BOXING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9635, 29 October 1909, Page 3

BOXING.

The following is from the London "Sportinj? Life," of September 3rd: Mr Mcintosh was, as usual, tremendously busy whet: a "Sporting Life" representative called up in J him yesterday morning with a view to obtaining the very latest noxing news. "Need it he said that tne conversation turned tu Jeffries and Johnson straight away. Mr Mcintosh is now chasing J m Jeffries, ex-b lilennaker. ex champion boxer of the world, and present theatrical star. I "Said Mr Mclnto.sh :'I missed Jeffries. I passed him on the way. Ha was off to Carlsbad to take the ! waters, and his manager was unable j to fix up anything definite, because Jeffries repudiated by cable his authority to act' "'I ain going to see Jeff., and I hope t) get something definite before leaving for Australia on October Ist. By the way, I am taking Bob Fitzsimmons and his wife back with me. Bob is matched to meet Bill Lang and Squires. " 'Oh yes,' continued Mr Mcintosh ; 'Bob has still got his punch The Cornishman is in training at his farm, a few miles outside New Jersey City. He has a very fine place there, with well over 20 acres of land. It is just like an English estate —an altogether delightful spot. Bob is,founding a physical culture school at his home, and should do well. His matches with Squires and Lang will be 20 rounds apiece, and the first will be at the Stadium, Sydney, on Boxing Day. "I have also negotiations pending with Langford to box Tommy Burns in Australia—always providing that Largford wins against Ketchel. " 'What do I think about Ketchel?' " 'Ketchel is the best lignter in the world, "but-and this little word is so very important —he will not train except in a prefunctnry sort of ' Way. Beyond all dcubt, he is the best middle weight the world has ever sean bar Bob Fitzsimmons. He is a dramatic boxer. H<2 punches from any angle. I saw his contest with O'Brien—it was a great bout. " 'ls Ketchel still a mid "This drnw the reply that 'Ketchel stands about srt 9in: is about 24 years of age, and a superbly p-op.jr-tioned man. He looks like a Dane, with his fair hair and blue e.yes He is fearless to a degree; there is no retreat with him He is all attack, his feet doing the "shift" all the time. Jim Corbett says that Ketchel would have a chance against any man in the world. He is so game; he has never had enough, and when he is driven back he returns with both hand 3 moving witn lightning rap' idity, and, as I hinted before, his opponent never knows where <he punches are coming from. I think Langford something of a one handed boxer, but Langford has a beautiful rixht, and this rightens his chance against Ketchel, because Ketchel keeps his hands so low." "Then Mr Mclntsoh got back to the Jeffries-Johnson affair. "Johnson is willing and ready; he has been all along. He has never changed. Oh, ves, I think he is I looking after himself all right; you I see, he cannot afford to lose his I title. And Jeffrie3 h going to meet 'him; but "Jeff' wants to post-nvo tha day as ling as possible t s not a que3tio-' of physical F-"- i'h him, for Jeffries is absolutely fearless. What he does fear is l of prestige, and so he will not be seen in the ring until he is abnlitsly sure he is really fit. And it will be a bitter contest. That between ' Burns and Johnson was hitter enough, and this will be more so. There is the 'colour' prejudice, and —and—Johnsun's talk. "Jeffries is down to between 15st and 16st nowr When fit he will be the biggest trained man that ever entered a ring. By trained I mean with all his weight it will be all goo} stuff. The nearer you get to him the bigger he looks. With his strong face, his enormous limbs, and magnificent chest, he is a wonderful man He is a queer man. There is po polish about him, but if he takes a liking to anybody he is a rare good chap, and as straight as a die. His theatrical tour was a huge success. He made 40,000 dollars during a twenty weeks' engagement, and is a tremendous favourite with his countrymen. Americans will not hear of him being defeated."