WITH PADDED GLOVES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 6

WITH PADDED GLOVES.

AT THE OPERA HOUSE. UNFORTUNATE DEVELOPMENT, AND SOME UPROAR. Athletes of the boxing persuasion who have rallied round tho Festival of Empire Coftimittee in its efforts to collect sufficient funds to have New Zealand represented at tho Festival of Empire, provided an evening's entertainment at tho Opera. House last evening. Tho proceeds should considerably augment tho fund.

Tho principal attraction of the evening was the meeting of Burns, tho Petono professional champion, and A. Leckie, Wellington, in a fifteen-round bout. A few weeks ago, when the pair met at Petone, Burns gained tho verdict. Last night's clash saw the tables turned. Leckie seemed to be "on the point of being knocked out in the fourth round, but tho gong saved him, and, by tho time that the seventh round had finished, ho was going as strongly as ever. Up to "the seventh round matters had gono all in favour of Burns, but, in the Bth, 9th, and 10th rounds, Leckie swung right after right on to tho Petono man, -until tho latter was looking very shaky. Towards the end of the round (in a clinch after a heated attack by Leckie) the Wellington man claimed a foul, alleging that Burns had deliberately butted him in tho face with his head.

Tlio referee (Mr. F. W. Greville) held that there had been no foul, and ordered the contest to proceed. Burns, however, thought that lie had been put out on a foul, and unlaced his glomes. After the complications had been sifted out, the referee awarded the contest to Leckie on the ground that Burns had refused to continue. • At the same time, he explained that Burns had been leading on points when he stopped. The decision gave rjse to a considerable display of feeling in the audience. The amateur bouts were not inspiring, but the light-weight professional contcst between J. Gosling (Wellington) and W. Rogers (Hawke's Bay) was fast and lively.

During the evening an exhibition of skipping was given by R; Walker.

LECKIE DEFEATS BURNS. MIXED .FEELINGS AT THE FINISH. Hard slogging characterised the contest between Burns, of Petone (lOst. 81b.), and Leckie, Wellington (lOst. 91b.). Tho methods adopted by tho combatants were similar to those which held throughout the recent meeting of tho pair at Petone, except that tho hitting was harder and a littlo wilder. Burns left himself as open, as the day, and Leckie was, if it were possible, oven more open. In the early rounds Burns piled up tho points, but Leckie took an enormous amount of punishment, and, after being almost knocked out, in tlio 'fourth round recovered gradually until eventually (in tho tenth round) ho had Burns in a serious plight. It was nt this stage that the unfortunate coinplications arose.

Tho opening round was in favour of the Petone man, but the next was oven. Operations commenced in earnest in the third round, Lcckio getting home with several heavy swings in tho opening, but Burns making up in the close work, particularly in tho clinches.

A change of tactics by Bums in the fourth round spelled trouble for Leckie. Burns forced the pace, and rushed his opponent, landing two right swings on the side of the head. A right swing by Lockio was the answer, and then Burns waded in again, getting homo with heavily-loaded right and left in turn. Towards the end of tho round, Burns planted a heavy smash on Leckio's chin, and drove the latter back to tho ropes, hitting wildly the whole time. A right and a left saw Leckie dazed and offering no defence, and it looked as though tho end had come, as Burns at this stage was sending in blow after blow. Tlio gong went, however, and this gave Leckie a breather.

Leckio camo tip rather shakily in tho fifth round, and Burns went in to push matters, but Leckio swung wildly and often, and was still up (but on the defensive) when tho ordor for "corners" camo again. The sixth meeting saw Lerkio refreshed, ' and ho left loose' several unusually wild right swings which cut the air. Both men had settled down again in the seventh round, hut easily in the eighth a right swing by Leckio found a resting place on Burns's ear. Tho Petono mai was visibly shaken, and Leckio followed up his advantage, but Burns clinched and recovered. Hard hitting by both men was the feature of the ninth round,- Burns having slightly the best ot the deal.

At tho beginning of the tenth round Leckio got home with a right and left, the double dose' making Burns show signs of wear. Leckie followed up his advantage, pressing his opponent steadily and getting, in about ten strong swings. Burns did not relish the change in tho conditions, and sought relief by clinching. At this stago tho proceedings were brought to an untimely end. Tho boxing was in clinches near Leckie's corner, when suddenly tho Wellington man stopped operations and appealed'for a foul, claiming that Burns had been butting him in the face with his head. Both m?n retired to their comers in an excited state, and Burns's seconds appeared to be trying to persuado him to sit down calmly' and resume tho contest. Burns, it is stated, thought that he had been put out on a foul. In tho midst of the uproar the referee came forward and announced that tho decision must go to Leckio. Later ho explained that he had not given his verdict on the foul, but because Burns had given up the fight. At the same time he announced that at the time of his retirement Burns had been leading on points. °

The audience howled. . One section approved, the other disapproved, 'tho voi'dict, and questions were hurled at tho referee from all quarters as tho men \i ere hustled off to their dressing rooms. The back of the stage was crowded with enthusiasts, each arguing his particular side of the case, whilst similar gatherings were taking plaeo alongside and in front of the Opera House. Burns's seconds threshed the matter out, tho conclusion arrived at being that there had been an unfortunate misunderstanding.

MURPHY BEATS ADAMSON. This clash was looked forward to with some intorest, the parties having fought a draw at I'etone a few weeks ago, although many were of opinion that' tho contest should have gone to Murphy on points. Adamsoti's weight was given as lOst. 71b., and Murphy's as lOst. 21b. Adamson started oft' aggressively, and landed three rights in succession. Following up eagerly, he was stopped by a hard, straight left from Murphy, which steadied him considerably. Adamson camo in again, however, and got home a strong right. There was a good deal of wild hitting in tho second round, up to which stago Adamson was leadiii" slightly. °

Tho third round was noticeable for somo nicc footwork by Murphy, who evaded several dangerous lunges* by his opponent. The fourth set-to was moro or less of a rough-and-tumble, in which Murphy put on points. The final round saw both men tired, hut Adamson had most left in him, and forced the boxing, Murphy, however, held enough in hand to give him tile

verdict. When the referee indicated him as the winner thero was strong opposition from a section of the house.

COSLINC OUTPOINTS ROGERS. The meeting of W. Rogers and J. Gosling, professional light-weights, was a vigorous display, in which the superior strength and build of Rogers, a particularly solidly-constructed young fellow, was a set q!J to tlio ring craft of the wily Gosling, Early in the gainc Rogers rushed his opponent, and smote hard and often. Gosling, howrtvey, was decidedly the cleverer of the. t\vo, and frequently turned the rushes .'of to scoring account. the five rounds the hitting wcs'Jjvnly, clean, and vigorous, although thti finish of Gosling was much better thaii t'iat'of Rogers. There was no deiimr vrheu the referee announced Gosling was the winner. Rogers, howqyer, ' will doubtless be heard of again, when experience has taught him to mako the very best use of his gifts. He is only 22 years of ago.

STEWART AND MARTIN. On account of P. Williams not being able to compete against D. Chapman, a spar between Stewart, Petono, and Martin, Petone, was put on at the last minute. Both men swung mild lefts and rights in the first round without doing any damage. The second round saw Stewart pile up points with a crude, style of attack, which his opponent did not know enough to counter. Stewart increased' his lead in the third round, and must have got the verdict had tho referee been called upon to give a decision.