BOXING

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10546, 31 January 1912, Page 6

BOXING

WELLS V. STORBEQK. The chief event at the National Sporting Club was a 20-round contest between" Bombardier Wells (England) and Fred Storbeck (South Africa), for a purse 01 £1250 (£BSO for the winner", £350 for the loser, and £25 to each man as a contribution towards training expenses) and £250 a. side. The result was a victory for Wells, who, as soon as he understood hist opponent's crouching method, brought his straight loft into play and gradually wore him down. The end came in "the 11th round, when Wells had Storbeck absolutely helpless, and finally knocked him out. THE COMBATANTS. Wolls and his style, which is based on the straight left (in his case _ a ! weapon which is thurst out intermin'aibly like the jibboom of a ya-eM), have so often been described that nothing further need be said on the I subject. He is a, fine type of the allI round athlete; he plays Association 'football really well, and as a sprinter is well above the average, lhe modem science of physical' culture has provided him at last with adequate protection for his middle storey, but it remained to be seen whether he could .stand the solid body blows which, as his victory over Chase proved, are Storbeck's chief match-winn-ing assets. . Articles for this match were signed ■before the new rule prohibiting the kidney blow was invented, and thus Storbeck was not debarred on Monday from using one of his favourite strokes, a stroke which he used in an' exhibition bout at the Belsize Boxing lOkib's annual display, to the disgust of the spectators. Storbeck is moro stoutly built than Wells; indeed, his physique closely resembles that of Jeffries in his prime, although his ever-smiling rubicund face never (wears the dark and deadly lock of the .mountainous American; Like the Jeffries that was ,ne can take .any amount of punishment, and, like Jef- > fries amain, he is willing to turn his ■cheek (or even his massive rounded chin) to the smiter, provided he can get in exchange an 4 opportunity of thumping his opponent on the solar plexus or thereabouts.' Those who remembered what happened wihen Gunner Moir landed a jolt half way down the 6ft Bin of Bomhardier Wells (all the breath came out of himi in' a grunt) were not at all sure that the latter?s superiority in pace and reach would enable him to avoid defeat on Monday night.

; THE. FIGHT.: Both men were seen, to be perfectly trained when they appeared in the ring with their numerous seconds. They were not long, in getting to work,, and then it was evident that Storbeck had ' been taught all the American tricks for irritating and bewildering aii opponent. He crouched with, his back parallel to the ■ground—an attitude ' which puzzled Wells throughout— and after a 'little sparring ejaculated "ItV easy." In the fourth round, after delivering a .strenuous "hay-maker" which made a halo round the English champion's hrad. lie informed the company that he had "got" Wells. ■■ During the first four rounds Wells was somewhat at sea, though he had iStonbcck down for three seconds ' in the second" round and had no difficulty in evading his full-circle right swings. Afterwards Wells began to box his opponent, and to jab him perpetually in the face with his elongated left, a process of slow attrition wliich soon obliterated the South African's pleasant smile. These light blows on the game.spot often do as much towards breaking a man down as the most spectacular of punches, and a knowledge of this fact is an important part of the stock-in-trade of. Wells. Once of twice Storbeck nearly succeeded in getting in his favourite body blow (the same which caused the' subsequent proceedings to interest Chase no more), but Wells was always just out of danger. When he saw he could not attack his man successfully in the lower plane, Storbeck tried all manner of "roughing," without, however, hurting his opponent appreciably. In the | ninth round the everlasting left jabs , and hooks, which Storbeck had no notion of stopping or evading, began to take effect. In the tenth Storbeck could hardly raise his right' for a blow, so tired was he,' and Wells had him down for nine seconds, the end of the round coming not a moment too soon for the South African. In the 11th round Storbeck was hardly aMe to see, and no more than a punching bag for the Englishman, who held his hand repeatedly and ■ looked in vain to the referee for the signal to stop. It was "amazing to see how much punishment Storbeck took before rolling over, and his final exhibition of pluck atoned to some extent for his .unsportsmanlike methods. ' I