1960-06-14 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1960.

hate in their fists

The old pals fought three hate fights

By REX LOPEZ

Page

Gordon Pirie's last chance JAM Gordon

for an Olympic gold medal

A SPECIAL CHINA MAIL FEATURE

day were not so willing to let matters rést. They protested against the decision and de- manded а re-match. James Giray, outstanding caricaturist of his era, captioned his drawing

The peace-officers panted down Epping's High Street behind of the fight Foul Play","

the excited pot-boy who had been sent to summon them to the inn.

Two gents, he had gasped, were brawling in the inn-yard. Well, the peace-officers knew how to deal with tavern rowdies, common enough at the end of the eighteenth-century.

But the Inn-yard scrappers. as it turned out, were no tap-room toughs.

They were the two greatest boxers of the time Daniel Mendoza and Richard Humphreys and the braw! was the public eruption of trouble which had simmered for a long time between the two. bare knuckle champions.

They broke it up when the law officers appeared, but before they went their separate ways they angrily vowed to settle their dif- ferences in the ring.

Mendoza pondered his position for a few days and then let fly his first literary blow, He denouncing Humphreys' unfair

wrote to the editor of "World".

acties. He told, too, how an cid internal injury, aggravated by the fight, had forced him to re- found and the matter referred to the fire. And he challenged Hum Humphreys When

phreys to another fight, representing the himself reeling under Men- umpires,

ceaseless punishment, fights. But after a few miles doza's he complained that his shoes of deliberation they announced were too tight. Under the pre- that no foul had been commit them, he cd and the the fight should tence of

40 vital continue. rained seconds of rest.

changing extra

Slashing attack

When the battle was resumed. Mendoza, infuriated by Hum- phreys tactics, launched an even more slashing attack.

One well-aimed punch. That

The letter caused a sensation. Humphreys replied immediately accepting the challenge.

But Mendoza demanded that he should wait until his doctor

This verdict may have had pronounced him fit. something 10 do with whal followed. For Mendoza gave up the fight. And Humphreys was 47- declared winner after minute contest.

2

Re-match Thirty years later, the world curious decision by Mendoza's umpire.

For months the Mendoza- correspondence Humphreys held all England enthralled så their aired the fighters grievances.

They carried out their literary exchange in the affected, mincing style of the period. But even so using each other of lying and

being Humphreys knees buckled and be went down.

Naturally, Mendoza, claimed the fight. But Humphreys, wäe not ready to give in. For more than 20 minutes, seconds, ut

fans and boxers argued pires angrily.

But, Mendoza Felented and the fight was resumed.

But Humphreys was spent After another ten minutes of punishment he collapsed again.

Their quarrel might have ended there, But the hate in Humphreys' heart burned even mare furiously.

Last insült

He wrote again to the editor of "World," citing rheumattain as the cause of his defeat,

And that was his last in- suit.

Mendogs For when fought him for the list ilme on September 27, 1790, he showed no mercy.

For 72 rounds he knocked the veteran round the ring, until,

The row between Mendoza was all he needed to end the was to learn the reason for thie it did not prevent them from ac- completely exhausted, he gave

and Humphrey was pubile light. property and news of the forthcoming prudge-fight caused a sensation throughout England,

of

Expertly he manoeuvred Hum- the centre of the phreys into ring. But when he let loose his sizzling killer punch, one Humphreys' seconds at that time seconds shared, the ring with the fighters stepped into the line of fire and caught it squarely on his head.

loose.

Pandemonium broke Disgusted fans shouted and

cowardice.

Eventually they met again "The conduct of my umpire in May, 1789. But for this fight appeared strange at the time," they wrote their own rules. The Mendoza wrote in his first man to put his opponent Memoirs. "But I afterwards down would be the winner. And learned he had laid his money the seconds must remain outside against me. Consequently, he the ring. could not be expected to be very willing to decide against himself."

A mystery Exaelly what had caused the break between Mendoza and his former patron and mentor was a mystery. Everyone know that

Mendoza accepted his fate. their quirrel had come to a head stamped. The fight was stopped But the newspaper critics of his when Humphreys, acting as Mendoza's manager. had established the fighter's train- ing quarters in a brothel, The pernickety, social-climbing Men- doza had taken this us a personal insult,

But envy and jealousy played

a large part in the quarrel.

