BOXING TOURNAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 329, 16 June 1911, Page 8

BOXING TOURNAMENT.

A HUGE SUCCESS. The boxing tournament that eventuated in the Theatre Royal last night was a decided success, and should do much to promote the sport in this district. There was a splendid attendance, including a number of ladies, the takings at the door realising over £BO. The expenses will amount to about £4O or £45. The audience were given three and a half hours of good solid sport without intermission. Every competitor who had entered put in an appearance, and most of the contests were decidedly willing and interesting, and wen* the full distance. The two Auckland

competitors, whom the local association had sacurcd in order to matcli them against Hawkins and Maxwell, were very unfortunate in striking rough weather on the voyage down. Instead | of arriving here i* the morning, as anticipated, their steamer was bar bound, and ihey only readied New Plymoath at !) p.m. after a rough trip, and iust had time for a cup of tea—the first, by the bye, since the previous evening—before they were due to enter the ring. At their request, it was decided to fight six two-minute rounds instead of threeminute rounds, and the audienco heartily concurred. Throughout the whole evening there was no unpleasantness. The lighting was clean and manly, haru knocks being willingly given and received. The decision of the referee were greeted with approval by the audience on every occasion save one, viz., in the final of the light-wolght novice, when Mr. Lovegrove stopped the contest between Zimmermpn and Quickenden in the flt-st round and awarded it to the former. The audienc>, or some of them, howled, as they considered Quickenden should have been allowed to continue. The decision, however, was a perfectly fair one. Quickenden, though plucky and willing to continue, had received considerable punishment, and to have allowed the contest to continue might have introduced an element of brutality into the sport which all true followers of the game seek to avoid. The association had made complete arrangments for the control of the meeting, and are to be on its success. The principal officials were as follows:—Messrs. L. B. Webster, M.C., costume steward and clerk of

scales; J. J. Stagpoole, referee for special matches; A. Lovegrove, referee for novice events; J. Bennett, timekeeper; Ct. Griffiths, medical examination and call steward: P. Lovegrove and J. M. Jones, official seconds; A. L. Chappell, secretary and treasurer. A number of other honorary officials also assisted in various capacities. Mr. Lewis presided at the piano. During the evening Mr. L. B. Webster thanked all those who had attended. He also intimated that Taranaki had always held a prominent place in the athletic world, and this year an endeavor would be made, with the assistance of the public, to send a representative team to the New Zealand Boxing Association's tournament at Invercargill on July 24 and 25, towards which object the committee would be pleased to receive any donations.

The light-weight novice event went to Zimmerman, of Egmont Village, and the heavy-weight to Dewar, of New Plymouth. The special matches were won by G. Hawkins (heavy-weight), W. Whitaker (middle-weight), W. Oliver (bantam), R. Oliver (feather-weight), whilst the light-weight between Olsen and Maxwell was a draw.

NOVICE EVENTS. Light-weight.—First heat: Malone (Okato) lOst 41b., v. Zimmerman (Egmont Village) lOst. 71b. Zimmerman was much too good for Malone, who took the count at the close of the first round.

Francis (New Plymouth) lOst. lib., v. Quickenden (Pungarehu) lOst. 71b. This go proved very exciting and willing, both men displaying plenty of vigor and mixed it well. Whenever Francis used a straight left he connected with Quickenden's face. Quickcnden, however, did most of the leading, and with better condition gained the verdict.

Foley (Pungarehu) 9st. 81b., boxed a bye with Stan. Lovegrove (New Plymouth).

Semi-final.—Zimmerman (Egmont Village) v, Foley (Puniwhakau). The acid was handed out pretty freely by both these competitors. Foley, though the lighter man, forced tho fighting and had the best of the first Tound. In the second round, Zimmerman hustled his lighter opponent to the ropes, when he fell, and took four seconds to rise. Zimmerman connected with Foley's chin and downed the latter under the ropes. Foley took the count, but inadvertently waited too long and was counted out. Final—Zimmerman (Egmont Village) lOst. 71b., t. Quickenden (Pungarehu) 10et. 71b. Both men made matters willing from the gong. Zimmerman had the better of the opening round, and connected with Quickeadcn's countenance with left and right, bringing the claret. The coast lad then retaliated, and matters appeared to even up. Soon after the referee stopped the fight and awardit to Zimmerman.

HEAVY-WEIGHT NOVICE. First heat: Dewar (New Plymouth) list. 101b. v. Rothery (Rahotu) list 81b. lit the firet round the pace was very willing. Rothery, starting very strongly, ,forced Dewar over the ropes. Dewar, however, proved himself to be a natural fighter with a good asset in a right and left swing, and the referee awarded him the fight prior to the conclusion of the second round.

L. Carey (Okato) 13st. v. Wing Kee (Mulhirst) list. 21b. This fight went the full three rounds. Wing Kee was tHe nifire scientific man, but was giving away too much weight, and Carey managed to gain a very close verdict.

