BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 94, 11 October 1911, Page 2

BOXING.

WILL JOHNSON KI-TIRE? j MR. H. 1). .McIXTOSH DOES NOT THINK SO. "I don't believe Johnson is serious in the statement that lie has retired. He has probably made it in a fit of pique following upon criticism that he has been subjected to by the newspapers." Thus Mr 11. 1). Mcintosh in the course of an interview with the Sydney Sun on Saturday. The Sydney promoter let it be known right away that independent of whether Johnson was or was not serious in the story given out, he (Mr Mcintosh) intended having something to say before the black cloud disappeared over the pugilistic horizon. "Johnson," he said, "is under contract to me for ten years, during which time he has got to box three men. Then he can retire. Why, only yesterday I received a cable from London in these words, 'Seeing solicitor with Johnson tomorow. Then cabling definitely. Vaudeville people here insist on £SOOO security for fulfilment of eight weeks' engagement.'

"This morning I received another cable as follows: 'Vaudeville trouble not yet settled. Improbable sail this lwa.t. Have notified steamship company re berths.' This doesn't look as if Johnson intends to retire.

''The whole of the storm in England, which 'this is the outcome of, was started by Sporting Life and other papers. They called upon .the sportsmen of England not to support the match between Johnson anp Wells, on the ground of tho inequality of the men. The men were not matched >equally at all. Wells did not haive the experience, the stamina, or the skill of Johnson. He was a promising boxer, and -would, they pointed out, be ready for the match in two years. The people here have been deluded into thinking that the trouble was over the question of black and white. It was nothing of the kind. Every year a -Mack versus white championship is decided in England, the last that took place being between lan Hague and Sam 'Langford Then Lang and Langford fought before the largest audience of its kind ever seen in London. Not a single voice was raised on the color question in connection with these matches. But when this contest was mooted exception was taken to it, because Wells was unequal to the task. The only way to get a white champion, as everybody realised, was to nurse one along imtil he had sufficient experience to put him before a champion. In connection with Wells, the people of England resented his being sent against Johnson before he was ready. Had they known that Wells had an even chance there would not have been a ground large enough to hold them. But it wasn't a fair thing, and nobody endorsed it.

"Much of the criticism that has been levelled against Johnson was because the inateh was not a fair one. Johnson has evidently felt this very keenly. He argued that as ho was challenged to .box the cluunpiou of England he, as champion of the world, who was ready to go against any man, independent of his color should acce-pt the , deli. Wells had the credentials, and he was ready to defend his world's title.

"The annoyance of Johnson is probably the cause of this *tnry about his retirement. He lias probably issued the statement while piqued, but 1 will have something to say on the matter yet. He is bound to me personally in £IOOO for each of the three contests he has agreed to take part in, and is further under an insurance bond of £SOOO. The insurance people will also have a few words to say albout it. Of course. I wouldn't stand in the way of his retiring if he was not fit to continue his ring career, 'but he is all right, lie has signed this contract of mine, and knows the men he is going to fight. One of them is Sam McVen," '•Then, you don't believe that he will retire''"

"No," the promoter answered. "He is probably sore at losing .€6OOO, and what lie regaVded as easy money. But even if he is serious the end has not been reached yet."