Fight:97129
Harry Laing 182 lbs beat Joe Goddard 186 lbs by TKO in round 12 of 20
- Date: 1894-01-01
- Location: Athletic Hall, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
From the Geelong Advertiser Jan 2, 1894:
THE PRIZE RING
GODDARD V. LAING.
(From Our Melbourne Correspondent.) Monday Night.
The Cumberland Athletic Club was in strong force to-night, when Joe Goddard, the local champion of Australia, met Harry Laing, the champion of New Zealand, for a purse of 150 sovs in a 20 round contest. Goddard weighed 13st 41b and Laing 13st, but the latter, who was shorter than the Australian, was very sturdy, and in much better condition. The New Zealander has a peculiar crouching style of fighting. Goddard did not follow his usual custom of forcing the fighting, but was cautious, though apparently very confident. Goddard forced the fighting in the first few rounds, but Laing was very tricky, and exchanges were even, the New Zealander proving more active and tricky than Goddard. The latter, however, got home some heavy blows on the Maori's face and ribs, and in the fourth round he hung his head and looked weak and distressed. He recovered, however, in the next round, and some give and take fighting ensued for the next few rounds, Goddard having the best of the close work, and Laing proving more effective at long range. In the tenth round Goddard became very weak and evinced signs of flinching, and wrestling. Laing forced the fighting in the eleventh round, and in the twelfth round Goddard's want of condition caused him to collapse, and he held out his hand to Laing as a token of defeat. Neither man showed marks of punishment, but Goddard was very weak. He could probably have secured a draw, but not a win.