BOXING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2153, 20 May 1914, Page 4

BOXING

PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT

FINAL BOUTS

SOME GOOD FORM SHOWN

In two classes the form shown by tho competitors at tho Wellington Provincial Championship Boxing Tourney at the Town Hall last night was very much about the usual. The classes wore tho heavy-weight and the featherweight. As was not unexpected, tho boy from Cross Creole won the feather class, giving a very fino display, and proving beyond all doubt that ho was tho cleverest boxer at the meeting. In tho heavy class tho quality of tho performance put up by the two men would scarcely compare with that of the feathers, but it .was well above tlio usual heavy standard. lollowiug aro accounts of tho bouts decided: — FEATHER-WEIGHT. . Semi-final: L. Stewart, 9st. (Petone), boat E. Leary, 9st. (Wellington). Leary opened very warily, waiting always for tho Petone man to make play. This Stewart was ready enough to do, and he made some bold bids for the vulnerable spot with hooks by either hand, hut not ono of them found their mark. Presently tho lads got a little busier, and then Stowart scored by^his strength and pace. It was certainly Stewart's round. In tho second Leary forced things a good deal, roughing Stowart down once, and to tho ropes once. In the clinches Stowart was three times called for holding Leary's left glove under his right arm. 'ihe third round was almost a repetition of. tho first, except that Leary | scored a few more points by fast leads with either hand, and won always In defence. A fourth round was ordered. In this Leary threw away the cbanco ho certainly had by leaving ; Stewart to do all tho leading. Theso tactics served to show off his own remarkable adroitness in ducking and blocking, and also allowed him to score at least one good straight right to tho jaw. "Stowart wins" was a popular decision. Final—J. W. Oliver, Bst. 121b. (Cross Crssk), beat L. Stewart,'9st. (Petone).

This was far and away the best bout of tho tournament, perhaps the best that lias been boxed iu any amateur tournament in New Zealand of later years. Both lads wcro fast and shifty, and each had quite a variety of hits always ready. Tho difference, between them was that Oliver, though perhaps loss robust than his opponent, bad a considerably bigger stock of tricks, and was a great deal quicker to anticipate his opponent's moves. One of Oliver's cleverest pieces of work was a back or side-moving draw, a la Unholz, Frank Ellis, and others, followed by a straight loft to the chin. This has to bo done verv fast to beat a boxer of Stewart's quality, but Oliver's glovo landed. The Petone boy'tried to box at long rango, then at,short range; he tried to force the pace, but always'ho was outwitted. Both lads were loudly applauded after the bout.

LIGHT-WEIGHT. Final.—J. Smith, ,9st. 121b. (Petono), beat.H. M'Farlans; itist? (Wellington)* M'.Uai;lanc was much tho clevcrer boxer; and had' scored most of tho points, when*the. end camo very suddenly. Smith, 'a'very heavy hitter, landed a heavy, right, to the'jaw, and M'Farlano took the count. MIDDLEWEIGHT. Final: B. Finnie, 11st. (Wellington), beat A. Krausch, list. 31b. (Wellington). This clash was a -very mild affair, .that is having regard to the fact that Finnie was ono of tho contending parties. Usually, he makes the. pace terrific, but on this occasion fio was content to go moderately slow. Ho landed his long swinging blows every now and then, and as his opponent rarely by any chanco was able to reach him, the long man had to be declared a'winner. Two men so;unequally matched ; .in stature' seldom make a good this affair was scarcely ever, interesting. Krausch shaped as if ho might have mado a better, showing .against,a man moro nearly of his inches. HEAVYWEIGHT. Final: S. Cerald, 13st. (Carterton) beat A. C. Clading, I2st. 4lb. (Petone). • Gorald is a big tall man with phenomenal reach, and Glading a well-propor-tioned man at liis weight. Glading showed rather the better knowledge of the game, but he could not calculate the length of those tremendous arms and in consequence he had to tako a good deal of punishment. Glading's best scoring blow was a straight left following a feint with the right. Theso were all very well, but Gerald's arms went all tho timo and quite often the glovos found an-unprotected part. OTHER BOUTS. ;

W. M'Farlane, lOst. 41b. .(Wellington) beat J. Hunter, lOst. 21b. (We!-, lington).—This was a. striking example of tho winner losing. These two boys had mot the previous evening, but on that occasion they clinched a great deal, and broke tho rules a good deal, and in the end M'Farlane went out on a foul. This bout of last night should jiavo been a test of tho two men. Having profited by instructions tho boys boxed at longer range, and Hunter beat his man at every turn. After perhaps two minutes had gone ho sent; M'Farlane to the boards with a very smartly delivered right hook to the jaw, and M'Farlane was too dazed to take a rest to recover his senses. Ho struggled to his feet and Hunter stood over him instead of coin?; to his corner.' Almost beforo M'Farlane was upright again Hunter hit again, and although tho blows were light M'Farlane fell. The referee had called to Hunter,' "Don't hit him," and immediately Hunter disregarded tho instruction. Mr.- Bridge jumped into tho ring and raised M'Farlane's Move.

Smith, who had beaten M'Fnrlane on a knoclc-out, boxed an exhibition round witli one TL Watson, a short, thick-set man, whoso weight was declared at lOst. The tall man from Petone did not hit with the weight lie did on the previous occasion, hut his long reach made him easily the shorter man's master. It was a very skilful exhibition of light, sparring.

Tho medal for the most scientific display in the junior tournament was awarded to Oliver, of Cross Creek.

■ OTACO TOURNAMENT. (By I'ctezrapli.—l'rese Association.l Dunedin, May If. Tho Otago Boxing Association's mixed tournament concluded to-night, before a large attendance. The boxing was good. The results are: —Bantams: ./. Lano knocked out A. Melville. Featherweight: 0. M'Gregor beat W. Scott; M: Fncnory beat, I''. Jones; Facoory iwafc M'Gregor. Light-weight: S. Galo beat A. Oxloy; W. O'Neil beat A. Martin. Final: S. Gale won by default from O'Neill. Middle-weight: E. Tyson bent D. Herbert in six rounds. In the lightweight bout J. Ross beat S. Kaston. Welter: S. Oxloy beat R. 'lorries; J. M'Lcod beat S. Oxlev.