BOXING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3189, 14 May 1909, Page 7

BOXING.

Jack Johnson, the burly negro pugilist, arrived in New York a few days ago, writes a New York correspondent under date of April 2nd, and was boisterously welcomed by a crowd 15,000 strong. Like every champion bruiser, he wore a colossal diamond, flashing magnificently -from a florid necktie. Negro .women, resplendent in beehive bonnets and in gowns reflecting every colour in the spectrum analysis, were present in great force. Bands played, "See, the Conquering Heio (>mes," as, accompanied by his wife —who, by the way, is a white woman —Johnson stepped into a motor car and was driven down-Broadway. His reception in the main thoroughfare almost equalled the ovation accorded no .Admiral Dewey when he returned victorious from Manila ten years ago. Johnson declares that he is ready to fight all-comers, and will accept any terms that Jeffries suggests. A correspondent writes: "Personally, I don't beiieve that Jeffries will re-enter the ring. He has neither the wind nor the spee,d of four years ago, and not even the clamouring thousands of either admirers or dollars will tempt him to try to recover the championship for the white race if he cannot train himself into his old condition." Johnson declines to fight Langford at the National Sporting Club, London, on May 24, on the- ground that the purse is too smsll. ,■- Into the Goswell road Post Office, one day recently, walked a stalw ; "J, broad-shouldered old man," with wtete hair and moustache (says a London paper). 'He came to sign an application form for an old age pension, and gave his name as Jem Mace, born at Beestan, Norwich, April "Bth, 1831. The old ma.i with the well-brushed silk bat was, indeed, none other than the famous eld pugilist, and forme*" undefeated champion of the world, who now, within u few weeks of his seventy-eighth birthday, .finds himself fallen on hard times. Despite his advanced years, Mace is as hard as nails, ana as jolly as a sandboy, and he was delighted to chat with an interviewer. He was at hia prime in the sixties, and boasts 500 fights with only two defeats. "Careful living and keeping off the drink is the secret," he said, "In the old days men trained haider,! and went through ordeals that woihd killpresenfc day boxers. There's all the difference in the world between the old fights with bare knuckles and glove contests to day, which are mere pleasure outings." Mace is still active and keen. Within the last fortnight he has been giving exhibitions of boxing at Hull and Covetitry.and he hopes to have the gloves on with pupils and others many times more. Some big prizes have fallen in his time to the lot of the old man who to-day is applying for an old age pension. In one fight in America he won £IO,OOO, and he has known what it is to have iS'rOjOOp in the bank.