BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1920, Page 2

BOXING.

CARPENTIER'S VICTORY OVER BECKETT* FIIENCHMAN'S STOBY OF THE FIGHT. Thus does Georges Carpentier, the famous French boxer, tell the story of his fight with Joo Beckett, heavy-weight champion of Ensland My future? I have agreed with Promoter Cocliran to meet Jack Dempsey for £35,000 (approximately 135,000 dollars, at the present rate of exchange), the winner of the fight to take GO per cent, and the loser 40. I think Dempsey will say this is a generous proposition. I agreed, if it is possible, to fight for the world's championship, and, win or lose, I shall havo realised the ambition of my life. I hare already had many other offers, but until I know Dempsey's decision I will rest content with my last battle. I will meet him In June, perhaps, and then I will retire* to the farm. When I mot Beckett I was excited. I have i beaten him. With the Prince of Wales and everyone looking on, I won a victory against > i England's champion with his huß<? ahd form- 1 idable muscles and everything in his favor. I was happy. Then I stood back :md became j sad, because there was Beckett all in a heap. , "Helnl Magnlflque!" the people shouted. I was In a whirl. I laughed. I wa3 amazed to have won a triumph so quickly. There had been no 'opposition, no trouble for me. I was untouched. I wrested myself free of the crowd and carried Beckett to his corner. He was half asleep. The Prince of Wales was looking on. I saw, as everybody did, that ho could not understand. I myself, ft moment before, did not understand. The Prince of Wales congratulated me In perfect French. I was living the proudest moment of my life. I was overwhelmed with joy when I know that I had won, In the quickest and easiest possible way. what I feared was to be the most difficult task of my life. A straight left—the most obvious punch a fighter uses —and then I followed up with the right. That was all. What manner of a fighter **i»ckett is I don't know. Who can tel'-*, onlv four blows are delivered—and * ovfir? 4 . so goodl w .'Stlnn that I won by lucky blows ~ . .atf t0 Ine ' 1 on by obeying the flifii principles of boxing, which Is a game of I am not clever, but what I did is , what you would do in the gymnasium. After I punched Beckett's nose, I saw that he was without guard, and slow to think. Just as a novice would do, I. shot right to the point, and won. Before the fight I put Beckett on the dissecting table, and found that he was In almost every particular my physical superior, and we had watched his fights and agreed that he had a strong, but slow, punch. Manager des Camps decided, and I agreed: "If you box you'll win." And this I did.