BOXING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 64

BOXING.

In presenting his report on the visit of the Wellington team to Dunedin for the New Zealand championships, Mr J. M. Laing- (manager) said the southern officials bad dono everything in their power to give the visitors an enjoyable time. The conduct of the team had been admirable. Though they only succeeded in bringing back to "Wellington one championship, they, would certainly have secured another (bantam) bad it not been for the unfortunate accident to Wennand. Among the representatives of the United Hospitals in "the annual boxing contest. v. Oxford was the Ojtago "University student P. L. Foofce, who is now studying for his degree 'at the London Hospital. Foote, who plays in the Hospital "Hugger" team's forward rank, is a heavy-weight, and was called upon to meet F. Day, of Christ Church, Oxford, who is, I believe, (writes a London correspondent), an Australian. Day was, if anything, the heavier man, but in footwork J?oot< was his superior. From the .outset the exchanges were, very heavy. Neither man troubled much about defence, and in some ding-dung fighting honours were fairly easy. In the second round the New Zealander showed up extremely well, being far quicker than Day, aod most aggressi^. The Oxonian was foo.-^jt to the ropes several times, and cuxdk. >dly welcomed the call of ".time." \^ the third and final round Day was as slow as the proverbial coach-horse, aryi, though he landed a few pretty 6tiff punches, he quite failed to keep Foote out, and was outboxed and beaten decisively on. points by the New Zealander, who undoubtedly had considerable advantage over the Oxonian I in point of fitness. New York Herald of June 2 says Jack Johnson signed an agreement to fight Al Kaufman in a finish, 45-round or 20-round contest. The same paper says: — "Johnson will not fight in Australia. 'If I was broke to-morrow and had a fifty thousand dollar guarantee for a battle in Australia, I\ had rather dig the streets here,' declared Johnson. ' After the match with Burns I quit that country for ever. The taunts and slurs, "to say nothing of lies, , that -were in circulation libere turned me against that country as a battle ground.' j England and France are -not barred. For. personal reasons, partly formed at the time when Marvin Hart was given a decision ! over him in a 20-round fight" in California, Johnson say* he will not fight more than 20 rounds in that State. On the division of the figihters' share of the receipts or purse. 65 per cent, to the winner and 35 to the loser was agreed upon." As announced last week, Che pair are to meet at San Francisco, Cal., on August 27, for «t £2000 jroirse arkd the- world's okam- ' pionship. As regards the statement attributec 1 to Johnson that he quitted Australia forever, it is totally different from the views the champion expressed on, his , departure from here. Jeffries's very latest statement is that he believes he will be quite ready to enter the ring with the long black about March 17 of next year. Many authorities, however, think that the battle is sure to be fought about the end of this year. Jeffries recently appeared in a sort of " try-out." Those t present, instead of seeing a man carrying excess weight, a man puffing with shortness of wind, and, in all, a man totally unfit for battle, saw a perfect athlete, a Jim Jeffries as good as he was four ysars ago. The majority expressed the opinion that Jeffries was ready to fight now, if need be. Joe Choynski, who fought Jeffries 20 rounds to a draw in California in 1897, was one of those present. He said that he thought Jeffries was almost fit for the battle on the spot. "Will he win?" was asked by a newspaper man. Choynski replied, " Will a duck swim? Had I not seen it with my own eyes I would never have believed that a man out of the ring so long could get back to his present shape." Boxing is booming in Paris. A number of the big men, including Lapgfor/V M'Vea, and " Jim. '^-Bb;^, "afealready at $&P j^CLUSb Capital bf" invitation of that Once peerless middle-weight, "Kid" M'Coy, who, in the near future, intends to stage several important international contests. He is reported to have at his back a wealthy Cuban, who will stake his money up to £40,000 on the concern. M'Coy is especially anxious to arrange a match between " Tommy " Burns and Sam Langford. The seating capacity of the place M'Coy is managing is close upon 10,000. Ever since " Iron " Hague defeated i Gunner Moir for the championship of England the latter has been consistently challenging him to a return battle. Moir has offered Hague all kinds of inducements, but up to the present the Mexborough heavy-weight has been silent. The proposed match between Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidb for world's wrestling championship honours, which was to have taken place in Melbourne next January, has been cancelled. Gotch, under advice from three surgeons, withdrew from the negotiations, owinpr to the fact that it will be necessary for him to shortly undergo an operation for some nasal tiouble which will entail treatment for about 12 months.