WITH THE GLOVES ON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 83, 12 April 1915, Page 7

WITH THE GLOVES ON.

CAIRO BOXING NEWS. Allan Maxwell’s letters to his sister are always interesting. In the latest which is dated Cairo, February 20, the ex-Tokoite gives some news of the social side of soldiering, and shows that at least the noble art of '■ e.ldc fence, of which he was /a clever exponent while at home, 'is not i.eiug neglected by “the hoys.” Maxwell says:—“On Tuesday night, I am to fight Darcy, the Australian, at the Cairo Stadium. As 1 am getting pretty hefty, 1 am unable to state whether or not I shall win. However, it doesn’t much as long as I get a few hundred piastres to go on with. Then a promoter has started a “fighting establishment” near our camp, and has guaranteed me one fight a week at £lO a fight. This should augment my salary, and make living a wee bit easier for me, as with money a chap can buy decent food, and any deviation from the ordinary camp fare, fatty meat and tea without sugar, will be acceptable. r lho Major granted me permission to sign the agreement, saying that, as there was little likelihood of our leaving Egypt for some time to come, I could go ahead with my arrangements, relying on his granting me any leave required.

Dick Pratt took part in a competition some nights ago, hut, not being in good I'orm, and having forgotten all that J taught him at the Stratford gym, ho lost his fight. 1 would like to have given it to him, hut a beaten man never wins when I referee.

Last Wednesday a little French lady (19) came to the lines and enquired for me—her aim was to secure news about the boxing for the “Egyptian Gazette” for which paper she reports—l was highly amused at the idea of her being a ‘fight’ reporter, and told her so. We retired to the V.M.C.A., and under the foridding eye of the chaplain, T wrote her up an article on the tournament.”