BOXING CONTESTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 247, 13 July 1920, Page 6

BOXING CONTESTS

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRELIMINARIES REFEREE STOPS TWO FIGHTS Tho opening rounds of the amateur provincial boxing championships .Were got off last night in tho Town Hall undor the auspices of the Wellington Boxing Association. Tho entries were disappointing in number,'- but some interesting bouts were witnessed, and on the whole a good night's entertainment was provided. Tho ball was about half full, tho attendance including-a fair sprinkling of ladies. Appreciation of this was expressed during tho evening by Mr. A. Curtayno on behalf of the association, and a hearty invitation was extended to ladies to patronise to-night's gathering, at which tho finals will be decided, Opportunity was afso taken by Mr. Curtavno to introduco Mr. Gc'orso Cook ni.d Cliief Petty Officer Cnrran to the rudieneo. Mr. Cook, who is tho champion heavy-weight of Australia, is in New Zealand for the purpose of meeting the best material offering in his line. Mr. Cnrran was described by the chairman as a former heavy-weight champion of the Navy. . •Mr. Allan Maxwell refereed all the contests, and Messrs. J. "G. Stap.es and P. W. Woods were the judges. FLY-WEIGHTS. (Not Exceeding 7st.) In tho fly-weight class only one bout eventuated, two of the entrants (G. M. Black and H. Morgan) making over tho weight. Tho championship was therefore decided between J. Leslie (Gst. 12jlb-) and C. Taylor (Ost. 711b.). In all,.there were four two-minute rounds, the judges eddin" an exlra round during the progress of the fight. Leslie, who was more heavily-built than his opponent, ietl practically throughout the contes , but iivns deficient in footwork. ■ He used both hands to good effect. Tartar pnt ij> a good fight, rely in? mostly on a straight left, and was vw.v quick on his feet. Both lads got in come good body-worK. It was n- spirited conrest. both competitors displaying considerable prowess.J he referee's decision, which went to Leslie, proved very popular with tho crowd. Special Bout. A special bout was staged by G. M. Black (7st. 9 4 =1b.) and 11. Morgan (.st. 12UW, both of whom had been ruled out of the flyweight class. Morgan, who was adjudged the winner, was manifestly superior to his opponent. Black was aggressive enough, but he lacked finish. The bout was not in the same class as its predecessors >u point ot science and cleverness generally. BANTAM WEIGHTS. (Not exceeding Bst. 21b.) D. Kelly (Bst. lib.) and C. J- Navies (Bst IMb.) met in the semi-final for tho bantam contest. Tho bout proved most amusing on account of the weird styles of both contestants. In the first round Kelly forced matters with his straight left.' but in the second Davies mixed it to good advantage. The final round mostly consisted of hard but wild hitting, 'Kelly coming out on top. Uie judges's decision went to Kelly. Both boxers were fairly crude in style, and gave and took considerable hard punishment. FEATHER-WEIGHTS. (Not exceeding Ost.) Two bouts were got off in the featherweight class. Each contest consisted of three three-minute rounds. Carr v. Brace. J H. Carr (Bst. Mb.) and A. E. Brace fflst. 111b.) led off. The latter was half a head taller than his opponent, and he also had a longer reach. Carr however, was the much better developed man. and proved himself o, very forceful fighter. He fought with skill, and never missed an opening, repeatedly forcing Brace to the ropes. In the dying stages of tho second round Brace, .who was groggy, took the count up to eight. In the final round Carr further demonstrated his superiority, and the judges had no hesitation in awarding him the decio'on. J. Martin v. G. Curran. J. Martin (Bst. 121b.) and J. Curran (Bst. 1231b.) followed. It was a stodgy exhibition, marred by excessive clinching. Curran put it all over his opponent, oiid in tho second round he got home a straight left to the jaw, which sent the recipient to the mat. At tho count of six Martin staggered to his feet with the intention of seeing it out, but tho referee wisely intervened, and stopped the fight, declaring Curran the winner. . LIGHT-WEIGHTS. (Not exceeding lOst.) One bout was decided in the lightweight class, E. A. Napier (lOst.) boxing F. Desmond Ost. 91b.). The contest was a very onesided affair, Napier being hopelessly outclassed right from the jump. He took a lot of very severe punishment, and in tho middle of tho second round the referee had to stop tho fight on this account. Tho decision went to Desmond. The winner, who is a "twohandied" fighter, exhibited a deadly straight left, the while swinging his right to good effect. In body blows, he was deficient', but nevertheless lie was a worthy exponent of tho "noble art." Exhibition Bout. The last event of the evening was nn exhibition bout between P. M. M'Gregor (flst. 5 3-51b.) and H. Summers (Bst. 101b.). The bout was of a very farcical nature, nnd the crowd roared with laughter throughout the three rounds, M'Gregor, who is short and squat in stature, repeatedly tried to land blows on his opponent, who is very tall, but on account of his extreme inferiority not once did ho succeed in getting one home. Summers's work was very inexperienced. HEAVY-WEIGHTS. S. Havoll and N. M'Cnrthy were drawn to decide the heavy-weight championship, but on account of tho former contestant failing to pass tho doctor the bout had to be abandoned. It was announced that nn endeavour would be made to match M'Carthy this evening.