BURNS-LANG FIGHT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10024, 21 April 1910, Page 3

BURNS-LANG FIGHT.

AUSTRALIAN HEAVY-WEIGHT CHAMPIONS Ell P. FAST AND CLEVER FIGHTING. Before an immense gathering of people, which perhaps exceeded any crowd seen at the Stadium since the Burns-Johnson battle ou Boxing Day 1908, for the world's championship, Burns, the Canadian, and Lang, the Australian, figured in one of the fastest and most skilful boxing contests Sydney has had for a very long time, and it was an exceptionally clean fight all the way, says the "Sydney Telegraph" of 12th inst. Burns forced the work all through, and once or twice it looked as if he would defeat his opponent, particularly in the ninth round, when the Canadian harried and breasted and punched the Australian round the ring. Burns never looked a loser at any stage, despite that his condition and strength gave out near the end of the three minutes during which he had Lang in such dire trouble, and did look then as if Burns would have won had he been able to keep his great pressure of power going. Lang never- showed to such advantage; he was in better condition and greater heart than on any previous occasion in hid career, and remained as cool as the proverbial cucumber in many a torrid corner. In height Burns, when straightened up, looked a boy in front of Lang, but when he crouched the disparity between the pair was much more striking, but Burns' massive [ torso and great hips and thigh 3 were those of the dwafted giant, and much superior to Lang's development. Burns made play for the body as a rule, and in the earlier rounds wrought considerable mischief in that quarter, but Lang's crosses with the right in uppercuts through the same agency should have bean effective blows—very much, when they landed, but Burns appeared to be troubled very little by them; indeed, what ! seemed a weight punch to those looking on from the benches and the chairs always goaded the Canadian on to greater and more sus- ! tained efforts.

A HOT HOUND. The ninth was the most stirring of a succession of high tension rounds. Burns hooked his left to the neck, and Lang's straight left missed. Burns jabbed the left home two or three times, and shifted his head out of the way of wicked-seeming left'and right swings to the head. Lang just „ missed the jaw with a solid left, but was more successful using a right on the other side. Burns' left swing made contact just above the "point," and Lang's right uppercut hurt his opponent a good deal. Burns now went in at a fierce gait, and though Lang's uppercuts were in evidence ' here and there, Burns kept moving, and operating—with the object of making openings, his left and right to either jaw, landed with such force that Lang appeared to be on the verge of'going. Again did Burns get the same double in r and took a heavv left jab to the face wbiie doing so. Then Burns' power petered out—the sustained effort had beaten him, and just when the situation suggested that all he had to do was to go in and win, he found it necessary to seek a little respite. THE BATTLE IN A NUTSHELL. The announced weights were Burns 12st 18ib, Lang 13st 61b; and the statement thereof was received with howls of derision, writes the Bulletin representative. Most such announcements are received that way, Lang's reach wasjjmuch longer than Burns', and he towered over the Canadian. With that long sweep it seemed impossible for Burns to reach him except in in-fighting, and a clean break had been stipulated for. Lang's chances looked hopeful. Burns opened the battle by dancing a jig round his taller adversary, who tried to get in and do damage. But the Canadian I jigged out of danger, j beautifully, and closed the round without making a solitary attack on the Australian. People reckoned that terrific jig-pace would soon wear Burn 3 out ; and by the end of the fifth round his head smoked, and the steam of his boile).- went up in a cloud. But he still jigged on, faster than ever, and the Australian regarded him dazedly as he skirled round and smote and bashed aDd roughed like seventeen devils. For nine solid round's he piled up points at an araaz« ing rate, smashing Lang repeatedly, and getting but little in return. But the tenth saw a change; Lang got him on the nose, uppercut him twice and landed the left heavily on the side of the fsce. He came in to do

some more; but a wallop on the jaw . sent him back. During the 11th, ! 12th and 13th the damage received by Burns was in excess of what he gave, and in the 14th Lang actually forgot himself and went for Burns savagely, roughed him, smashed him on the jaw tftree times, and looked like becoming an aggressive fighter. But he slowed down again in the 15th, and cut loosa once more in the 16th and did considerable damage. But Burns came through all" right, although at one time he was verygroggy. Then Lang became the same old wooden figure; Burns want for him like a wild cat, and though unable to knock him out, managed to evade most of Lang's defensive swipes. In the final Burns made a supreme effor; but Lang survived. And when the gong sounded, Mcintosh, who was referee, remarked, "Burns wins."

WHAT WON THE CONTEST. ! Then there burst out a storm of hooting. People howled that Lang had been robbed. One of Lang's seconds said his man had broken his right hand; but, all the same, he punched some mighty smacks with it right through and up till the last moment. Mcintosh gave the only possible dej cision. Burns had, with the excepj tion of two rounds, done all the fight- | ing and supplied the entertainment. Much of Lang's defensive work failed, and his fearsome left had missed the mark Had he gone after Bums he would have won, for he is 3 stronger man, has a longer reach, and can be as quick as lightning when he likes. There was nothing physically in Burns' favour; but he had more grey stuff inside his skull than kang; j and ,that was what won him the fight. Lanj; will never be a worldbeater—he isn't aggressive enough, and hasn't the brains, apparently, to make proper use of his splendid physical talents. Had h 3 possessed them, a Canadian hacj not been champion of Australasia to-day. What we want is a fighter with Lang's physical development and Burns' mental- | ity. Then we 11 shake 'em up Lang 'should have won Monday night's fight; and would had he toughc properly. Ac it was, the most he could do was maKe a draw; but his supporters were so surprised to see him still standing apparently uninjured that thsy thought he must have won. The hos- ! tile demonstration was cras3 lunacy.