1960-04-19 — Page 9

:

THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1960.

THE STORY OF SPORT U.S. soccer team for

A 9th

9th century Greek

was the all-time boxing champion

By Rex Lawrence

Who was the world's all-time boxing champion: Joc Louis?

Ezzard Charlos? Rocky Marciano?

You're nowhere near it. It was a Greek named Theagenes who did his campaigning some time in the 9th Century B.C.

And Theagenes really deserves the title. For he won no tewer than 1,425 bouts-everyone by permanent knockout.

When Theagenes was slug ging it out referees and judges Here thought unnecessary, Nothing was left to chance or human falbilly. Boxers' fints were encased In thongs and death only arbiter.

But even

ul

Theugenes boxin

an old sport.

Was

spiked the

the time of was already

A

When did it all start? No one has even been able to naine date. The earliest historical re- fermices to buxing come from a series of painted slates recently found in a temple at Khafaje in Mesopotamia and possibly dating from between 3900 and 2000 B.C. It was known, too, on the island uf Crete where a high civiliu- tions flourished 3,500 years ago.

The Romans helped to put the game on its feet-literally. Until the conquering legions took the game home to Rome, the Greek boxers had fought seated, brow tuuching brow.

about what happened during its transition from B.C. to A.D.

The Ink between the ancient st-killing and the scientific art of self defence defined by the Marquis of Queensberry was the rough-and-tumble bout popular in 17th-century England."

Historians claim that boxing's development into popular enter- tainment was largely caused by the rise of the modern city, in particular London. The Thames seaport with ita mixed popula- tion, it crowded slums and twisting, dirty streets where dis- putes were settled the quick way, certainly had the necessary ingredients,

FIRST CHAMPION

By 1719 Interest in the game had grown to such an extent that a fightier named James Fler won recogulBon 25 the first champion of England.

But Figg, according to sketchy surviving records, defended his title only twice during the 15 years he reigned as champion.

their money. Unless a moke challenger found a willing back- er to stake him he was unlikely to get a crack at the title hold- er. The champion made a rea- sonable living giving lessons and appearing in exhibitions, and it would was unlikely that he

the risk his velhood unless reward offered was big, enough.

Figs, himself, made a rood thing out of boxing for mere than 20 years. Even åtter re- tiring from thị sing he cou tinued to teach and take pari In exhibitions.

+

LEFT: Immortal John Broughton, true father of British boxing. Broughton, champion from 1740 to 1750, was the man who introduced skill into the fight game and wrote boxing's first code of rules.

RIGHT: Bare-knuckle fighter James Figa, first evor boxing champion of

England.

Broughton, an skilled in the art of throwing, kicking and

the next Kouring 5

Than found by experience that his fists were his most effective He introduced into weapons. boxing the science of decep- the ilon and revolutionised sport.

international match

New York, Apr. 18.

Al Stubbins, English soccer coach, told a press luncheon today he would start assembling a New York team on April 25 to niny in the ins ternational tournament promoted by William D. Cox.

Alf Sherwood of Newport City, | in Jertoy City, New Jersey. Boglund, a top Brillsh player, AP. will be one of the players report here, said tuishths.

10

"We are definitely bringing big league soccer to the United Slates," declared Cox, former President of the US. NotJojni League Phlilies in baseball who also was connected with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All- America football conference.

ore

CHESS

· by LEONARD`BARDEN

FROM OVERSEAS Top notch soccer teams coling here from Ireland, Scot- land, England, Germany, Aus- tria, Sweden, Brazil. France, Italy, Portugal, and Yugoslavin,

tenn with the Now York there will be 13 competing and the Held will be divided into two scellens of six each.

The first game has been Mendoza's courage and skillĮ reheduled for May 25 between leanly hitting him with rabbit |

(5804) did more than revolutionise box-Scoflond and Germany, and the punches and elbow blows.

the two sections

Ha ending from But Black PAS not just a Ing. Boxing became moje pa- winters of

Stub will meet in a cup finot play- ¦ actual play; Black to move and dirty fighter. He was boxing's putar than ever before.

of on August 0.

win: Arst crooked promoter as well, after winning the title in 1701, travelling him- Mendoza joined a Ile fought infrequently self, but he staged a series of circus and toured England and shady bouts ibai drazzed hox- Scotland. For many it was the Ing back to the gutter. Dur-Grst time they had seen a first- ing the ten years he wore the rate boxer in action. And his crown boxing sank rapidly in example aroused a new wave of

enthusiasm all over Britain. public esteem,

The rise of D brillant new

Figg was succeeded by one of

His skill and mastery of box- hip own puplis, George Taylor.

won him the But exactly what part Tayloring technique played in boxing's development admiration of the nation-and a is lost in history. Some authori-reputation as the major auther-fighter, a man who did as much ties claim he held the title forty on the sport, six years, others state that he lost it immediately.