In eight years of boxing young (24-year-old) Mendoza had com- pletely overstradowed his master in fame and had won himself a fortune and the friendship of, the Prince of Wales (later George IV) into the bargain.

Humphreys was bitter-and made, no secret of it. He had picked up

Mendoza from the gutter in London's East End, and coaxed and guided him to the top of his profession.

True, Humphreys, known as "The Gentleman Boxer, could have taught Mendoza little of the fighting craft. For the former street urchin was a natural fighter. He stood only 5ft 7in. but his inborn science and speed made up for his lack of height and weight.

A snob

Now Mendoza repaid him with the cold-shoulder, shunning his former patron whenever they met. The truth was that Mendoza was a bit of a snob.

His ring victories won him the admiration of London's social elite. They patronised his boxing academy, often rewarding him generously after successful fights.

For one of his contests - against Martin the Butcher - Mendoza petted more than 1,000 guineas in prize money and pre- sents from his wealthy patrons.

He had no more need of Humphreys guidance. And the brothel theldent was the last stray that turned Humphreys' friendship completely "sour.

For months Humphreys had gone about spoiling for a fight with Mendoza, Wherever he saw him, no matter what the com pany, he launched into a bitter Virade of abuse; trying to needle his former pupil into a fight.

At the inn in Epping he suc- ceeded.

Their fight on January 9, 1788, at Odiham, Hampshire, captured the public imagination, and the fans turned out in hundreds,

For 20 minutes light-footed Mer-loza, the first scientific boxer in history, danced around his opponent, pounding his bead and body. with punches.

Humphrey could

copy-book

ou pull

answer to the onslaught at lenet none within the Broughton Rules that then governed the game. But the veteran boxer knew fill the tricks of the trade, Before the fight the boxers had agreed to a halt-minute interval between rounds.

Four D. Jones

BY MADDOCKS

"YOU KNOW I'VE GOT A FEELING I'M NOT ALONE

FERDINAND

NANCY

THAT SIGN HAS BEEN)

THERE A LONG TIME

FUTURE SITE OF NEW COLLEGE

BRICK BRADFORD

KRIS IS TAKEN FRO TO THE MOS

I WONDER

WHEN THEY'LL

START BUILDING

QH. ANY DAY NOW

KILL STAY WITH KRÍS!

in

His last fight with Mendoza wrecked Humphreys' ring carent. the After that he was never same again,

Mendoza became king of the sports world! He toured Eng- land Ireland and Scotland and made a fortune. But, in the end he, too, lost sil.

By trying to keep up with Mendoza his affluent admirers, squandered his money and died

From the first bell there was only one man in the fight. Mendoza used his opponent like a punchbag. He hit with every- thing. Then suddenly, without in poverty.

GOOD GRIEF WHAT HAVE WE HERE, BY

NEEEAH!

GEORGE. SOME WEIRD GORILLA

AND WONDERFUL IDIOTIC CREATURE,

الله

MEN?

By Mik

THEY'VE ALMOST FINISHED BUILDING

THE FOOTBALL

STADIUM

By Ernie Bushmiller

THAT'S EXACTLY

YOU GO BACK TO THẤT) WHAT I'M GOING

PIRATE SAPLE

AND HELP HER

RESCUE HER

FATHER!

TO DO!

FUTURE

SITE OF

NEW

COLLEGE

By Paul Norris

LATER...THE TIME-TOP ARRIVES

MULTISTAGED SPACESHIP WITH THE LAST LOAD OF SUPPLIES...

PULL ALONGSIDE

PR.EASTLAND, AND

I'LL TRAIL THE

PROP ME OFF! 6PACESHIP ATA

SAFE DISTANCE!!

By IVOR YORKE

A tall young man with spindly legs and an insatiable appetite for running strode, away from international opponents in two events in this month's British Games at London's White Eity - and set the Areside critics talking yet again.

