"fh8 h-%all.in company with ’sevei"’al" French friends. ' T‘

I Beckett; on entring the ha. 1,1 received s; nerve-shaking wlcome, and with the characteristic phlegm noddcd briefly and) .grim!Ly. [Carpenztier was cheered heartily, and bowed and smiled with French grace. The veterdan ~rcfere-e, Jack Angle, received -aspecial cheer om his reappear.anc.e. Several men were in Carpentier’s corner, but His prhcipal second was his m'anagcr. Decamps, _who never per‘mits anybody else to direct operaiiomv where Georges in concerned. Bec'kr-vtt"s principal seconds were Johnny Basham and Jack Curphey. The former is a'*-pastxnasterwof ring tactics, and had a large share in the direction of Beckett’s training operations. .

As the gong sounded and the men shaped up to each Other, ‘the audience be-came brea-thlessly silent. There was a singular contrast between the two men. Carpentier, elegant, slim, whiteskinned, and supple-bodied, looked -.1 Cross between. a. matimee idol and an old-time Corinthian. His face and figure excited ‘the admiratio-n of all the women present, but" the men’s eyes travelled to his bull-dog opponent_ ‘Beckett, with the eyes of a tiger’, a. square, squat face, steel-grey» eyes, snapping mouth, body hard as a steel cuirass, but as flexible as a panther’s, typically British, and -.5 (leseenrlsnt of Tom Cribb and Jem l‘vlacc..