IMPORTANCE

But there is no disagreement about the identity of the man who took over from him: Jack holder frum Broughton, tille 1734 to 1740.

Broughton's importance les in his contribution to boxing rather than his ring perform

anen.

for boxing in the 1790's Broughton had done half a cen-

EAST END

So, when in 1743 he wrote #tury earlier, marks the rescue code of rules laying down the of boxing from disrepute. conditions of a prize Яght and the conduct of fighters it was accepted, and with minor modi- neations, Broughton's Kules governed for nearly 100 years.

By the Ume Mendoza lost his title to John Jackson In 1795, boxing had begun to spread all over the world. Italy, France and Ireland had already started staging their own championships. As the fight game becaine In- ternational it was inevitable that und Bomeone should rushere codify it. That person was the Marquis of Queensberry, patron of boxing: who, in 1807, under- took the task.

His name was Daniel Mendoza, on English Jew of Portuguese extraction, reared in the squalid, Broughton lifted boxing from vicious East End of London. the gutter. He was the truc Mendoza stood barely 5 ft 7 in. father of boxing. His intelli-But his superiority in the science him a glant

the This was due to the fact that

gence and skill set the sport on of boxing made

with

Introduction of the Queensberry rules boxing boxers then fought without

the road to prosperity. He be- among men. He made up for his gloves and it took munthas for

as we know it today was born. lieved in fair play, training and small stature by employing skill box-B fghter's hands to heal after a When he won the title it was clean living. But he lost his title and a sort of footwork unknown

The new laws shifted the em The winner usually the fashion for boxers to stand to a mon who was the exact previously. He was, too, the first

from brute force to contest. Bnished in worse shape than the | 100-to-toe slugging It out. opposite of everything Brough-man to demonstrate the power of phusla

scientific boxing. Wrestling wan loser, for his hands had taken Wrestling was encouraged, A ton stood for-pr unsavoury the light jab landed frequently. the heavier

Broken boxer's aim was to colch kold of character called Jack Sluck.

In an age when brawl was completely outlawed. noses and battered cars healed his opponent and toss him to

all, he showed that a medium-gloves replaced the skin-tight of Broughton's day. quickly, Broken knuckles and the ground in an effort to bounce Slack, known as the Norwich sited man who could use his "muflers"

the won

title using all the fight out of him. It was Butcher, torn tendons didn't.

fiste and

something The three minute rounds T- knew Modern boxing obviously Another reason was the lack good tactics to kick a man when every dirty trick in the book- about footwork could always placed the custom which allow- beat the slugger who tele-ed boxers a rest only after a evolved from the bloody sport of Anancial incentive. Purses he was down. Eye-gouging was and a few of his own invention. the ancient Greeks. But history were virtually non-existent. | common, the Ast was relatively In 14 minutes he temporarily araphed his blows--no matter knockdown.

how big he was. is strictly nylefling with facts Fighters relied on side bets incidental.

blinded Broughton, after mercl-

But the true origin of Ing stretches right back into the dimness of prehistory probably back to the day two cavemen left their clubs al heme and quarrelled over a piece of meat.

beating.

THE SCRAP-IRON DEALER IS SOON

Four D. Jones KONGSIDE THE PIRATE GALLEON...

BY MADDOCKS

"STAND EX TO (LOAD ON SOME TRICKY CARGO

FERDINAND

"TRICKY CARGO!

COME ORF IT, MATE, SLAP THE OLD SUNK ON ME BARGE, AN ROBE CAN SCARPER

LOOK --- THE

10

ONE MORE PEEP OUT OF YOU MATEX AN

TAKE NË "H'BOMBS

ELSEWHERE

NANCY

RAIN DEPRESSES ME

I THINK IT'S LETTING UP

SUN IS OUT---

DON'T YOU FEEL

CHEERFUL

NO

BRICK BRADFORD

SAKE, WITH BRICK, LEAVES

GHIP TO FIGHT THE MAGA-PAT THE METER,

PROSE BUIA

NOW ?

