BOXING

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1493, 16 July 1912, Page 6

BOXING

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS,

PRELIMINARY BOUTS. DISQUALIFICATIONS AND SUKPBISES. Four disqualifications and (wo knockouts in one evening was scarcely a gooil record for the fir.st night of the New Zealand Championship Boxing Tourney. The meeting was held in the Town Hall, as usual, and there was an attendance of some 800 people. Generally, the sport was good, and the conduct of the men in the ring always admirable. Certainly men were disqualified, but the breaches of rules appeared to bo committed for want of thought, probably because the men have been accustomed to .box under, less strict referees, than Mr. T. Sampson. Everyone of his decisions was right beyond the shadow of a doubt. Mr. H. Sharplin (Christchurch) ahd Mr. B. Cooke (Tiinaru). acted as judges. ? Tho greatest .surprise of the evening ■was' the knock-but of C. Leary, Wellington's representative in the "feather" class, by "T. Thompson," a smart; lad from Southland. Leary liad put it all over his man. in the fir.st round, looked a safe winner, and walked to the centre of the ring full of confidence for the second. "Thompson" lunged out of his. corner like a rocket, threw a heavy right .over to the jaw, and the bout was ended by the count-out. Another rather lucky win was M'Kenzfc's over Lane, of Otago, also in 'the. "feather" class. Lane was very rightly disqualified, but it is perhaps regrettablo that such a really geod - l>oxer should bo "stood down" thus early in the tourney. Leary and Lane were unquestionably tho two cleverest boys in this class who appeared in the ring last night.

"TIM" TRACY. PRESENTATION AND CHEERS. .Tust pvior to the interval the president of the Wellington Association (Dr. Arnold'W. Izard) made a presentation on behalf of the local control to the wellknown professional, "Tim" Tracv. 'Tracy lias retired from the ring, ami 'the presentation was intended to mark his retirement.. The trophies were a complimenta'-v address, neatly embellished and framed, and a diamond ring for Mrs. Tracv. Dr. Izard said the proper occasional pleasantries about "Tim" and'his good record as. a {food boxer and a clean one, and when it came to be "Tim's" turn to talk lie admitted that he had never been in'a lighter corner in .the, ring than at that moment. He made the reply ne'eessary— a modest, .good r natured. reply, typical'of the man. Tracy was applauded and cheered to the echo, and when cheers' were called .for him they came spontaneously and liirtily.

BANTAM-WEIGHTS. J. Gunn, 7st. 1241b. (Timaru) beat "Young 'Owens," Bst. (Westport). The winner fought one of the gamest and cleverest battles that ever could be seen at any tourney. The Westport boy had a long reach and.a habit of pushing over a right to the face, which shook the smaller boy a little. It appeared that it was very little', however, for he was after his-man all the-way* .satisfied apparently that lie had his 'measure. In the last act ho rattled- the West Coaster with a fusil--adc of well-driven straight left's; and the tall lad was in trouble at the bell. Gunn was a bad second at the opening of the round, and his well-deserved win was tho reward of a plucky effort. It is only fair to say that the winner was the better boxer, but at a sad disadvantage in the physical endowment of reach. The judges .agreed in declaring him the winner. J. M'Morran, Bst, lib. (Wellington), beat W. Oliver, Bst. lib. (New Plymouth)! This was an example of tho natural fighter prevailing over the pure boxer without ringcraft. Oliver had all the advantage in reach, and he could give and stop iv blow well. He did hand out some very good rights to M'Morran's face and body, but the left, the weapon he should havo won with, lie used far too little. M'Morran's only real merit was sheer pugnacity and strength.

FEATHER-WEIGHTS. "T. Thompson," Bst. 131b. (Southland), beat C. Leary, Bst. 101b. (Wellington). The end was sudden and sharp. In the first round, Leary, as his habit is, played with his opponent, a very lively lad for the whole three minutes, and puzzled him hugely. When the gong' sounded ho was many points ahead. In the next round, ''Thompson" took his only chance, rushed from his corner, and dropped n full-am swing across to Leary before the latter could realise what was likely to happen. The.clever Wellington boy took the count, and had to bo'carried to his corner. A. Jervois, Bst. 121b. (Manawatu), beat E. T. Gundry, 9st. (Ashburton). The bout went the full'three rounds. Jervois's method was a quick lead with either hand, and lively work in the' clinches. Gundry was. even ■ quicker than his lively opponent' in all kinds of defence, .especially in ducking and getting out of reach, but his leads were short, and lie launched too few of them. Probably, the main factor influencing tho judges..in tho decision was Jervois's better leading. /

H; M'Kenzic, Bst. 131b. (Auckland) beat A. Lane, Bst. 121b. (Otago). Lane was disqualified in the first round for a palpable infringement, bv holding ami hitting. But for this tho southerner a leather of rare quality, could-not have lost, except by accident.

