BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 532, 12 June 1909, Page 12

BOXING.

ißr MercuktJ ' FIXTUJIES. ■'...; June 23.—Horowhenua B.C. Tourney (Levin). June 29.—Tracy v. Jack Griffin (Palmcreton North); July 21 and 23.—Now ' Zealand Amateur Championships (Dunedin). July 2K—Traoy y. Bob TurneT (Hastings). Aβ indicated above, tho New Zealand Amateur Championships will bo boxed at Dunedin on July 21 and 23, the council having sanctioned them dates. The Wellington Amateur Provincial Championship Tourney at tho Town Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday may fai.-ly bo classed a success. Tho second night's showing raised the boxing from the slough of mediocrity that threatened to engulf it alter tiho first night« exhibition, tho weeding out of the incompetents in the preliminaries having the ettect of .lftmg the standard of merit to a very creditable point. So marked was this that it is a moot question whether it would not bo' better botti for tho sport and tiho association if in future the "weeding out" process could not be conducted privately, soinothing on tho lines of tho system followed by the Christcburch Sports Club. If this were done tho. men could be asked to box more Man tho three rounds demanded at present —all too short a bout, and ono which gives the competitors no time to settle down and study one another's systems, and so directly oncourago the "slugging" mothod, or lack oi method, that at prosent mare tho displays. As stated, the boxing on Wednesday was quite up to sample, and, consequently' the programme, though far shorter than on Tuesday, was eminently more enjoyable, and kept tho noußO in an excellent humour throughout, thus proving that .the boxing patron, Uko other compotent critics, prefers quality to quantity. The most popular turn of the tourney was the bantam-weight final between Wonand, of Hastings, and lggulden, a local latl oi whom more can bo seen'with advantage. Wenand is a vigorous, but clean end good-humoured boxer of the "wing" tySj and his opponent is of the stocky ■ pattern' but lively on his feet, quick with, his head and hands, and with a nice, upright 'free style, that quickly put him on good terms with the audience, and obtained for him the wel-deserved honour of winning Mr. H. Nelson s medal for science. ' Next in merit to this bout was the S £orter-Cairna contest, which was a fine exhibition of forcing on Porter's part, opposed to clever docking; and slipping, by Cairns, whoso ovcjsive tactics throughout earned him much applause. Porter fairly won his championship by a sound aggressive display, and Cairns quite deserved the special trophy presented to him by the association for his pluck in boxing out. a torrid three rounds with a sprained hand. A further meeting between these two can be thoroughly recommended as a preliminary later in • tho season.; .

The final of the "weltcre" provided si hot tussle, and unearthod a very promising candidate fov championship honours in the I'etone representative, 'young Tancrod, who won from Parry by aggressiveness and gamenoss. This result contains a lesson for Parry, who has not improved in his boxing of late, since findingthat ho holds a "knockout" in his right hand, ho has gone ."nap'' on a right swing, with deteriorating ,roeulta to tho rest of his attack. Opposed, to a cool opponent, who keeps his hands-up, and is clever with his head; .this a system has no chance. Tancrcd : had', apparently nbsorbed this tnrthj and it was brought home to Parry very convincingly in the fourth round of the set-to. .■■'..' ■ ■ .

_ The light, middle, and heavy weights call for no special mention, exoept perhaps tho taial between the big men, . Williams and Rudd. Williams, who is from tho "waybacks of Gisborno, is a big good-natured ngbter, with a winning smile that mado him popular) .at once, and a wicked right upper cut that made him respected at tho same time. Rudd, however, proved too fast and aggressive for Mm, and scored a win in tho ■third round after.a display far eimcrior to ■anything which wo ■ havq ' seen from tho 'hoavies" for somo timo, but which was marred,, as always, by , bad timing, wild swinging, and heavy footwork. Rudd paid for his victory with a badly-cut mouth—th« result of ono of Williams'e above-mentioned upper cuts. : The Wellington team for the New Zealand championships will be ebosen on the form shown; on 'Tuesday and Wednesday, but tho material available does not jiromiso much chance of tho local centro capturing any of tho big 'events.' Wonand's ch.-inco in. the class seems the best and, in addition to him, tho only other competitors who would seem to'have justified, inclusion in the team are lancred, welter,, and Porter, feather. On Juno 1 Boer Unholz and Monty Andrews met at tho'Gaiety, Sydney, in the preeonco of a largo crowd. The Boor had tho better of the going for thirteen rounds,. when the terrific "clip" at which ho had started told its tale, and he fell away, and Andrews managed to get the referee's cyo for. the latter section of. the bout., Tho result wn-s given as a draw—a decision that appears to have favoured Andrews considerably. Billy Hanly met Tommy Hanly on Tuesj day nin;ht. Gault has been unlucky again. Says the Referee": —Tho ooritest at tho Gaiety on Saturday night, botwecn Gault, of New' Zealand, and Frank O'Grady, ran .the whole 20 rounds, and resulted badly for Gault, who, despite splendid pluck; had very ranch the worst of matters in every round, excepting the first and fourth (the eurplns points of which went to hie credit), and tho second— an even time. O'Grady tired perceptibly in tho seventeenth, and Rrew moro tired towards tho finish, but he was still 'able to stand tho New Zealander off. Ganlt liad become weak earlier, and only managed to keep on facing a-forlorn hopo through sheer uipn-pjrade'grit.'■■'••:. /

It is reported .that Bill Squires •'.intend, getting into 'action again, nnd announoos that he will be ready to fight once more for the Australian chamoionslup in November. Frank Thome and Arthur Douglas have been matched .to fight again in Melbourne for ££0 a-sido on'-a date to be settled.