BOXING CONTEST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 287, 28 August 1908, Page 8

BOXING CONTEST.

GAULT v. MURPHY. (nr TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)' Hastings, August 27. Tho Hawko's Bay Amateur Boxing Association submitted their second programme for tho season to a largo assemblage last evening. Tho big event of tho night was the match between Bert Murphy, tho instructor of tho association, and A'lf. Gault, of Auckland, but a few preliminary bouts between amateurs served to whet the appctito of tho onlookers for the principal attraction. ; The " big guns then took their corners for a fifteen-round match ■ of three minutes each round, six ounce gloves. .. Murphy stripped at 9st. 71b., and Gault turned tho scalo at 9st._ 61b. Both men looked in tho pink of condition. Mr. Charles Tricklobank, tho_ referee, deserves much sympathy for the. position he was placed in, because from tho start tho fight was spoiled by clinchirigs, both men offending against tho rules. The referee, however, had to overlook these breaches in the early stages in face of the fact that the public wanted to. see somo sort of an exhibition for their money. There was never the slightest doubt but that the men' were doing their best, and tho pace from the introductory spar was hot and strong. Murphy drew first blood, in the second round, but soon after Gault got one homo on his opponent. The refereo had to separato the men in their continuous clinches. On two occasions when Murphy slipped, Gault allowed his opponent to riso clear before attacking him, and towards tho closo of tho fight Murphy took advantage of tho opportunities afforded him to return the compliment, tho actions of both men being greeted with enthusiastic applause. In the tenth round Murphy began to show that ho held somothing up his sleeve, and that ho had been holding back in order to assert himself in tho final rounds. ' In the. twelfth round Gault was in trouble, 'and was" palpably beaten both physically and on points, seeking refuge in his opponent's arms just before time was up. In this round tho reforee stopped the fight, and awarded the victory to Murphy on the grounds that in clinches Gault held on after being ordered to break. The decision was received by the houso with marks of disapproval, and voices demanded that tho fight should be allowed to proceed to a finish. Those in tho best position to judge, however, supported the decision of tho referee.