; LIGHT-WEIGHTS. R. Simpson, 9st. 11*lb. (Christchurch), beat "Spi" Thomas, 9st. 91b. (Otaki). Thomas's only stock-in-trade was a long reach, which he was ever watchful to make bargain, with. He landed a stray left or right on Simpson's face, but when the men were breast to breast tho southerner beat him alt over the hodv and head with both gloves. But for Thokas's holding tactics Simpson would have won earlier, perhaps, by n decisive method. Finally the holding led to the Otaki man s disqualification in the third round.

W. North, 9st. 131b. (Otago), beat A. Havill, 9st. 121b. (Manawatu). This was, perhaps, the'best and the most evenly-contested bout of the evening. Both lads had some rinj-craft and skill, and a ready punch in each hand. North had the better stylo all round, and ho was the fraction too quick which goes for success in the boxing game. Havill was the least bit distressed at the end o£ three strenuous rounds, and North was certainly th-8 winner by a small margin. ' I. M'Grath, 9st. 131b. (Timaru), beat J. Whalley, 9st. 11b. (Auckland). Whallcy scored two clean knock-downs in the lirst round, but early in the second M'Grath sent n heavy right across, and the Auckland hoy went down and out. The loser looked an absurdly small lightweight. '..-.'

WELTER-WEIGHTS. H. Withoy, 10st. 7lb. iOtago), beat E. Minifie, 10st. Blb. (Wellington). This was a very poor bout to happen in a championship tourney. Minifie was never in the race from the beginning, but ho was so slroii'.' and in such perfect physical condition that he was ahvavs dan»o'rous until the final bell. In the first round the men stcod oil' and boxed,.and Withey won. In the second Minifie roughed hi's man in the evident hope of an' opening and f knock-out. and again AVithey scored the only good blows, left and right hooks or upper-cuts to the, face. In the final round A\ ithey thrashed his man soundly, and hit with any hand almost at will. There could have been no other verdict. J. Hogan, 10st. 71b. (Wanganui), beat J Gundry, lOst. 61b. (Christchurch). Hogan was on his man foroverv second of t lit- I In fu busy'rounds,.. making his longer antagonist, break "round all the while. Thai iva-.- (he beginning and lh t . end ill' his superiority if.it couhl he called such. The actual trading "as practically all done by'the Christchurch man, who landed hatfuls of heavy hodv blows and not a few good blows on face and head, which would have stopped le<s strong men than Hotran. The latter dealt ■ many lively debts, whwh cuiiht tin when sm Mnting'.ff.u at oloso range, but the-

t| scaree compensated for the points made | by ttundry when they slcod oil' and boxed.

MIDDLE-WEIGHTS. C. G. Cate, 10st. 131b. (Gisbor.no) beat J. Hughes, list. 11b. (Southland). Hughes was evidently sent up from Tnvercnrgill as a comedian. Just for a little while he humbugged Cate rather with his foolish ducking and running antics, but alter two minutes Cate had discovered what kind of a "false alarm" he was hitting against. Then Cate won, of course, in' the old-fashioned way, by beating his man until he was not fit to beat any more. The referee -called a halt towards the end of the round and declined for Cate.

B. Finney. 11st. 351b. (Wellington), beat A. Dalziel, 11st. 2lb. (Manawatu). Finney rushed into Die fight as if to finish it in a few seconds or less! Ho (lid rough Dalziel quite a lot, but ho did no more just then, and the round finished with lionoui's easy. In the second round Finney spun both hands in a (or-undo-like rush, and had the Manawatu lad shaken at least once. Then Fiiuicy used a straight 'left with fair effect,- but little judgment or skill. The final round was slower, but mainly in favour of Finney. "Finney the winner" was just about the right decision.

HEAVY-WEIGHTS. P. Caldwell, 12st. 4lb. (Wanganui) beat J. Cole, 13st. lib. (Manawatu). The bout had gone two rounds and a half when Cole, having been twice previously cautioned, was disqualified for holding. Cole was a big strong man with on arm a.s long as a clothes prop, but with no skill, and his adversary was a much smaller man with tome knowledge of boxing. The.smaller man was an easv wiiiim- without the disqualification..Hail the bout been finished he must have got the decision on points, or qua to probably by a knock-out. P. M'Quarrie, 12st. 6lb. (Southland), beat W.'Bartlett, 12st. slb. (Christchurch). It was the usual heavy-weight rough and tumble,,with fearful undirected slugging, iiartlett_ was cautioned in the first round for hitting with the open, glove, ami halfway through the'second round for the third offence of the Same kind he was disqualified. , The tourney will be continued to-night, and concluded to-morrow night. .