BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 77, 17 August 1912, Page 7

BOXING.

THE McVEA-LANGFORD MILL. FIGHT STOPPED AND ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. EXTRAORDINARY POLICE ACTION. Notwithstanding that lie had everything in iiis favor —physical advantage and absurd police restrictions—Sam McVea could not win over Sam Langford at the Stadium last night, (says the Sydney Sun of the 4th instj the Boston Tar Baby scoring a points decision after the fight had been stopped by Superintendent Goulder in the fourth round for the committal of a .police constituted breach—the landing of an alleged kidney punch. The happening was propably the most extraordinarily ridiculous thing that has been seen in an Australian ring. The police have decided on the abolition of tire kidney punch—a very proper thing—but for the purpose of the police it has been arranged that any punch in the region of the bade shall be regarded as a kidney punch. The location of the kidneys has not been taken into consideration, and, when, in the second round last night, Langford drove a left a bit far round on McVea's side, Superintendent Goulder jumped to his feet, and with his stick waving in the air, called out, "That will do. If it occurs again I'll stop it." Langford looked astounded. He could not understand it. He continued .to fight with scrnplous fairness but in the fourth round he was in trouble again. Moving under McVea's lead, he got in close and drove his right home, the glove landing just on the small of the back. "That will do," exclaimed Superintendent Goulder.

The boxers were parted. Neither could make out what had hapened. But at that stage the fight was at an end.

Referee Arthur Scot f conferred with the police officer, hut there was no alteration in his decision. Scott walked into a corner. McVea and Langford leant on the ropes, not knowing what to do. The referee aproached the superintendent again, and after a second consultation the boxers were called together, warned, and told to continue.

The fight as a whole was somewat disappointing. But those who braved the elements were rewarded for their trouble by being enabled to inspect what must unquestionably be admitted to be one of the finest athletic halls in the world. It is no exaggeration to make this claim. The structure does real credit to Australian workmen. Although the internal arrangements had riot been quite completed, it was hard to see where any improvement could be made. The old Stadium—the arena in which so many notable battles have been fought, and which Sydney fight followers had become accustomed to—was made to look absolutely cheap. It reminded one of the old National Sporting Club, only on a more extensive and magnificent scale. Everything was a revelation. The "bleacher" people have .been brought close to the ropes, and everybody had an uninterrupted view of the ring, which has been constructed within the steel uprights that partially support the huge roof. And, incidentally, the ugliness of the steel frame was hidden by a neat display of hunting.

As for the fight, it was a one-sided affair, and not as good as either of the previous encounters put up by the pair in Sydney. With the exception of the first couple of rounds, in which McVea was on top, it was distinctly a Langford fight. The Tar Baby fought with more snap than previously, and provided an effective block for the majority of McVea's deadly left hooks. That this was so was evident at the conclusion of hostilities, when the cone-shaped lump over Langford's left eye, which was such a conspicuous feature in the previous battles, was not present. As a fact, Langford was not marked; neither was McVea for that matter.

WHITING BEATS DEVITT. Brisbane, August 3 Ted Whiting was awarded a well-earn-ed decision over Gus. Devitt, at the Olympic Stadium to-night, at the close of twenty rounds. Packey MeFarland, who will he seen in action in Sydney this season was reported, recently to be contemplating entering Notre Dame University to study law unless he could force Ad. Wolgast to give him a furht. It was well-known that the stockyards scrapper was not fond of his ring calling but the sporting fraternity declined to believe that he would retire. "I'm like Alexander the Great —I'm too good," said Jack Johnston a couple of weeks ago. There isn't anvone else to lick that's worth a whoop. From now on I expect to meet red, white, blue or black hopes once a week. That means Sam Langford, too, but Sam will have to put up a side bet. I don't like that man and I want his money.