BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 246, 23 November 1909, Page 3

BOXING.

WANGAM.II TOURNAMENT. (By "Moturoa"). The Wanganui ijoxing Association's -tournament on Friday and Saturday nights drew big houses and patrons • went away well satisfied with the sport i provided. Scientific boxing was very rare, but plenty of willing "stoush" was spread over everything and many ; wild and furious battles made matters highly amusing as well as interesting. The trump car.l was the appearance of I N.Z. lightweight champ. W. Wcnanl, whose boxing was of 11 high order. On the opening night the Wellingtonian allowed superior skill to Welsh, of Utiku, the latter youth being a vigorous "rusher." Wenand was mighty smart on his feet, used both hands freely, and knew far too much for his opponent. On Saturday Wenand sparred with Gus Devitt, X.Z. middleweight champ., and although giving away .1 lot of weight, fought splendidly. 'fiiia pai r put up the prettiest "go"' at the tournament and young boxers should benefit greatly by their exposition. The final for the' lightweight championship brought together Clarke (Palmerston) and S. Porter (Wellington). The former swung a heavy right with good effect in the first, two round, but Porter stood his punishment well and im proved gradually, getting away from the dangerous swings in good stylo. Porter's body blows were very solid ami in the final round he had his Palmerston friend -well settled and repeatedly landed 011 the jaw, gaining a well-de-served victory. The bantams, E. Cook and I. Kutner, put up a wild and furious fight. Kutner had a little the best of the opening round and punished his opponent severely in the next. The third round saw liini piling on more points, scoring 011 the jaw at will. In the last round Cook came to light with a vigorous onslaught and had Kutner completely at his mercy, but had not sufficient knowledge of the game to administer the soothing knock-out blow. The referc?, Dr. Napier -McLean, unhesitatingly gave the decision to Kutner, whereat the crowd—or (he ignorant portion of it— | howled dismally. Dr. McLean quickly pulled them up with a few graceful anil telling remarks, reminding them that there was only one referee and tihat perhaps not 0 per cent, of tne ,iuuu.,» - knew how to allot points. Nothing bat ' a knock-out blow woulu have won the fight in the fourth round for Cook. anv. how.

The middleweight final ivag of short duration, E. Earle (Bunnythorpe) putting out his thumb, and the conteit (jus Devitt, after a bloodless encounter.

Great enthusiasm was aroused in th.i victory of Hognn (Wanganui) over W. Turner (Wellington) in the welter class. The fight was full of vim. Hogan made all the fighting in the first round, hut Turner improved iu the second, and in the next both were at it like windmills and the "go" grew wild and strenuous. Turner had slightly the better of this round, but Hasan was forcing things again in the fou'rlli, and Turner "fouling," the verdict went to the Wanganui man, amidst thundu:ous applause. The "winner is deaf and dumb, but tights vigorously and game...', although lacking in science. It is understood that the tournament was a financial success and it. is pleasing to the Association to see such great interest manifested in the sport.

The Stadium at Rushcuttcr Bay, Sydney, was fairly packed on 10th November, the attraction being a twentyround , contest between Arthur Cripps, who for the past five years has been regarded as one of the best' of Aus< tralian middle-weights, and Rudolph Uuholz, the Boer light-weight, who liol Is the New Zealand light-weight championship, taken from Tim Traccy at Wellington. "Bob" Fitzsimmons, the New Zealandcr, middle-weight champion of the world, who arrived in Sydney from America the previous morning, refereed the contest. He was accorded an enthusiastic reception 011 entering the ring. Cripps' weight was announced as list 21b, whilst Unholz only scaled 9st 71b. Cripps won on points bv 2 to I.