The man: 6 ft. 2 in. Gordon "Puff Puff" Pirie, most controversial figure in British athletics for years and ranked among the greatest of them

all:

By winning the 1,800 as well for sheer dogged, deletion leagues to new and greater as the 3,000 metres at the and stamina are two of the heights. And. If galloping Gor- don retains his touch until White City In times little main weapons in his ammolly, short of his best, he already

Without trop-mah Kilt the Rome, those gold medal dreams has his public conjuring 5,000 metres may well belong to dreams of a gold medal in the this gangling 29-year-old.

the Rome

his years at the top. metric mile at Olympics.

spokes Pille has horst made

the mistake of underestimating Köpenis lỗ, think, alrerently,

opponents. He has already Ho. Mám he will igale that New Zealand's Marray victors bla in just one event, competitor In the Olymple 5,000 Halberg is the most dangerous the 5.000 metres.

inetres.

Main weapons

Back in 1952, Pirle took fourth place in the Helsink metres; four Olympic 5,000

can become reality.

NEXT YEAR'S CANADA CUP GOLF VENUE

That may be hi view bow,

New York, June 13, Next year's but I expect him to throw every

Canada Cup ounce of courage and will-power tournament will be played in fordon Furie says he will re Golf Club. The organisers an- Olymple victory, For Puerto Rico at the Doradó, Beach years later, in Melbourne, he tre at the end of the season.nounce today.

has said this before, of Afr Frank, Face, President of was only just pipped by his He

Kuts.

like being his lust Olympic Russian arch-rival, Vladimir course. But this certainly looks

chance. Some experts say Pirie is beller over the longer dis- tance. And they could be right,

CHESS

by LEONARD BARDEN

Here is a problem by K. Easter (Bristol Times, 1929). White to play and mate in two moves.

London Express Service.

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A rarity

So Pirie means business.. Shortly before the British Games he underwent bough training with his coach, Walde- mar Gerschler, in Germany.

Running on the track, the road and over Bard, scrub Ian he raised himself to A fitness peak he can hope to maintain only by continued hard work.

Gordon Pirie is something of a rarily these days-a one hundred per cent enthusiast whose personal standards would make a lesser man irenible.

True, he has falled before, on the big occasion when he has been confidently tipped to

Bchieve honours.

Trde be may after all decide! to run in more than one event. He originally said he would rish in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres...

tinh, said no dites had yet been the International Golf Associa

axed, but it was intended to hold a tournament in the spring.

This year's Canada Cup~~- the eighth the series W

at Fortmarnock, be played Dublin, from June 23 10 June 20.-Reuter,

Sports Diary

TO-DAT Tenkila

Men's "B" División: Section "A": HKU Recielo (3). Recreio 11) V

SCAA (1), KTGCA V RAF, HXCESA v CRC (1).

Bection "B": Recreio (2) CRC (2) SCAA, (2) ▼ HKCC, KITC V PORC

Ladler "3" Division: KCC LRC (1), LRC (3) v UC.

Neeling

Hongkong Amateur Swimming Association Executive Committee meeting. S.C.M. Post Board Room,

5.30 p.m.

Water-Polo Senior League: Hongkong Regi

China, Victoria ment v South Fool. 7 pm.

Junior League: Eastern v Brigade.. Victoria Pool, 8.30 p.m.

Bowls

But the dedicated. Pirie can Colony Championstilp: Open Pairs matches at · KBGC, KIC, FRC, pic col- Reerelo, HKFC, RC, sun marr inspire his British C

The Wine

of

Royal Entertainment

MOET & CHANDON CHAMPAGNE

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1953

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Solo Agente GANDE PRICE & CO., LTD., “the Wing Hous"

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MILK PHOTOGRAPHS

CHOCOLATE BEANS

As always

ILFORD

Best

by our Staff Photographers

"Miss Hong Kong Final at Miramar Convention Hall Tung Wah Hospital Dinner at Tai Tung Restaurant Opening of Jockey Club Clinic af Kennedy Town Typhoon Damages in Hong Kong & Köwloon Portuguese National Day at Club Lusitano All Local Sports Local Presentations

Local Wedding)

~Etc.;. Etc.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LTD.