Back to Toil

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3610, 24 August 1912, Page 3

Back to Toil

The action of Carl Morris, on whom so many hopes were centred in regard to the restoration of the heavyweightchampionship to tho white i ace, in going back to work at the throttle of big engine caused quite an element of sadness to obtrude itself even in the strenuous sport- of the squared circle when the news flashed over the wires acquainting lovers of tho_gloto game of the giant fighter’s decisionThe shock given the rank and file of the glove wielding brigade can scarcely bo overestimated, judging by the following paragraph which is taken from an American exchange to _ hand by the last mail. From the champions at the top- of the heap -<>

the preliminary dollar-snatehers, and mixed ale pugs, roosting at peace in diverse barrel houses there existed but one feeling, that of unqualified dismay and disgust. It ->vas a cruel shattering of old. and revered traditions, a deadly blow at the framework and foundations of fistic society. A fighter —and a " nits Hope'’ at that—deliberately and with malice aforethought going to work ! It was too, too muoh. Sncli an action on the part of a recognised member of the fraternity of visage-biffors had no precedent and could not bo condoned. A burglar delivering a lecture on the sacredness of personal property would have bec-n nothing to it. On all sides were heard expressions of horror and righteous indignation. Meanwhile Morris sits sulkily in his cab, a horrible example of a good man gone wrong. Instead of the lights of Broadway the signal lamps flicker before his eyes, and the hoarse commands of the uncouth brakeman to “back up, 1 ' "go ahead,” or “cut ’em all loose,” fall coldly on the ears once deafened by the shouts of assembled thousands at the rings:do in the big town.

Light-weight Disturbances. Ad Wolgust evidently is not to he drawn into a second match with the Mexican lightweight, Joe Rivers, until the champion considers lie is in real good fettle, as Rivers has signed a contract to meet Joe Mandot, of Now Orleans, on Labor Day. at Los Angeles, the date on which it w«s proposed to stage the Wolgast-Rivers return battle. Mandot has come ahead with big strides of late,, a-m among his most notable performances is his recent victory over Owen Moran, of England, in eight rounds. Notwithstanding that Joo Rivers was knocked cut early this year by Johnny Kilbane, the present feather weight champion, he has redeemed himself by sending two well-known lightweights in Frankie Conley and Jack White to slumberland, while his meeting with Ad. Wolgast caused his stock to boom in American fight circles. A

curious coincidence-in connection with the forthcoming Rivers-Mandot battle is that whereas this contest was to have taken place on July 4 the Wol-gast-Rivers match was substituted, while in plac-o- of the proposed return battle between the latter pair for Labor Day it has now been decided, to put on the postponed Rivers-Mandot fight.

AncDnt History.

Tom Sharkey, the- iron man of the

ring in his time, commenced much as Palzer has done. During his early career the sailor battered Lis way into public notice by disposing of a lot of second and third raters, and leaped Suddenly into the limelight of fame by knocking out .Joe Choynski. A couple of months lai-or Sharkey astonished the fistic world by giving Jim Corbett, then heavyweight champion, an awful han-handling in a four-round session Left re a ’Frisco club. The liout was declared a draw, but Corbett had all the worst of the going and was a very badly used up fighter at the finish. It waa- big surprise party for “Pompadour” Jim. He had not participated in ;• genuine ring contest for nearly two years, and. it is likely this fact had much to do with his poor showing against the hardy tar. However that may have been, it was in the following year that he lost his title to Fitzsimmons, and a subsequent meeting with Sharkey resulted in a victory for the man-of-war’s-man. That first four-round tussle with tough Sharkey may be said to have marked the beginning of the end for Corbett, seeing that—with the exception of a very suspicious exhibition with Kid McCoy, in which the latter was accused of doing a “flop” act —Jim's colors were never again hoisted in token of victory. .