FIGHTING BOXERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1919, Page 4

FIGHTING BOXERS.

IRST DAY OF SERVICES TOURNA MENT.

HOW “JIMMY” WILDE WON

LONDON, Dec. 13. The opening proceedings of the British and American Boxing Tournament were indeed a revelation. Tlie vast auditorium was packed by- thousands upon thousands of the he& fighting men of the Anglo-Saxon race. There was a_, ring of triumph about the whole affair which spoke more eloquently of the spirit that led us to victory in the grea war than anything else could. The: whole thing worked with the wonderful method that has characterised our fighting Services since the, wa’r began. , Boxing, if not always of the highest class, was always keen. There was never a bout of which one could say that the contestants did not exercise all their strength and skill. Tlie tit-hit of the afternoon show was. of course ’provided hy that little superman, Sergt.-Instructor Jimmy Wilde, who in his bout in the bantams defeated Joe Lynch, who is champion of America in his class. Wilde had something to heat, for Lynch is a really able boxer, blit the little Welshman accomplished his task with such skill, dexterity, and almost unbelievable strength that even boxing experts from the other sale had to join.in the storm of praise in which he was inundated at the finish.

Wilde was rather bothered hy the six.a of his gloves, which wen l big

enough for the proverbial leg-of-muttor list, hut he was always cool, always making openings, and always scoring points. Lynch did not give him an easy journey by any means, but the American was mazed hy Wilde’s cleverness.' Wilde- was at least a stone and a half lighter than Lynch, who also had the advantage in the way of height and reach. Another notable bout was between. Master-nt-Arms Cox (U.S. Navy) and Sergt Beckett (R.A.F.). This was in the heavies division, and although Beckett was giving away at least three stone he won hy old-fashioned English in-fighting. Cox’s ribs must have been very sore at the finish. U.S. “LIVE WIRE.

The best boxer |;he United States produced at the afternoon show was Petty Officer “Pal'” Moore, who defeated Able-Seanum Patten, R. N., after a wonderful display of gain ones by the latter for which he ’was awarded half a point. M’oorc is what might he termed a “live wire,’’ his foot-worlc being almost worthy of Pavlova.

Jlalf-way through the afternoon Sir David Beatty Strolled into the hall. The moment he was recognised the entire audience jumped to its feet and shouted again and again. In response to calls for ti speech the gallant admiral said: “They say that so far as the war is concerned the fighting is all over -and that the talking has begun. Well, 1 am no talker, so I will stand down.” The interval between the afternoon and the evening show was one of nearly three hours, but, it was all too brief. Hundreds of the entluisiasists never left the hall and when “business’’ was resumed not a seat remained vacant.

HARD-HITTING AMERICAN. In the evening America showed us another clean, hard-hitting boxer in Seaman Chancy, who beat Lance-Corporal Bingham (Canada) in the second bout of the feathers. Bingham, who had had a great gruelling bout in the afternoon, was not <juite at his best, but it is all to his credit that the three judges disagreed, and the referee gave his casting vote against him. Still, Chaney deserved his win. His boxing was, quite innocent of what we have eonie to regard ns American peculiarities as to foot and head work. Private Coulon of the U.S. Army, and Able Seaman Davies in the next bout of the feathers put up what was by far the speediest bout seen so tar — barring the Wilde-Lynch affair. Conlon had a man of rare grit ill front <>t him, and lie had to pull out all his speed and skill to keep in front. Jll spite of the number of officials — three judges and a referee—the verdict on the bout in the light-weights between Private Shannon (U.S. Army) and Corporal Gamester, (U.A.F.) was not a clean light, and the referee had to caution both men several times. IVrsonall.v I thought Shannon, who, i am told, did not show anything like 1 1 Is true form, was unlucky to lose.

Sergt Clarke (Canada) lost his bout in the light weights with Leading Seaman Smith, R.N., through what appeared to be indifference. He boxed in a lackadaisical style quite unusual to him, but that is not to say that Smith did not deserve his victory. Possibly Smith would have made an even better show bad lie been more highly tried.

HERO OF 200 FIGHTS. It was a sound and interesting welter argument between Signalman Wilkinson, (R.X.) tatoned like a Jap on breast and arms, and First-Class Petty Officer “Cal” Delaney, (U.S. Navy). Delaney, who was giving away quite a lot in height, weight, and reach, being when fit a feather-weight, has taken part in something like 200 fights. He made a very gallant show, especially in 1 lie concluding round, his two-handed work to the body being really splendid, lie deserved bis victory and all the rousing cheers that greeted it. Air .Mechanic Swindon, which is the real name of a well-known professional boxer, bad ibe best of the argument with Private Thompson, of South Africa, in a bout of the welters. There was a good deal of rough work in this that was by no means pretty, although not glaringly unfair. After deliberation the judges gave the verdict to Swine toll.