Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-08
BLACK WONDER
ISSUES HIS Def.
MELBOURNE BOXER COMES TO
FRONT
sullt on Plan of Bob Fitzsimnnons.
New Fighter Promises to Rank
With 5est-eets Draw With
Joe Blackburn

NEW YORK. July There's a new
black demon i'm the field and he comes
from the antipodes, where he was
known as the Melbourne kangaroo.
His name is George Gunther and i'm the
short time he has been in America. he
has done things that entitle him to
the sincere respect Of all the men in his
class. He is a peculiar fellow in regard
to weight, being perfectly willing to
meet any man in the world from 1873
to $50 pounds, and Joe Cans is not
barred from the list
In respect to avoirdupois Gunther re-
sembles another noted man who began
his fighting career in Australia. Fitz-
simmons once made 150h pounds when
he beat Jack Dempsey for the middle
weight title. and later he fought JEFF
fries for the heavyweight honors when
the boiler maker weighed trif1e over
21S pounds.
Gunther is built on the wiry plan Of
the Cornishman, with very large chest
development and consequent fine ca
pacity for breathing operations. That
is also pleasing characteristic of the
physical makeup of Fitzsmmons. But
1t is In the matter of performance that
Gunther challenges attention. He has
not had many chances to show his
ability because there is no frantic rush
on the part of the men in his class to
sign articles with smoky complexioned
sCrappers.
is Dangerous Mixer
But he has met two of the best men
in his class, and the result of the en-
counters proved beyond doubt that he
is one of the best men that has come
to the center in 4 long time Both of
these try-outs took place late last win
ter. and in both Gunther acquitted
himself in manner to arouse the Gu
riosity If not the fear of the other men
in his division.
His first opponent was Larry Temple,
a black whirlwind who is regarded as
distinctly dangerous, and whose wallop
has laid many an aspiring boxer low.
This encounter took place at Beaver
Falls Pa. shortly after the new year
began, and after thirteen rounds of
milling Gunther had his man on the
ropes in helpless condition.
This achievement on the part of
Gunther brought him sharply to the
attention of all the men in his class,
whereupon several white scrappers pre-
cipitately drew the color line.
There were not many of the dark
skinned variety of boxers that cared to
have much to do with the Kangaroo,
but he finally got a match with Jack
Blackburn. with whom Amby McGarry
and Joe Cans do not seem anxious to
clash IN fact, there are many who
assert that Blackburn is the best light
weight in the country today, and that
Cans hackers can get all the wagers
they desire if those two fighters ever
meet in the ring.
The bout between Blackburn and
Gunther took place at New Castle, Pa
on January 81 last. 1t was limited to
ten rounds and proved to be the best
glove bout seen in that town or any
where else for many a month. AL
though Gunther knew he was con-
fronted by one of the best men in the
ring, still he did not show the slightest
fear and waded in with the greatest
courage.
Gunther Is Aggressive
He was the aggressor from the first
gong to the last, and while Blackburn
showed superior ring generalship IN
avoiding the heavy shots of the Aus
tralian and managed to do damage
with jabs and hooks, still the Kan
garoo was rushing and swinging furi-
ously at the close and by his aggres-
siveness earned the referees decision
of drawn battle. It stands to reason
that a man who can go the rounds with
Joe Blackburn NUT necessarily be
good performer and that he VIII be
heard from in future.
Gunther is under the management or
Joseph Edmonston, who had charge or
Fitzsimmons a few years ago, and Ed
monston says he will match his man
against anyone in the world at from
1873 to $50 pounds. Here is a fine OPP
portunity for any man who seeks to
acquire fame in the roped arena.