BOXING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 312, 29 June 1912, Page 8

BOXING

THE TARANAKI. CHAMPIONSHIPS. | SOME GOOD BOUTS. [; There was a much better attendance : (including several ladies) at the Theatre ,i Royal last night to witness the concluj sion of the tournament than was the case on the previous evening, but it was still not commensurate with the merits of the bill of fare provided. The majority of the bouts were very interesting, ami some good boxing was witnessed. As on the first night, the fighting- was perfectly clean, find there was nothing that could offend the susceptibilities of the most fastidious. The referee (Mr. J, J. Stagpoole) again gave satisfaction, stopping the bouts as soon as he saw that one man was outclassed. Only on one occasion was their any sign of disapproval with his decision, and he quickly silenced that when he explained how his points were arrived at. The results were as follows: CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. MIDDLE'WEIGHT. White (New Plymouth) 10.7 and Bridger (Egmont Village) 11.2 stood- up ■for the final of the middle-weight championship. They at once»got to close quarters. Bridger scored early in the round, but White with some well-direct-ed blows quickly evened up matters, and at the end of the round was getting all over Bridger. Bridger, whose luxuriant hair was troubling him, gave up the contest within two seconds of the gong. BANTAM. W. Olliver (New Plymouth) 8.3 and W. Barry (Stratford) 8.3 met in the final of this contest. Olliver showed too much science, and early in the round felled his man with a swing. In the succeeding mix-up matters were even, and the round was Olliver's by a small margin. When the gong sounded for resumption Olliver rushed, reaching his opponent's corner before the latter was up. It was a resultless effort, as he missed, and the impetus nearly pushed | him through ths ropes. Some hard fighting ensued. Olliver had the best of it and compelled his opponent to seek refuge in the count. Rising at "nine," Olliver was soon on to him, and Barry, seeing that he was outboxed, wisely gave up.

HEAVY WEIGHT. I The final of this event was between White (New Plymouth) 10.7, the winner of the middle-weight contest, and Walsh (Eltham) 12.4. Walsh early proved his ' superiority, the extra 251b3. being too 3 much for 'his clever opponent to give . away. White was kept penned in his corner nearly all the first round, and had to take a lot of punishment, whilst he 'i also evaded much more and occasionally i, hokeel one on to the big chap. The u round went to White by a narrow margin. White gamely faced his opponent ' for the second round, but early realised * that the odds were too great, and turn- ] J ing his face to the ropes gave in. l Walsh was hooted for hitting his opponent when he had his back to him, but the ' T referee explained that he was quite with-" i. in his rights, as the boxer was still on' t his feet—a remark which was greeted ■ with applause by devotees of the game. ; t TERRITORIALS (under 10 stone). Thomas (Eltham) 10.0 and Olliver (New Plymouth) 8.3 were out for the '' J final in this. In the first round Olliver o * stood up well to his heavy opponent and d connected with the nose twice early. j The latter part of the round went to Thomas, though Olliver showed good " ring craft in dodging punishment. %■ Honors in this round were easy. In the j. second round Olliver connected with his right, but in the ensuing mix-up was '' forced into his corner, where he was in ** trouble, taking two or three heavy d blows from Thomas. He, however, x ducked and got' away. Thomas in the concluding stages of the round proved too good, and, seeing this, Olliver's seca, onds wisely threw in the towel. '« NOVICE CLASS (9st 101b). Owing to an injured thumb Rex ;h Olliver was unable to box, and the final was fought between N. West, (Hawera) 9.4 and S. Styles (New Plymouth) 9.10. It proved most interesting, and went the full six rounds; in fact, it was anyone's fight until the opening of the final round. In the first flutter honors were exactly even. West got three or four - straight lefts home, but Styles connected with swings to the face. The second round was very willing, both giving and taking punishment. Styles got one on, to bis opponent's point, but the necessary power was lacking. He also landed on West's eye occasionally. West, however, rallied' and forced his man on to the ropes, where he gained the upper hand, the referee giving him a lead, of two points. In the third round West could not increase his lead. Both were . hitting hard and sought refuge in clinches. Styles scored with blows to the face, but West evened up with body blows. The latter was cautioned for holding. In the fourth round West increased his lead to three points, his blows were the cleaner, but Styles got in some nice upper cuts. In the fifth round a sharp upper cut rattled West, who took the count for eight. This was distinctly Styles' round "and reduced 'his deficit to one. This he easily knocked off in the last round, getting all over West, who did not score a point. Early he forced West to the ropes, but was slow in following up, enabling West to evade. On coming to close quarters he connected with upper cuts and right swings to the eye and nose, and West, whose eye was showing signs of the visitation, must have been' glad when the gong went. Styles well deserved his win. SPECIAL MATCHES. CRAIG v. GOLDSMITH. . Craig (Eltham) 10.0 v. Goldsmith (New Plymouth) 0.5. This was billed as a four-round contest, but Craig, who was the possessor of a powerful punch, was to good for his lighter opponent, and_ was given the contest at the conJ elusion of the first round. He was cautioned on two occasions for hitting in the breakaway. FOLEY v. THOMPSON. \j this contest, which was for six threeminute rounds, as the two lads had, at the beginning of the month, boxed a five-round draw at Eltham. Foley scaled 9.7, whilst his opponent was 31b heavier. . A good deal of the first round was occupied in sparring for an opening, causin" the crowd to wax sarcastic. Thompson with a sudden rush, got to close quar-

ters, and had rather the hotter of the mix-up. The second round opened similarly to the first. At close quarters Thompson proved better, hut Foley was too good in the open, landing home an occasional beauty and showing skill in (lodging. It was Foley's round and evened matters. Seventy seconds of the third round and not a blow struck ; rather tired the spectators. Then suddenly Thompson rushed in, and after a Jmix-up forced Foley hack. The latter went down on 'his hands, leaving a nice opening for an upper cut, hut Thompson refrained. Tn the concluding stages Foley gained a slight lead. After the usual, (lance round both boxers got to close quarters, Foley scoring nicely, and Thompson, who was palpably' tiring, slung in the towel before its conclusion. CLARRY v. COOMBES. Clarry (Eltham) 9.0 and Coombes 9.4 were the next contestants. Coombes evidently profited by last night's experience, as he was not so wild and defended better. He gained a slight advantage in the first two rounds, but [Clarry neutralised this in the two final .rounds and the verdict was a draw. FOLEY v. WHITAKER. W._ Foley 11.4 and W. Whitaker 10.2 (met in a four-round contest. This was Foley's first appearance in the ring, and early in the round he made most of the i fighting. Whitaker showed most science, covering himself well, and occasionally I getting in an uppercut. It was his round. Early in the second round matters were willing, both connecting on occasions. Foley appeared to lack condition, and was on that account cempelled to throw in the towel. He kept his more experienced opponent moving though while his wind lasted.