HANG ON, BRICK}·

I'LL BHOW YOU HOW)

TO DO BATTLMÍ

WHEN ME OVIE," WHICH ARE YOU GOINGT

MOTHER SUP 18 BADLY

H BOMBS STRIKE LAN ARABIAN NIGHT, IT'S TRUE, HE'S GOT THREE |LOLLORIN BOMBS

YOU SAID YOU WANTED W’BOMBS

50

BOMBS I GOT

WHAT MORE

YOU WANT

By Mik

By Ernie Bushmiller

INOW ITS BLOWING UP!

GOOD-BYE TO THE MOTHER SHIP!

By Paul Norria

RY YLANG HAYE GONE SKY HIGH, BUT I WON'T GIVE

Sheaffer's

Newest

-SWISSAI

BALL POINT PEN

AVAILABLE AT

ALL GOOP STORES |

Ah! That Food! That Service! That Sarissait!

SWISSAIR

THE INTELLING

ROWNTREE'S

DELICIOUS

SMARTIES

MILK CHOCOLATE BEANS

As always-

ILFORD

Bad

Podded

Other fighters were to intro- duce Anesse into the sport. Ment like Jim Corbett whose scienco ended the eru of the sluggers. But to all intents the noble art had been cast in its flaul mould,

S. Africa loses softball Test' to Australia

Porth, Apr. 18. On their way home the South African softball team reached Fremantle in the Southern Cross today after narrowly losing the Test rubber against Aus- tralia.

Australia won the first Test, South Africa the second and clinched the

then Australia

honours with

third Test.

a 3-2 win in the

The South Africans finished the tour with a record of 13 wins and losses.

CORDIALLY RECEIVED

Manager Jan Grafford said the visitors were received cordially everywhere in Ausiralia. They were impressed by the great Interest being taken in the game by school girls.

That factor gave Australia the edge on Smith Africa.

He was hopeful that Australia would pay a reciprocal visit to South Africa but did not expect the tour before 1054-China Mail Special.

Highball PIANO-BAR

COCKTAIL LOUNGE

ema on and ENJOY the FUN & SONGS

6. RICKY

MATHEWS

ON THE KEYS

·OUTSTANDING ANNO AND

PROOF PERSONALITY!.

ZOTE NATHAN BEND KANNON VOUR, DRIL

Twenty of the games will be played at the Polo Grounds, former home of the then New York glants of the National Baseball Lengue, and 10 at Roosevelt Stadium

1 gt- Solution No. 5803: Rte (threat 2 RL-86 and 3 B-RM1, B-R6; 2 P-Q2, and 3 | P_Q870) I/T ..... K-KU, IRL

-B5 ch. K-81; 1 R-87.

Loxton Expresa Service

KAISER

RESTAURANT & COCKTAIL LOUNGE

Famous European, American, French, & Russian Cuisine.

BREAKFAST, COFFEE, LUNCH, TEA AND DINNER CONFECTIONS & CAKES NICELY DECORATED PLEASANT ATMOSPHERE BUSINESS HOURS: 7 3.211, ---- 1 8.01.

Tel: 00335, 61011. (Corner of Carnarvon & Granville Roads)

21A-21B Grunville Road, Kowloon,

GRANDEL LOUNGE

fully air conditioned wall-to-wall carpeted

Presents

SALLY CONTRERAS

AT THE PIANO daily from 6.30 p.m. Known Thru the Far East a

Pocices of The Plana

GRAND HOTEL ANNEX KOWLOON.

CALL 59195

FOR GENUINE DRYCLEANING

COLLECTION and DELIVERY SERVICE

THE STEAM LAUNDRY CO.

No. 1, Kwong Wa Street, Kowloon."

PHOTOGRAPHS

by our Staff Photographers

Poi Oi Hospital Inauguration Land Forcces. Sports at Boundary Street Opening of St. Louis School Art Exhibition: Opening of H.K. & Shanghai Bank Branch at Tsun Wan All L'ocal. Sports.

Local Presentations Local Weddings

Etc., Etc.

Availablo at

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LTD.

Wyndham Strept

1