A GREAT FIGHTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2317, 9 October 1908, Page 2

A GREAT FIGHTER.

A CHAT WITH BILL SQUIRES,

“Don’t call me Mr. Squires, jugt ‘Bill,’ ” nas tlie first remark made by that great fighter to a representative of this journal in the course of a chat last night in the manager’s room in His Majesty’s Theatre. The remark as characteristic of the man, for it would bo hard to find a more unassuming gentleman than he who has come so close to being the champion boxer of the world. While speaking modestly about his own achievements, Squires readily shows that he is a true sportsman by the enthusiastic" manner in which he refers to the good qualities of the men he has been pitted against from time to time, and more particularly of his latest opponent, “Tommy” Burns, the world’s champion. Turning to the day of the recent big battle with Burns, Squires explained that, at the outset, lie was confident of victory, although, not really well. “I shook him along well for a while,” he said, “but when I had of chance of finishing in the ninth round, I hadn’t got the strength for a knock-out.” The striking feature of the champion’s work Squires considers to be liis “in-fighting,” and he says that Burns gets in “some terrible punches” while at close quarters- “Tommy” is 'also great on footwork, making it very hard to measure your distance for a hit and if you miss, Veil, .it’s all up,” was another saying of •the Newcastle man, who certainly ought to know. Squires announced his intention of challenging the winner of the Burns-Johnson. fight, which takes place in Sydney or Melbourne on the 26tli inst. “I’m feeling better every day,” he said, “and liext time I meet Burns I think I will give him the fight of his life and just about win.” ' Chatting about present-day boxers and their doings, Squires said that the fight between Burns and Johnson is sure to bo a great “go,” aud although the black is a very powerful defensive fighter and hard hitter, “Bill” thinks that Burns will come out on top. “Then,” he says, “about four weeks afterwards I shall have another try.” He considers that Bill Lang had not got a “possible” with Burns, and that it was u lucky half hit, half shove that sent the champion down early in the fight. Jim Griffin, Squires holds, is a coming man, although he'does not give him much chance in his approaching contest with Lang, on account of the great disparity in the weight. However, as Squires remarked, “no matter how big and heavy they are, if you hit them in the _ right place they’ll go out, and Jim is a clever lad)” Two American boxers, Stan. Ketchell and Joe Grim, “the IronMan,” Squires thinks are first rate fighters. The latter he lias never seen fight, hut gives a glowing account of Ketohell’s great battle with .Too Thomas for the midle-weiglit championship of the world, when, after 32 rounds of fierce fighting, Thomas was defeated. “Well, Bill,” was the pressman’s parting query, “I suppose next time you come to New Zealand it will be as champion of the world?” “I would hardly say that,” was the still modest reply, “but that is my aim, and I’m going to have a big try.” Squires, who intends to return to Australia in about six week’s time, is travelling the Dominion for the purposes of recuperation. He has never wholly recovered from the rheumatism which attacked him when in America, and which he says has greatly interfered with liis fighting powers. He is enthusiastic about New Zealand and the Maoris, hut, like 'all true Australia ns, thinks there is no place just so good as that land of sunshine,