BOXING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 64

BOXING.

The Southland Boxing Association intends holding a tournament at Wyndham shortly. Last year the association held a most successful one-night tournament at the Bluff. The association rightly thinks that these one-night affairs in country districts bring ous men who would pot otherwise have a chance of appearing in the ring Some two years ago, when the Otago Boxing Association was in financial difficulties, a levy of £3 was made on each of the members in order to pay off the liabilities. Some 19 members responded to the call ; and it is satisfactory to know that these amounts have now been returned by the association. At the present time the finances of the association are in a healthy condition, and every effort will be made to promote the sport. The Otago Boxing Association intends to hold a tournament at the beginning of October. There will be open competitions for bantam, feather, light, welter, and middle weights, as well as two six-round bouts.' If sufficient entries are forthcoming a wrestling competition for amateurs will also be held.*

The Otago Boxing Association is arranging a professional bout, which will be. held' in Dunedin at an early date. It is not yet known who the principals will be, but only good -men will be engaged ' At the present j time in "some of the northern towns there appears to be tco much catering for the professional boxer^ and the purses- given are much too 'large. Boxing is not looked j on kindly by a certain class, and the associatitths' should be careful not to over- ! do the ' professional business in case they! do harm to the amateur. The class that j objects to boxing has sufficient influence to ! get the law amended co that boxing could be wiped out altogether. The Southland Boxing Association does more than any other association to foster amateur boxing. It has taken over a flat of rooms at Invercargill, and two instructors have been engaged to teach. Punch-ing-balls, ©hower baths, and other appliances have been fitted up, and every facility is given to those who desire to learn the ''noble art." The Otago Association intends bo copy the Southland Association's example* as soon as funds will permit. We would like to see some of the larger associations following the example of the Southland Association

Further progress is reported In the nego-, tiations to bring J. Jeffries, the retired heavy-weight champion boxer of the world, and ''Jack" Johnson, .the present heavyweight champion, together in a bout for the world's fistic supremacy A cable message from New York states that Jeffries and Johnson have each deposited £1000 with the promoters of the proposed match. It is not stated who cfce promoters are. On thing is, however, certain: If the men have signed with "the Sydney promoter (Mr Hugh M'lntosh) the fight will not take place in Australia, as both men have declared against it. Johnson, in particular, was most emphatic. He recently remarked, "If I • -was broke to-morrow, and if a 50,000d0l i guarantee for a battle in Australia offered, I would rather dig . the streets here " The next thing, of course, will be the date of the match. Johnson is to meet Al. Kaufmann on August 27, and on October 12 he is to try conclusions with the middle-weight champion, Stanley Ketehel. It is likely,., therefore, to be well on to the end of the present year before we have a Johnson- Jeffries match. Jeffries himself has suggested March 17, 1910.

Referring to the' negotiations between Johnson and Kaufmann, the manager for the latter was very anxious to -have the fight go to a finish, or at least a limit of 45 rounds. Johnson, however, thought 20 rounds wa6 quite sufficient. He offered to bet £1000, or any amount of it, that he would beat Kaufmann, and . was also prepared to accept fair odds that Kaufmann would not stay 12 rounds. The match was made in a leading San Francisco hotel. " Before the completion of the businees," writes a correspondent, " «he dinner bell rang, and ere long one large broiled chicken, a good-sized dish of Boston baked beans, two bunches of asparagus that looked like a cord of wood in the distance, and other dishes which the champion designated as ' trifles ' vanished under his attack.'"