BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 12

BOXING.

(Bt Mencont.) ,The_ battle'for tho featherweight championship of Australasia was tho big event of tho -week in tho Australian boxing world. As described in tho appended account, from ™°, Referee," Thorn beat King on points:— lacldy Iving and Frank Thorn mot beforo a groat houso at tho Cyelorama for tho featherweight championship of Australasia. King's weight was Bst. 13Jlb. and Thorn's Sst. 131b. Thorn boxed brilliantly from start to finish, and his all-round work was a treat. King was; very, persevering; übut- always too slow. It «'as,.,,agreod.,i.to;ik»f,iiM;ith.i(v clean break, but both wero frequently cautioned for hitting jji holds. King had both his eyebrows split open; some declare by Thorn giving him his head, others by Thorn's blows. Even iho referee was doubtful how King camo by the injuries. Thorn did a power of work. His arms always moved twice to King's onco, but thoro was not one blow in tho hundreds that wero lauded that had a semblance- of knock-out in it. King planted a few sound punches on tho body, but he invariably appeared to bo so busily engaged stopping fhorn's blows that ho had no time to get in his own. Ho was certainly fighting a very diftcrent Thorn to tho ono ho put away in seven rounds with big gloves at Perth a few years ago. Tho first few rounds wero of a fairly oven naturo, somo very pretty passes taking placo. The fighting was fast, and tho hitting snappy, but by tho fifth round King had diedi away so badly that somo of tho crowd 'cried, "What's the matter with you, Pnddy; aro you dozing?" In later rounds King got very slow; ho scarcely over ventured a lead, and bar a knock-out, Thorn was a certain winner on points. Tho scores underwent no chango right up to tho end of tho twentieth round, when, amidst great applause, Thorn received Stokesbury's decision.

From London a cablegram, dated February 20, was received in Australia to the effect that in a boxing match for the lightweight championship of tho world, decided at A<?w York on the preceding day. Jim Driscoll defeated Abo Attell on points in a ten rounds', contest. Abo Attell, tho champion feather-weight boxer of tho world, is a .hw. He is 25 years of ago, stands oft. -iin. high, and is a native of San Francisco. Since August, 1900, ho has fought over 100 fights, and only lost twice—onco" to Bennv Yniigerf (also a Jow). and once to Jack M'Clolland. His recent record has, however, been rather siwilt by drawn battles with Owen Moran, the Welsh light-weight who was so successful in the States last year. In at least ono of those Attoil was lucky in saving his'title. Attell is essentially a point-fighter, and time after time he has deliberately strung out a contest in order to win on points. At the point fighting gamo he was regarded as invincible, and it therefore comes as a surprise to hear that ho has lost at his own game in a ten-round contest. DriscollMs an Englishman, who has como rapidly to tho front of late. He twice beat Joo Bowkcr, tho British feather-weight champion, aim moro recently has twioo beaten Charlie Griffin, once in England at the National Sporting Club, and moro latterly in America. Driscoll now becomes the feather-weight champion of the world, and is the only Englishman who at present holds a world's championship. Indeed, he is the only ono to have hold one for many years past. Cannot the Old Country now produce a "heavy" to emulate Driscoll's example, and win back the biggest title of all from the Ethiopian?