1937-05-11 — Page 20

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 11, 1987.

FARR FIGHTS BAER TO STANDSTILL

BIG SHOCK FOR MISS D. ROUND

Defeated By Miss McOstrich

TWICE LOSES LEAD ·

(By A. WALLIS MYERS)

London, April 13.

Melbury's first day brought a big surprise-the defeat of Miss Dorothy Round, holder of the sin- gles, in her first match. Perhaps it was not altogether a great "upset," since Miss Alex. McOstrich, ́ the heroine, had lowered Miss Round's colours before and was in such perfect defensive touch, cool and calculating, and withal so mobile that any champion, not quite sea- soned, might have fallen to her wiles and will-power.

There was no hint of the com- ing sensation when Miss Round led 4-2 in the opening set. Whether she then began to feel the physical strain of recovering from the mix- ture of soft and hard blows that her opponent was then brewing, or whether she forgot that the enemy was a left-hander with an obvious preference for a ball on her fore- hand, I do not know.

IRISH GIRL VERY STEADY

1 GREAT VICTORY ON

Max Baer, above, former holder of the world heavyweight boxing championship, stated after his un- successful bout with Tommy Farr, of Wales, that he was retiring from the professional ring.

ESSEX WIN IN

TWO DAYS Low Scoring At Taunton

POINTS

AMERICAN'S FUTILE CLOWNING

BIG CROWD'S WILD EXCITEMENT

London, April 16. TOMMY FARR of Wales, heavy-weight cham- pion of Great Britain and the Empire, struck a doughty blow for British boxing when he beat Max Baer, the American ex-champion of the world, on points over 12 rounds at Harringay Arena last night.

FARR, THE HITHERTO ALMOST DERIDED. THE “UNKNOWN CHAMPION,”” - WITH ODDS OF - THREE TO ONE' AGAINST HIM, AND A STONE THE LIGHTER MAN, DISPLAY- ED COURAGE AMOUNTING TO NONCHALANCE. HE FOUGHT- BAER TO A STANDSTILL, TOOK ALL THE AMERICAN'S HEAVIEST PUNCHES, AND GAVE HIM A BEATING.

After 12 rounds packed with excitement, the referee lifted Farr's arm. More than 12,000 people who had paid a sum ap-·· proaching £20,000 to be present shouted their acclaim with what voice their earlier cheers had left them.

From one end of the hall there flying arms, and when the fighters- sounded "Land of Our Fathers" | parted the blood was streaming sung in ecstasy by the Welsh from ́ a gash over Baer's left eye. onlookers. Farr did a dance of Vainly Baer strutted. The blood triumph. Baer, battered and streamed down and Farr attacked. bleeding, congratulated him.

From the start of the fight it was apparent that Farr was providing something quite new in British champions. He entered the ring smiling broadly and looking happy

He bowed pleasant

The remarkable result was a gain of 13 consecutive points to

London, To-day. Miss McOstrich and, a little later, Essex, after a sporty first inn- the capture of the first set at 6-4.ings declaration, beat Somerset in two days by six wickets in The Irish girl-no doubt profit their County Championship fix- ing by the practice of two sets, on- ture started at Taunton on of which she won, in the inter- Saturday. county finals at Felixstowe

At close of play on Saturday Saturday was not only amazingly Somerset, winning the. toss, had and confident. steady but she could pull out, when been dismissed for 223, to which ly in response to the cheers of a the ex-champion came hopefully to Essex had replied with 119 for crowd. the net, a low passing shot admir-five wickets. ably controlled and directed.

on

One of these fine passes-and it came to close a breathless rally she, produced on the run when Miss Round had the second of her set points in he second bout. And what was more laudable, it came from her reputedly poor backhand.

On Monday, the next four Essex wickets added 109 and the visitors declared with a slight lead of five runs.

for Somerset last year, took 5 for Andrews, who bagged 79 wickets

67.

(Continued at foot of next col.)

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that included among its many notabilities, Lord Hewart, the Lord Chief Justice, eye-shaded in a ringside seat.

TRUMPETS AND SPOTLIGHT..

UGLY CUSTOMER- In the interval Baer's seconds

patched up the eye. He returned to the fray with a repertoire of leers, awful looks, snarls and jeer- ing smiles. The smiles were made white gum shield which helped to particularly effective by a large

make Baer look a very ugly cus-

tomer.

Farr, however, remained singu- larly unimpressed. Paying little or no attention to the “business” of Trumpets and a spotlight herald- his opponent, he confined himself

seemed, so hard not to appear a ed the fighters. Baer, trying, it to slamming in a further series of

punches. playboy that he succeeded in look- ing nearly prim, climbed into the ring. His olive skin contrasted with bright purple knickers which were embroidered a silver Star of David.

on

Darting lefts would flick Baer's face. Hardly had the American be- gun to smile at the blows when a new flurry would catch him.

Majestic and strutting,. Baer re- turned to his corner, while the The first round provided fresh crowd shouted itself into severa shocks for those who expect a Bri- thousand sore throats. As round tish champion to be coy and allow succeeded round Farr broke more the other man to do the fighting, precedents. Not only was he still Farr, on his toes, serious but con-ly having the best of it.

on his feet but he was quite clear- fident, began to attack.

STRUTTING IN VAIN-

Baer was more worried about the set of his knickers than fighting He preened himself, pulled at his trunks, stepped forward and de livered a punch. Then he stepped back with the air of one who says, "You have been warned."

BAER STARTS FIGHTING. Now Baer was smiling less and fighting more. His fists crashed into Farr's face. Farr came on unflinchingly. Baer whipped in a series of short, fierce upper outs. Farr came, back at the American- a thunder of cheers.

That jeering smile waned in ratio to the length of the fight, missed with three tremendous up- per-cuts.......... Farr, jerked back, the

But what was this? Farr ac cepted the punch- and came right back at his man. Baer scowled terribly, pulled again at his trunks, other's head. swung another blow and stepped. back to watch the ferocious, but too leer

SKYWARD GESTURE effect with a As the gong went after Round melodramatic | Five-although Baer gallantly struck an attitude and made a face

Next moment the arena was in an uproar. There was a tangle of

(Continued from previous tal:)

Somerset collapsed in their se- cond knock before the fast bowling of Nichols, who took 4 for 20, and were all out for 106, and Essex knocked off the required runs for the loss of four wickets,

at

his opponent Brother Buddy Baer, sitting, watching, made a sky- ward gesture with his arms that spoke volumes.

Baer's eye reopened, and blood crimsoned his gigantic shoulders. Farr, too, showed signs of wear-B swelling brow, a cut cheek. But

# still, to the roar of the crowd, there came the relentless attack, the re- ceipt with a shrug of Baer's heavi- Somerset 223 and 106 (Nichols 4 est artillery, the dancing toes that for 20); Essex 228 for 9, declared showed the British champion still. |(Andrews 5 and 102 for 4. fresh and strong.

Reuter

Scores

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