BOXING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20099, 1 December 1930, Page 16

BOXING.

WAIRONGOA SHIELD. INTERPROVINCIAL CONTEST. Local boxijijr enthusiasts familiar with moat of the representatives who hava been, sleeted for to-morrow'a big tournament between Canterbury and Otago. Some really first-class boxing has been seen here in the various amateur tournaments this year, and the team selected for the Wairongoa Shield contest is probably the strongest all-round combination that has represented the province for some years. The small but select band that represented Canterbury at the recentT'Sew Zealand boxing championships acquitted itself extremely well, and there is every prospect that in 1931, when the boxing championships will be held at Ashburton, Canterbury should win several of the weights. The Otago boxing team is a fine all-round side, and great confidence has been expressed by Dunedin boxing enthusiasts in its ability to take the shield back to Dunedin. The shield has been competed for three times previously, Otago winning in 1911. Canterbury in 1912, and Otago in 1920. It is intended, for the future, to promote annual contests, similar to the Payne trophy contest. A few notes upon the members of the teams will be of interest:— Vly-Wrfcfct. The Canterbury champion, Johnston, is not available, his place being taken by Cullimore, the South Canterbury champion, who beat Johnston in a close contest at Timaru last month. Cullimore is a clever, versatile- boxer, who will prove a worthy opponent for the-Otago champion, M. Anderson, This boy has an excellent record in Dunedin, and is confidently expected to win the bout in his weight. Bantam-Weigh t. The local champion, W. Davey, is very well known, to all supporters of boxing here. Davey is a keen, clever, and aggressive boxer, with a terrific punch that comes with lightning tepidity from either hand. His contest with Woods, the Wellington bantam, at the June tournament, will be long remembered here. It was probably the best of the year. Davey is matched with J. Richmond, bantam champion of Otago. It is impossible to indicate the result of this bout, which should certainly be one of the star items of. the programme.

PeaCher-Weight. TJiore will be two bout a in this weight, the first between Percy Hawes and W. G. Leckie, the feather-weight champion of Otago <and runner-up for the New Zealand championship in 1929. Hawes is at the top of his form at present, as he showed at Timaru las* month, when he obtained a decisive win over a plucky opponent, and was awarded the trophy for the best exhibition during the evening. When really fit, Hawes is definitely one of the roost attractive amateur boxers in the ring to-day, and his meet* ing with the Otago boy—a member of the famous Leckie family—-should provide a memorable contest. Leckie is a two-handed fighter who has been well trained in ringoraft. The seeona bout will be between R. Overend and 0. Buckley. R. Overend is one of the moßt promising of the local amateur boxers, and should prove a good match for Buckley, who has the reputation of being most popular in Dunedin. Buckley is a hard, keen boxer, who keeps himself in condition, and fights aggressively from gong to gong.

Ught-Weight. • Soy Baird. the local representative, waa unable to take part in the Canterbury championships in July owing to indisposition. He is very fit again. and in form, and is a clever, versatile boxer, with a • sound knowledge of ringcraft, who will be extremely difficult to beat. Campbell, his opponent, is well recommended as a {rood all-round boxer. Welter-Weight. Porward, the looal champion, is in better condition now than, when he fought Lowe at Dunedin recently. He has improved very much this season, has a useful knock-out punch, and can take a lot of punishment. Hart is an honest fighter, steady, and aggres. sive. These two boys should provide a very interesting bout, <as thev are both free hitters and open fighters. Middle-weight. G'. Pocock, who won the light-heavy-weight championship in July, is able to make the middle-weight and will meet J. Watt, of Otago. Pocock has had the advantage of Beveral bouts At the New Zealand boxing championships, and should show good form in his match. Watt has the reputation of bemg a vary solid puncher, with a good record of knock-outs. Heavy-Weight. The programme will be concluded with a heavy-weight bout between Colin Gardner, the New Zealand amateur heavy-weight champion, and W. Watson, Otago, runner-up in 1929 and 1930 for the heavy-weight championship of Otago. Gardner is fighting much more solidly this season, and is using both fists very freely. His fight in the final bout at the New Zealand championships provided one of the most stirring contests of the tournament, and his contest with Watson should be one of the tit-bits of the evening. Watson is a very determined boxer, a good aggressWo fighter, possessing a solid punch with either hand, and as he can take any amount of punishment, he is expected to provide a really good match with Oolin Gardner. With so much really good amateur boxing talent engaged* the toumuaexgi should be

Quite the best that the Christchsreli Bpacli Club has promoted this season. Hpta t general survey the Canterbury tew vooH appear to have a fair prospect cl.viashf the Wairongoa Shield, but the Otagotera includes so many good amateurs that it tiß be no surprise to see it victorious/ ' - HAINES DEFEATS . BERNASCONI. j ITALIAN RUNS FROM THE M. (CXITgB PEKSB ASSOCIATION—SI BJOHB TELEGRAPH —COPTBISHT.) ' (Received November 30th, o-f P-®*-) SYDNEY, Noreober 30. At the Stadium, Jack Hiinei (IW 4ib! defeated the Italian, Emilio Benuwra («« . 61b). The contest had an MMIMI ««"»«• Haines shook the Italian in the, Hrroja roaw ■with a blow to the solar pleiu, him to the boards. When about to • his feet the Italian n* HiflW fTP*™,' ing, and throwing up his tondf surrender, ha slid through tha rtPJJ . ran. off to his dressing room, S a section of the crowd of four *"* peanuts. DONOVAN BEATS LBCKIK. (PRIS* ABSOCIATIOIT NAPIEB, Novemho SO. Johnnie Leckie, <3t Napier, tort ft# weight title of New Donovan, of "Waitara, when "5 ; excellent contest in Napier last ajf Donovan's aggressiveness won loi . title, as he gave the Napwi : tunity to box, and in longer was superior. - ■ ' Leckie appeared to be „ , j» ments were listless, most protaWy " suit of hi. having to take van, too, had to reduce, but; he, wu Wi ond made the pace throughout WIN FOR GEORGE COOK. (TjSITED PRESS ASSOCIATION TEUSO&4PB —COFXBIfIBT.J (Received Novembw NEW YOBg. , At Hollywood the Australian heavy-weight cision over Royal Elliott in »•*">* bout on Friday night. Tijloi. La Barba secured a dtcision #wr