THE ARAB JIMMY WILDE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3499, 29 May 1920, Page 7

THE ARAB JIMMY WILDE.

ABOUT HUSSEIN ABRAS, THE BRO\\’.\' BOXERM FROM BAG-DAD.

(Pearson ’s Weekly.)

There is a wonderful romance in the story of how Hussein Abbas——the young Arab boxer who has recently given proof of his skill Tn London—came to this country . Faur years or so ago the Assistant-Provost-.\lal'slial of Bagdnd, Captain Victor McLnglen, chanced to be standing on the banks of the muddy river which flows tlirough the city, waiting for :1 niahatah, or native boat, to take him at:ross,twhen he Saw a. big Arab making off from a date garden with a heavy branch of dates. Clinging '-to the long skirt of the giant was a boy of about eleven, who was fighting for all he was worth to recover the stolen fruit. The lad’s face was bleeding from heavy blows ‘he had received, and his body was trbruised with kicks and punches, yet he still refused to give up the struggle. ' Captain McLaglen, sizing up the isitiintion, at once walked over to the couple, and dealing the thief :1 heavy blow, sent him reeling to the ground, after whi('h he turned to the boy.

Blj_-l’l" A LABOUR CORPS CHASIPION. The latter, he discovered, was employed in guarding :1. dale garden. His father, a. Mullah, had belonged to ‘(L wandering desert tribe, the members of which lived eliiefly by hunting and oecasionally pillaging. Trouble, however, arose with the chief of the tribe, and Hl_lssein’s futlier brought his family to Bagdad, in an effort to eke out a more honest living in that city, Hussein’s contribution to the family exchequer being derived from his scanty earnings in the ‘date garden. However, McLaglen engaged the boy—first as :1 rower, and then as a barrnan. He was taught boxing by his master, and when he lmd learnt the first. rules of the game he would spend hours in sparring before a mir-

I'ol‘. Then suddenly young Abbas, having seemingly become aware of his strength and skill, sought to . match himself against. a real boxer of his own weight A match was aranged between him arid the champion of the Ist Madras Labour Corps, and, greatly to the lat.ter’s suprise, Abbas won. HUSSEIN’S GREATEST WISH. His next contest was with a hefty native beel'-cartel‘, one of a number of men who were cho‘s‘en for that task'by reason of their extl'aordill- - ability to bear heavy weights. The result of this match also went to Abbas’s faVoul‘——the big porter was knocked out quickly and decisively by the boy ’s masterly punch. Then came the end of the War, and Hussien Abbas—now' only fifteen—found himself very sad at the prospect of‘ parting from his master. There was a hurried consultation, with the authorities, and then ‘Hussein found himself bound f-or England. When he arrived he was given a chance at the National Sporting Club. He boxed Well, buff, as he was matched against a high-class British boxer, he lost the verdict on points. Next time he profited by his previous experience, with the result that tat the end of a few rounds his English opponent held out his hand as a loser, and Abbas was announced the victor. Hussein hopes to go much .t'ul'thel“ yet, and Captain McLaglen~ believes he will. Behind the boy’s ambition] ‘vto become a champion of the ring there lies an even greater ambition. It is his dearest wish to earn enough i money as a boxer to be able to return to Mesopotamia seine day and buy -.1. house for his father and mother!