O'Neill (New Plymouth) list 21b. boxed a bye with Stan. Lovegrove. •Semi-final: Dewar (New Plymouth) list. 101b. v. O'Neill (New Plymouth) list. 21b. The first round was mostly at_ close quarters, left and right hooks being exchanged. Dewar, however, had the better of the mix-up. The second round had not proceeded far before the referee awarded the event to Dewar. Final: Carey (Okato) I,'Jst. v. Dewar (New Plymouth) list 101b. This did not last long, Dewar, who is a very clever novice, smothering his opponent, who- took the count in the first round.

SPECIAL MATCHES. Bantam-weight match for Mr. Clarke's medal.—W. Oliver 7st. 21b. v. D. R. Newell 7st. 21b. This was to have been a six-round bout, but Oliver was mucn too oiever, and piled up points. The referee very properly stopped the fight j after the commencement of the fifth ' round, and awarded the match to | Oliver. FEATHER-WEIGHT. R. Oliver Bst 41b. v. Morey Bst. In tlie first round Oliver had the best of the fighting, leading all the time, and eventually he forced Morey on to the ropes. He was, however, cautioned twice for holding. The seeonii round had hardly commenced when Oliver knocked his opponent out.

MIDDLE-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. The next event was a six-round contest to decide the middle-weight championship of Taranaki between Wliitaker (lOst. 71b) and Langdon (list 21b.), who had fought a draw at the Stratford tournament. The first round was fairly even, consisting chiefly of in-fighting. Both men used the kidney punch extensively and tried to connect with halfhooks to the point. Honors in this round were about even. In the second round Whitaker drew away repeatedly, his left connecting ■■with his opponent's face; both men clinched repeatedly. The third round was almost a nvptition of the second, Whitaker's straight left getting home on two or three occasions. In the fourth round, Whitaker still showed superior ring-craft, and connected with hooks and upper-cuts. In the fifth round, Langdon showed to advantage, connecting Ijvith left and right hooks on several occasions. In the final round honors were fairly even. Langdon connected with a back-handed swing, but Whitaker easily maintained the lead, and secured a popular verdict. COLE v. HAWKINS.

Much interest was take;: in the meeting of Cole (Auckland) 12st 71b. and Hawkins (New Plymouth) 12st 2lb. Cole won a championship at Levin in 1009. The contest proved a very willing go, and one would have liked to have seen Cole thoroughly fit. The sea voyage must have told on 'his condition, as he appeared to be groggy on his feet. Hawkins, however, is a very generous sport, and did not take advantage of some opportunities that presented themselves. Throughout the contest he showed superior ring-craft to his opponent. Round 1: Hawkins did all the leading, and repeatedly connected with the left, Cole leaving himself open by his wild swings. Round 2: Honors were about even, both men connecting with lefts and swinging right hooks. Cole did most of the leading. Round 3: Honors were with Hawkins, who on one or two occasions refrained from punishing his man on the ropes. Round 4: Hawkins hustled Cole round the ring, repeatedly connecting with left and right, and cleverly dodged dangerous swings which, had they connected, would have finished the fight. Breaking away from a clinch, Hawkins knocked his opponent down. Round 5: This was a repetition of the previous Tound. Cole swinging and following round, had Hawkins on the ropes when the gong sounded. Round C: Cole, fighting gamely, was outclassed by Hawkins, who, had he used a straight left on two or three occasions, would have outed his opponent. The referee's decision in awarding the contest to Hawkins was a popular one. Cole also received an ovation for his plucky show--1 tag-

OLSEN v. MAXWELL. The final contest was between OlscU (Auckland) lOst 31b. and Maxwell (New Plymouth) 9st. 61b. The Aucklander had experienced a rough sea trip which must have militated against his chances. Nevertheless he gave a very scientific exposition, and was unfortunate in not gaining the verdict, which the referee declared a draw. Round 1: Fairlv even. Both men got to work quickly, Maxwell connecting on Olsen's cheek, whilst the latter upper-cut him twice. Round 2: Maxwell displayed great cleverness in dodging several nasty ones, which would have damaged him had they connected. Round 3: Olsen forced the fighting, pushing his opponent round the ring, who clinched to avoid pnishment. Round 4: Maxwell dodged a straight left and clinched. At the breakaway Olsen connected with Maxwell's face and had generally the best of the round. Round 5: This was toughly contested, Olsen outfighting his opponent, who was pushed all round the ring. Round 6: This was a series of clinches and upper-cuts, which were handed out by each opponent. Olsen had if anything the best of this round. The referee decided it was the fairest draw ever fought.

JOHNSON'S PROGRAMME. By Gable—Frosa A»f»iattnn—<Jopyrittht. London, June 14. Mcintosh is arranging for Jack Johnson _an exhibition tour to include Australia. Johnson is willing <to meet Langford, McVea, or Jeanette.