LANGI BEATS SQUIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2429, 18 February 1909, Page 2

LANGI BEATS SQUIRES.

AN UNINTERESTING CONTEST. SEVENTEEN DULL HOUNDS. The “Sydney Morning Herald” has fcho following- account of the contest for the Australian heavy-weight championship between Lang (challenger) and Squires (holder) : Seldom have local enthusiasts been called upon to witness a more uninteresting display than that put up by Dill Squires (the holder) and Bill Lang (the challenger) for the heavyweight championship of Australasia. Almost every available scat in the Stadium was filled Jong before the advertised time for starting. A burst of cheering heralded the approach of Lang, lie was followed by quite an army of seconds. Squires was not-long in putting in an appearance. His reception was the more cordial of the two. As the men came together iu the ring they presented an interesting study in brown and white. Tin healthy brownness of Squires’s skii was thrown into bold relief by hk green trunks. Lang, on the othc; hand, looked white and almost pallia beside his sunburnt opponent. Tinweights of the two men were not announced, but to the casual observe! Squires seemed to be the heavier. Lang certainly had the advantage in height, but Squires's massive shoulders and mighty elicst more than compensated for his lack of inches. Notwithstanding the fact that both men were in deadly earnest- right through the contest, one could not help pondering over the decadence in present-day boxing. Neither contc* taut showed any great cleverness. Squires is not even the Squires of old. He has acquired a most obnoxious habit of ducking low and clasping his opponent round the lower limbs. Lang relied most on a straight left lead and hook for the jaw. As a matter ol fact Lang seemed to find it- necessary to keep his right hand up high to protect his jaw from Squires’s righthand swings and drives. One looked in vain for a clever exhibition of footwork. Both men seemed quite incapable of delivering any blow worthy ol the name unless they remained stockstill. Despite the fact that the men were supposed to be fighting with a clean break, Lang continually secured his opponent with his left hand -and kept pegging away with liis right. The. referee either did not or would not hear the many appeals from Squires’ seconds. The first few rounds were tame. Each man seemed to entertain a wholesome regard for his opponent, and consequently was not disposed to take any chances. Lang -was content to allow Squires to do mostof the leading. In the short work Lang invariably more than held his own. Owing to Squires’s methods of ducking, the light was not without its humorous incidents. Lang would rush, and Squires, after coolly ducking and clasping his opponent’s legs, would be compelled to bear his opponent’s weight. It resembled two gigantic schoolboys playing leapfrog. A description of the contest round for round would bo wearisome on account of the sameness that characterised every round. Neither man scored much till the fifth round, when Lang started to pile up a few points with his straight-* left leads. Squires was mostly confining his attention to Lang’s ribs, and had already caused .them to assume a pinkish hue. The sixth and seventh were- fairly even. Lang refused to step back in the clinches. Squires’s crouch, which, by the way, is one of the products ol his American lour, was becoming more pronounced. Lang quickly seized his opportunity, and found the crouching Squires an easy target for a short right uppercut. The eighth was the most fiercely contested round of the. fight. Squires, with determination written large on every feature, made the pace. He attacked incessantly, and Lang was called. upon to exercise all his .powers of defence. Bight after right _ found their resting place- on Lang’s fibs. Both men retired to their corners somewhat fatigued. Lang seemed the weaker of the two.

Contrary to expectations, Squires did not force the fight in the next round. He allowed Lang to partially recover from the effects of the terrible battering he had gone through. At the conclusion of the round Squires was scoring well. Squires brought a roar of laughter and a running fire of interjections from the crowd by doing a sprint round the ring at- the .opening of the fourteenth round. Lang followed him persistently. Lang’s stock was now beginning to rise. He scored repeatedly with a straight left, and was successful in avoiding the majority of Squires’ wild swings. So far Lang was well ahead on points. _ Squires was perceptibly tiring in the sixteenth. Lang’s short uppercuts were beginning to tell their tale. Lang now showed to greater advantage than at any previous period of the contest. He scored continually with a -good straight left to the lace, and in the mixes more than hold bin own. It was now quite evident that Squires was lighting a losing battle. Lang gave him no peace. Whenever he got a ehance. he worked in close, and tried his favorite uppercut. The condition of Squires’ lips bore testimony to its power. Squires was now very slow, .and seemed quite, unable to avoid punishment.. Squires appeared t-o have gained fresh strength during the interval. It was only a flash in the pan, however. After Squires had scored a few light jabs to the face, Jjang connected with a heavy right uppercut. Squires came in, and after planting a righthand blow on his opponent’s ribs, was tho recipient of a left hook on the

jaw. He staggered. The crowc. were now on their feet, roaring like demons. Their favorite—was- almost beaten. Such a thing could surely never be. possible. It must- surely be a. ruse oil tlio part of Squires to outvie his opponent. .Blit the opinion of tin crowd was unfounded. After a clinch Lang rushed Squires to the. ropes, and knocked him down and out with a heavy right cross on the jaw.