BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 243, 19 November 1909, Page 3

BOXING.

AN AMATEUR DISI'LAI. As a wind-up to the season Jlr. J. J. Stagpoole's boxing pupils gave an exhibition at the rooms last night. Xliere was a very fair attendance of spectators, mostly young men. Those taking part included several very yonug boxers, and whilst there were some good Iwuts the majority were hardly classical. Of course, it must be remembered that this was net a boxing conte-it, but merely an outing for the pupils, assisted by one or two well-known amateurs. Professor Stagpoole himself was the referee, and Mr. 1). Long timekeeper. At the conclusion Mr. Stagpoole made an appeal for more liberal support of the Boxing Association, stilting his belief that with a little more encouragement some of the budding pugilists would take their place amongst those in the front rank ill the dominion.

Wood v. Cross. Two lads, Cross being the bigger and heavier of the two. -A willing go resulted, the pair boxing every minute of the four rounds. Very little body hitting. The smaller chap was the more active, and better on defence. The last round was a regular '■mill" both giving and taking plenty of punishment good-naturedly. They'were both glad of the final gong. A draw was

awarded, and was a very fair><lccision. Holmes (Bst. 41b) v. O'Brien (Bst. 41b). This was a hurricane spar. Both made the [»ce a cracker, nearly even- blow being aimed at the head.' Holmes was particularly active on his feet, but O'Brien's long reach compensated for that. In the second round, just after an appeal, Holmes was sent to the ropes, and shortly afterwards, at the end of a piece of close fighting, cried " enough," being out of wind. He wasted a lot of his energy in dancing about. He possessed a good punch, and got several home before O'Brien began to take matters seriously. Then there was only one verdict—a win for O'Brien. A. Lovegrove v. A. C. Maxwell. This was merely an exhibition bout, more interesting than exhibition spars usually arc.

Two youngsters, Coburn and Lovegrove, hopped into the ring, clutched [ wildly, and fell, " the Gael above, FitzJames' below," or Coburn and Lovegrove respectively. It was a "catch-as-catch-can" wrestle, and they struggled in the sawdust for some minutes, but Lovegrove refused to accommodate his opponent by lying flat on the mat for about ten minutes, by which both were ju;t about exhausted.

Perry (ll.lfi) v. Crompton (9.6). Announced as a friendly exhibition, but Perry sent in his blowj pretty solidly. Crompton was' .palpably new at the game, very slow on his feet, but able to stand any amount of punishment good-naturedly. A poor display, Perry leaving himself open to a good* deal of knocking had the other man known a little about the game. Owing to one or two pugilists not turning up, Professor Stagpoole undertook to fill the gap, and gave an "exhibition lesson" with one of his pupite causing great merriment. He punctuated the work with little homilies on how and how not to hit, and gave Imuran illustrations of the stylos' of the world's boxers.

Sergeant Haddrell supervised the sport for the .police, and Mr. A. S. Chappell was present as secretary of the Boxin« Association. Dr. MeClelland overhauled the candidates for honors, and oave them their certificates. B