The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-09-03
.ISM'FARLANDF FIT
Il: !. FOR RING TRIAL

lts'R
ssv In less than three weeks the ques-
ton whether Fackey Mcfarland il =
better man, Pugilistiealiy speaking,
than Mike Gibbons, will be settled.
These two will cross gloves in a ten
round bout at the Ocean Athletic Club
at Brighton Beach, New York, Sep
tember IL, and the boxing world awaits
the result with interest. The fans
have delved into the records of the
men, compared their various qualities,
and have arrived at no uniform con-
elusion. Mcfarland is still the only
Packey with his supporters, and Mike
holds his scat among the mighty with
his psrtisans.
F.''What will decide this matchf" the
fans ask. With both men at their
best there can be little difference in
skin, although both are students of
different schools. In reviewing the
performances of both, the writer can
not recall any bout in which McFar.
land has ever been hurt. Nor has Glib
hons ever been in serious trouble, al
th0tfgh he admits that several men
have hurt him with punches. 1t must
be considered, however, that McFar
land has seldom fought men who had
physical advantage over him.. This
dos not hold with Gibbons.
Has Good Punch
/, IL all other things be equal when the
men enter the ring, hitting power will
tell the tale. II is the opinion of
many keen judges that Gibbons has
decided advantage as a puncher. Mike
lisa short, straight hitter. He is
lightning in starting his leads, and
when he sees an opening he hurls his
whole body into his punch. This not
only, adds force, but also adds to his
reach, and makes II harder for an OPP
ponant to counter effectively. Hitting
straight, as Mike invariably does, he is
able beat his man to punches which
might prove damaging did they find
their target. vi,
Gibbons, moreover, Is careful
puncher. . He will fiddle and feint for
seconds att time until he finally
creates the opening he seeks. He is
like steel Spring as he leaps into ac-
ton. 'Nv 'E
Mcfarland Is not such a damaging
puneher.' He is lightning on the at.
tack, to be sure, but does not make
such effective use Of his shoulders. in
driving lead. Moreover, Packey' is
prone, or was, at any rate, to hit while
going away from a man, losing much
force thereby,
Packey Is Boosted
1t is claimed that when Mcfarland
enters the, ring to fight an important
match he will, display hitting ability
which his most ardent admirers never
dreamed he possessed Jim Buckley,
manager of "Gunboat" Smith, is one
who believes that Packey can hit with
the best of them
pg'I saw Packey before he fought
Jack Goodman" said Jim, "and said
to him, 'Packey, can you knock Good
man, outp In any round, you say,
JIM answered Packey Well, you
Goodman in FIVE rounds, and could have
done it sooner. said the same thing
to him when he fought Ahearn, and he
beat Ahearn in seven rounds. l m tell
ing, you to watch Gibbons closely
Paea ey may stop him, too"
Whatever the opinion of the genial
JAMES, Mcfarland cannot be consid-
cred, as dangerous a puncher as the man
she IN about to face. When he fought
tMattifWells in Madison Square Garden
he tried with might and main to stop
the plucky British champion. He bat.
tered him from pillar to post, and
swung full on the jaw with his right
band, but Wells refused to go down.
Indeed, one must believe that swing.
ing is necessary for Mcfarland to get
all his power into a lead and this anti
quated style will doubtless prove in.
adequate against such a wonder on de.
Tense as Gibbons.
.McFarla Prepared
~ IL has been learned that Mcfarland
is not unprepared for this match. Ever
since he retired from the ring he has
been working in the gymnasiums
AROUND his home, and Jim Buckley
says that Packey is ready to perform
in his Old-time form. If this be true,
the fans are assured of wonderful
BATTLE. But the question naturally
presents itself "Will the comparative
Iyrhght work Of the gymnasium prove
sufficient to keep Packey's judgement
of distance up to the required nOtchf"
vIgGibbons fights in a style that is all
his own. He has almost as many
imitators as Charley Chaplin, and they
are about as successful. Mike fits out
in front of his opponent, his chin
buried behind his left shoulder so that
he is practically immune to attack
with a right hand! He is master of
feiDting with his body, and he can roll
his head out Of the way of punch
and scarcely vary his position an inch
Docs an opponent swing right, Mike
sways away, pulling his left foot back
n few inches, bending his body and
pulling his shoulder up.
II 10 true that a man with a fast left
hand can give Mike lot of trouble.
But this holds true with every boxer.
More fights are won with the left hand
than with the right for the one paves
the way for the other. But Mike, with
his wonderful eye, can stand up and
swap lefts with any one.
Il. Mcfarland has n stylewhich is seem.
IiRglV more aggressive than that Of
Gibbons. lie is the straight standing