Boxing.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 272, 16 September 1905, Page 20

Boxing.

The boxing contest between Hock Keys and T. Tracy, at the Opera House next Wednesday,, is exciting a lot of interest. Bath, "men are training assiduously, and are leaving no stone' unturned 1 to do themselves full justice when they face each other within the roped 1 arena. Dr. Napier-McLean has consented to act as referee. He is a member of the world-famed London National Sporting Club, where he controlled 1 many important boxing contests. The doctor is no mean exponent of the fistic art, and is said to haive been a champion in hlis university diays. The amateur "bouts" have not yet been definitely arranged, although it is quite possible "Spi" Thomas and Gosling may be brought together in one of them. Since the above was written it has been announced that one of the contests will be between Thomas and 1 Gosling. For the other, Ben Tracy and Baird will likely meet. Baird is the champion bantam- weight of the colony, and Tracy is Wellington's champion. Should they be brought together things should be interesting. Tlhe Wellington Boxing Association deserve the heartiest support of the sporting community for their enterprise in bringing such a well-known sctientifio boxer as Hock Keys to compete in Wellington, and should! the move be a finamcda! success there is no doubt it

will encourage them to make similar efforts to get other known men to show their skill here. Hock Keys has favourably impressed those with whom he has been brought into contact, both by his gentlemanly demeanour, and the manner of his fighting, and even those who are prejudiced against the professional boxer are bound to admit that if the class were all like him it would mot. be long before the reproach now attaching to them would be removed. The box plan is now opemi at Batkin's, and l seats are being booked in sufficient numbers to warrant the assertion that a bumper house will be the verdict on Wednesday night. Day sales for unreserved! seats will commence at Batkim's on Monday.