"GLOVE TO GLOVE."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 529, 9 June 1909, Page 9

"GLOVE TO GLOVE."

BOXING DISPLAY AT THE TOWN HALL. THE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. A retrospect of last Tjight's' boxing competitions at the Town Hajl, the first of tho two nights', provincial championship tourneys iiiidor the auspices of tho Wellington Bdxing Association, most bo pleasing to the executive of tho association and followers of the : sport* A list of entries, which constitutes a record or something very close to it, a wellfilled, good-mannered house, and a gritty and able set of boxers left few who could cavil at the management, and the preliminary bouts augur exceptionally well for the semi-ftnals and finals which are to be c decided, io-night. • The majority of the bouts were exciting, though some of them 1 wero brougbit to a sudden olose with a "knockout. y In the fpather-weight division W. Coward, a recent arrival from tho Old Country, created a very good impression,; , although his opponent did not give him time to show of his host. Another promising boy was W. A. Iggulden, of Kaiwarra. Probably, the moat popular win of the evening was that of Wj. Laagridge,'.of Petono, who defeated I. Kutner, after an' interesting cncountor, in which-Kotner lost the sympathy of the spectators by his constant appealing. Tho ring-side officials wore: —Stage managers, Messrs. J; L, Day and J. M. Laing; official' sticonds, Messrs. T. Taylor and T. Sampson; timekeepers, Messrs. A. Laurenson and J. L. Ludwig; referee, Dr. A. L. NapierM'Lean. Details of the events are as un- ■ dor:— . •

HEAVY-WEIGHTS, F. M. Maloney, list. 13ilb. (Olago), and : W. L.- Use. 111b. (Wellington), the two heavy-weights, gavo a vigorous exhibition of sparring, which, however, was devoid of interest until towards tho end of the second round, \ when both men became sliß*: boated, and' commenced to pundh. In tho first second of tho final round Rudd swung his left hoiie on Maloney and ©ndod tho con•tost. Up to this stag© Maloney had all tho best of the going.. 3HDDLE-WEIGHTS.. L. Murphy, lOst. 121b. (Wellington), and W.'. B. Sami>son, list. (Ekotahuna). Murphy forced the play all through tho first round, and when tire gong sounded Sampson was in a state of oollapso. -The roferoo refused to allow the contest to go any furthor, giving the verdict in favour of Murphy. ' .'WELTER-WEIGHTS.' O. Tancred, lOst. djlbl (I'etono), and J. Quinn, lOst. filb. (Wellington). Quinn opened out merrily, and got: soveral nice blows home, but the superior strength of his opponent told in the subsequent .fighting. Quinn' took his punishment well, although he weakened' perceptibly, and his blows lost speed. Before -the second round was over, the contest was stopped, and awarded to Tancred. ' The second welter heat was between H. Rigby, 10st. 51bl (Wellington), and 0. J. Parry,'lost. 61b. (Wellington). Parry did air the loading, and had his. opponent in trouble from the jump. Beforo the round had fairly began, ho landed a'right swing on to Rigby, and tho recipient went to tne .carpet and was counted out. KfGHX-WEIGHTS. J. Perkins, 9st. 91b. (Wellington), aaa VV. J; Smith, 9st. 9Jlb. (Potone), opened in tho light-weight cfivisiou. Smith had a slight advantage in height, as well'as weight, but his rival:was of a. solid'order, and put up with somo puidshmont in. tho opening minute, but got homo ono on tho body, and another on the face, which, took the dash out of Smith, who, however, came again towards .the. eaud of the round, which had been noticeable for its 'hitting. The second round was characterised by wild hitting, arid ended in favour of Perkins, who drove his opponent to the ropes several times. Smith started out with aomo vigour in the third round, ■ and put _ in some footwork which nonplussed hia rival.' He got home several good Hows, and eventually got one ill which staggered Perkins.Tho, referee stopped the contest at : this, stage and awarded- the fight to Smith, who had 'bis • man beaten.

J. Murphy, 9at. 121b. (Wellington), and W. Davis, 9s(l lOJlb. (Wellington). Tliero was a touch of comedy, wrestling and cyclonic lighting about this eontoat, which had further variation in a epeoies, of waltzing. - Thel rough and tumblo went three rounds,' amidst niuch clinching, and an occasional sounding, but harmless, punch. There was little to choose between the two 'men,

but Davis got the verdict on points.' H. MTariafio, 9st. 121b. (Wellington), and 'J.- ', Scamtry," ;' 9st.' 10Jib. (Wellington). M'Farlane had'a big advantago in height and reach, aad stood off and punched homo occasionally in ' tho 'first round, with'-some effect,,what times his arms wero not flying like flails. Tho second round was all in favour' of M'Farlane; but Scamtry pulled up in - the final round. The decision in favour, of M'Farlane wsb given a mixed reception. ■ FMTHER-WEIGHTS. • . W. Coward, Bst. 13ilb. (Wellington), and J. Bluton, 'Bst. BJlb. (Wellington), opened the feather-weight division. This, bout did not survive one round, the referee stopping the combatants and awarding honours to Coward, who did all the leading, andbroved himself immeasurably superior to Bluton. The winner showed promise of something above tho averago, his footwork boing. vkry good.:

M. Henry, 9st. (Wellington), and.L. Porter, Bst. (Wellington). Two punches ended this combats which opened with considerable promise. Porter pressed his opponent* up i into oiie of the corners, and swung a stiriging right, sending Henry down. The latter was counted out before the house realised that the encounter had begun. S. Porter, Bst. lijlb. (Wellington), and E. A. Tozer, Bst. 111b. (Wellington). Porter did the' greater part of tho fighting in the first round, and led consistently, but hit very low on three occasions, which hits, alleged on- many sides to be foul, told their tale. At the end of the first round Porter brought his rival to tho boards, but the gong saved him; The odds were;in favour of Porter in tho second round, but the other lad, although obviously beaton, fought gamely, but eventually collapsed, and was counted out. -': "X - BANTAM-WEIGHTS. A, Havill, Bst. 21b. (Palmerston- North), and F., Wenand, Bst. 3Jlb. (Hastings), were the first to como forward in the bantamweights, and negotiated the first round withbut any damage,' although tho boxing was as'ncat as any up to this stage. Stamina stood by Wenand in the second round, whioh was interrupted twice through Havill's glovo string coming undone. Wenand did ali the leading jn the final round, and, when the gong £oimded, had his rival in trouble in one of the corners. Wenand gained tho verdict "on points. ). W. A. Iggulden;, Bst. OJlb. (Wellington), and H. H, Leppor, Bst. 3}lb. (Petone). Leoper had a big advantage in height, but the smaller man, by clover footwork 'and pretty attacking, rendered the heavy drives of Lepper futile. The superior' skill/of tho smallor competitor carried him safely through to the ond, and lie piled on points all the time; Whon'-the rorereo announced Iggulden the winner the house greeted tho decision with loud applause. " 1.-Kutner, Bst. 21b. (Wellington), and W. LanEridge", Bst. 3lb. (Petone). Excitement ran high throughout this bout, which started fairly evenly,'-but a little in favour of Langridge, who swung a long right, which threatened Kutnor repeatedly. The latter clinched often, but invariably got tho worst of tho break. - Langridgo held his advantage .in the second'.round, and, in the third round, it was hard to separate tho two men. When the referoo declared in favour of Langridge, the audience" cheered itself hoarse, the win being an exceedingly popular one.