The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1908. A GREAT PRIZE-FIGHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2385, 29 December 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1908. A GREAT PRIZE-FIGHT.

The fact that 20,000 people paid various sums, raging from 5s to as many guineas, for the iy;ivilego of witnessing the contest between the Canadian, Burns, and the American negro, Johnson, for the boxing championship of the world at the Stadium in Sydney, is a sufficient indication' of the remarkable hold that the so r called noble art has gained upon our Australian neighbors. Putting' the matter in colloquial form it is very evident that “Sydney went mad” over the' big prize-fight. In this result the work of Mr. Hugh Mclntosh, the promoter of the contest, had a large share, for he is a mastffh of efficient advertising iand had missed no opportunity of stimulating interest in the event lie had organised, but

at the same time it must be recognised that there is something in a prize-fight which appeals to tho masses in a way no other sporting congest does. Boxing promotors will declare readily that it is the strong lovo of the Englishman for a vigorous display of scientific sparring and hitting, but this, we think, hardly explains such extraordinary interest as that displayed on Saturday, not only in Sydney, but all over Australia and New Zealand. The fact of tho matter is that these big contests in which huge sums of money are involved can bo.very much better described as prize-lights thin as exhibitions of scientific boxing. It is a case in which the winner either succeeds by a terrific blow in rendering his opponent unconscious or is able to administer such a fearful thumping that the victim can continue no longer, and that his seconds acknowledge his defeat on his behalf, or the police stop the fight. Thus it happens often, that prize-fights resolvo themselves into brutal exhibitions that simply appeal to the -lower passions of the people. It only requires favorable circumstances to demonstrate to anyone that human nature is still much nearer the brute than we would like to admit, and the great attraction of a prize-fight is a distinct proof of the fact. ■ We wouldvnot care to accept the role of advocate for any namby-pam-by doctrine that would abolisli all forms of sport in which personal punishment is administered. Such pastimes as football, athletics, swimguing, rowing, and boxing, aro all worthy of support, for they tend to ■raise the standard of physical fitness in a community, and at the same time they stand for virility and manhood. Thus wc find the runner, though suffering agonies of torture from tired body and aching limbs, still forces liis way along towards the goal until, by sheer force of will, he throws himself .across tlie tape a winner, and so it is with all ’ these contests. To win consistently the athlete must', by clean living and by the .utmost care of his body maintain the acme of physical health, and in addition he must cultivate a stoical indifference to fatigue and pain, as well as a dogged determination and an intense concentration 'upon his self-imposed task. The successful boxer must possess not only great powers of endurance but a quick eye and extraordinary agility. Moreover, he must bo schooled to take punishment without flinching, and above all must never lot his temper get the better of him. So far this is well, for ib is precisely these faculties in the individiial which go far to maintain'tlio virility in a nation that is nocessary to its permanent existence, but unfortunate-

ly prize-fights of the Burns-Johnson typo go a step further. .In a contest where large sums of money are' involved the. combatants will submit to fearful punishment ere they will acknowledge defeat. Urged 011 by tho voices of tho excited crowds, they 'become mere fighting ■machines, seeking with all the craft that experience has given them, lor an opportunity to render an opponent unconscious with a “knock-out” blow. The more viciougrfcho fighting, the more damaging the punching, l lie more excited “become the spectators \\ 110 have obviously long since overlooked tho scientific aspect -in their lust for savage conflict. Finally one. “ the contestants, by a tremendous punch, is knocked headlong to the floor. The crowd, mad with frenzy, howls louder than ever whilst tho timekeeper calls aloud the passing of the seconds. One —two—three — l oll v—jive—six—seven—eight .Slowly a weary, battered and half-dazed pugilist, still game to the core, rises from the floor to avoid the fateful countout, which comes at ten seconds. As lie straightens out his totterifig limbs his waiting opponent hurK a savage blow, but the beaten foe, with nothing Ifcft but the fighter’s instinct, ducks his head and clinches to save. The referee separates the men and no sooner does so than the winning man easily passes the defence of his weary antagonist, and, with quick unerring aim lands a horrid smash on tho point of the chin. This is a, vital spot, and as this 20th century gladiator falls to the ground with a thud that can bo heard around tho vast arena, an apparently lifeless heap, the cold, measured tones of the ollicial timekeeper again announces the passing of the seconds. But there is no need td" pursue tho' Formal farce, for such a terrible impact would fell a bullock and administered on the spot mentioned will render any man unconscious for a minute or two. And while the helpless body of a former idol lies still as a log in the centre of the ring, every vestige of color gone from his pale cheeks, and the glint of his bright eyes replaced by a glassy stare, tlio • thousands pi spectators ■rush for the 'exit gates muttering sullenly or cheering exultantly, according to'the manner in which they have made their bets beforehand. This is not an inspiring picture, but it faithfully represents the happenings at a typical prize-fight. These, it must be oonceded, are distinctly brutal, and must necessarily have a degrading effect upon the spectators. Amateur boxing under efficient management is worthy of. the utmost encouragement as a scientific art, but we should he sorry to see prize-fighting of the kind that is popular in the United States and also in the Commonwealth, introduced into New Zealand.