BOXING.

NZ Truth, Issue 141, 29 February 1908, Page 3

BOXING.

(By Upper- Cut)

Wellington's provincial championship meeting, this season should be something worth seeing, judging by the reports of the talent that will' bo on exhibition. In response to many questions put to me on the subject, I should say that the championships will come up for decision early m June. Ted Rollins (Starlight), the champion amateur heavy-weight of Southland, has, I hear, taken up his residence m Palmerston North, and will be a competitor at the coming season's local championship meeting. There is also a probability of Taylor, Southland's champion^ lightweight, shifting •to the Capital City shortly. All Southland's best boxing, men appear to be coming this way, where greater '-fame awaits them. Reporter McKay, of the "Dominion's" ink-slinging brigade, who manipulated the secretarial reins of the Boxing Association what time he was located m Invercargill city, expects to see his erstwhile townies have many scalps dangling to, their belts after their capabilities have been tested m the local hempen ring this season. Mac. himself can use his "dooks" and has a good practical knowledge of the fistic art. Mac wants to see the noble art pushed ahead for all it's worth, and our Wellington administrators will no doubt give every encouragement; to his pet hobby., We could do with a few sports of his kidney. Invercargill . boxing enthusiasts were depressed wihen Mac. came Wellingtonwards. They realised they were losing a derned good man. Before the parting scene was finally rung down, Mac. was handed a handsome sou* vener from his admirers, and 'tis said on> reliable authority that his reply was a dream. Knocked anything from Sir Joe Ward m that part oi Dominionland quite silly. John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain, who are now touring America together as boxing partners, have been opening their hearts about some of their old-time battles. 'Kiilrain j says his hardest fight was with Frank SlaVin, of Australia, m New. Jersey, on June 16, 1891. "Slavin had me going from the beginning," explained Kilrain. "The minute we stepped into the ring he rushed me, but I ducked, and landed. Slavin countered. His pet game was to rush m and land short-arm jabs. The fight lasted nine rounds ; or, m other words, that's how long I lasted before Slavin was given the fight. If there' was a spot on my body that wasn't covered with blood, then all I can say is— my seconds couldn't find it. Of all the fights ever- 1 was m, that was the worst drubbing ever (I not. Apropos of Johnson, Gans, and most other 'boxers of their color, a leading (authority declares they can/t stand. a punch m the stomach. He says there may be a nigger who can take punishment there, but he has never yet met one. In the . case of G-ans, however, it is mighty dangerous trying to land on his stomach, owing to his great . cleverness. If you start your left, Gans is likely; to step m with that smashing rightto the jaw. And if you start your right, he will block with the left, and then hand you the . right just the same. Admirers of Gain say that be is the greatest fighter that ever stepped into a ring. Jack Palmer and Jim Roche (the Irish champion) should both be good for Tommy Burns. Didn't poor, harmless old Mike Williams beat the former ? And yet Mike had no chance with Squires, who was biffed out m less than a minute by Burns. Roche maybe better than Palmer, but he will need to be a big lump better to have any chance, with -£he Canadian. Bemligo, the boxer, after his conversion, was at a meeting at which an atheist made a disturbance. "In haethist ?"• said the old boxer when told, "What's that?" "Why, a "chap Who doesn't believe m God." was the reply. "Don't believe m God, don't he?" said Bendigo. taking off his coat, "let me just get at him and I'll soon make him believe." And he did with a vengeaneo. There wero no half-larks about the old-time fistic celebrity when he started business.