The dramatic story of Shelaeff's defeat in Manila at the hands of the Filipino boxer Kid Vicente illustrates one of the uncertainties of the boxing game. It was confidently expected that Shelaeff would beat Vicente and the betting was in his favour, but on the showing in the ring it is now apparent that Vicente was easily the better man taking six of the eight rounds which the bout lasted. From the reports to hand Shelaeff appears to have been considerably perturbed by the excellent defence the Filipino managed to put up, and the fact is that when he had a chance he was equally as hard a hitter as himself. Undoubtedly the result of the first round which showed the champion that he was up against a tougher proposition than he had up to that time encountered, had the effect of making him uneasy as to the final outcome, and it is probably for that reason he was unable to make a better showing than to take but two rounds as against his opponent's six. Shelaeff was learning that he was fighting a better man and as round followed round the prospect of it ending by his being knocked out must have become increasingly apparent to him. Judging from all reports he seems to have taken his punishment manfully and to have returned practically as good as he got, but when he saw defeat staring him in the face, his nerve seems to have failed and he felt himself unable to go through with the remaining three rounds. He should have done so, it is true, for there was always the possibility of a knock-out redeeming his waning fortunes, tut the fear of defeat was too strong and he left the ring. While it was wrong of him to do so, it must be remembered that Shelaeff is very young, 'a mere eighteen, and though he has had plenty' of experience in the ring, defeat is something new to him, something of which he did not like the look. It isto be hoped that this will not end his boxing career, for Shelaeff has still all the marks of a good fighter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.