BOXING ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2128, 21 April 1914, Page 5

BOXING ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL IEPOHT.

. In presenting its report for the, year just closed, tiw committee of tho Wtelrrogion Boxing Association, notes with pleasure tks feet that the financial position of tho assoeiation lias materially improved', the amount .standing to the credit ef the association .at tho end of % year being £4fel Us, id. Tho impreved financial .position is undoubted!)' due to tho fact that tho original policy (if the association was revfrrted to during the year, and the association aimed io give patrons of the sport not the greatest number of canteste tliat wero possiblo, but fewer con"tests and bettor quality. 'Jlfc patrons of the- sport have- shown -themselves capable of . discriminating as t<i tho quality ef 'the contests thov witness, aijid it should be tho aim of tno association to- at all tinies secure quality in the competitors, and so maintain tho high, standard of sport for which tho association was rioted for so long a period,. The, committee strongly' rteoommend tho incoming committee to adliere *lcsoly to the Qriginsl pelicy of the association, feeling sttro that if this is done Buccees will continue to attend the operations ef the association. The season was ojjened with the annual -amateur eha-nipionsiiins, theso being held at tho town Hall on Sum 10 and 11. The number of ijonipotitets eii* twing fell soniowhat short of expectations, although it was possible to present & full programtno for both nights. In a.H, cscerjt the heavy-weight class, the cewpotition was decidedly good, and some clever displays' woto giveni The winners wore:—Bantam, H. W. Brice; feather. F. Leary; light, J. Hunter; welter, V. Flan; mi<&lle t A. .t)alzi«ll. _No award, was in the heavy-weight. As a financial venture the. tourney was not a sticces.

On July 8 the.first professional contest was promoted, "Hook" , Kej'S-j the AustraliaJi light-weight, matched with J. H«gerty, the Dowrnkm charapiott. With t]» recollection oi his great display when .seen, here under tho nfiSQciatiotrs a.tispkes Bomo years ngd, it was pleasing to- note titnt the visi* tor's art still remained, while his flattering reception by followers <sf the spirt denionstrated Keys to be one- t>l tlio most popular exponents S'ho has jet vieited «a from Australia.

Tlie second toiiniaiMeiit was promoted <sii August 27, when Keys met Murphy, llio interest was not nearly as teen as in tho KeysVHagerty contest,' and the Result was shotrti in tho fuinncial roSult. After a contest whfeh found favour with patwiis right through Murphy was. *6tuMied tho friimer.

Tfes New Zealand ehnrapionehips were controlled by the South Canterbury Association, Wellington being reprasersted by tho WTowinf;: —Bantam, H. W, Erico; feather, F, JEerr; light, J. Hunter; welter, J. Mutpliy; middle, A. l)akiell. AH gsvo ereditaMo performances, but wtsre not suc«eS9ful in being returned tiio winner of any riass. Tim ten si was capitUy mnungea by Mr. J. E. StflplfiS, ■ while the , assoeiation's i'utefosts at the nimnal coufcrmico vrvrd titlien diargtv of by Mr. J. L. Bay. 'fhe eosnniitfoe was approached with a, view to a tournameni , . flaitig prornot.«(l in aid of tho fluids of the. Citizens' CarTitval. Negotiations w«4 entered into with a view to secnring enitable talent, bat owing to difficulties nsporieincptl fbo uogotiatious wore- abandoned. It. has now been decided that tho proceeds from ft" iiraateur chauimomsliipe be div voieil to this object. The Town Hall has been iiraiitpd for this purpose on JJay fl and 7. Tho prosn-ectu arc all in favour of a large number «E entries, both from the ciiy and from outside districts. During; tho year Mr. Bnrr, the association's represontalivo in Austrttlia. found it. necessary to resign, mul Mr. W. Lawless has kindly cfinseiU*j in jtskr. r-fergs of tho nssoditiw'i iateHSte twrei