BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 244, 5 March 1913, Page 7

BOXING.

'mi'; waxcaxit t 'i;xa.mext. (liy ,"-Moturo:t"). Xe\t to a ding-dong hoise race there is nothing dt':i r;-r to the ti's liciirt than a really good light. and t lie crowd wliicli til led every available seat in tin' Wanganui Opera House oil the occasion nf ilie In,-al Ho\i;:g .'.s-ocia-tion's tournamint on Kridav night got its inonev's worth, and a bit over. The Wanganui Association h:is been .-.insularly fortunate in regard to its star items, and the Truseott-PorU'i' contest was a good fight, and went the fiill fifteen rounds. Truscott (lO.'l'/o) is a wellbuilt, dark-complexioned chap, almost, foreign-looking; weal's his hair closccropped and, oil looks, will never see thirty again. His more youth fill opponent. I.cn. Porter (Hastings), yon all know. He scaled !). 1;} VI- I'orter won the toss and chose the top comer, llcferee T. 0. Farrell. tall, slim and as cool as an ice-berg. wa.-U'ii little time with fatherly advice and had no trouble with the boxer*. The light was clean and open, but its sameness renders round-by-round description needless. I'orter scored always with straight lctts, and , did most of the leading, but the older "hand" used both hands, upper-cutting with great power and generally showing beter ring-craft. Truscott had all the better of the first three rounds, but the fourth was more even. The Hastings lad ducked cleverly and was lucky to escape several of Truscott's suddendeath swings. Porter bogged into it towards the of the fourth, and excitement ran high. Truscott was again aggressive in the fifth and Porter was kept busy dodging punishment,. Both came up determined in the sixth. They exchanged straight rights, and I'orter added another "stinger" with the same weapon. A spell of in-fighting proved distasteful to Len., however, ami lie ducked and attempted to dodge trouble, but Truscott followed him up and landytl with both hands before he got clear. They were both mixing it with enthusiasm when the gong sounded. Six rounds had gone to Truscott without a doubt, and Porter realised that he must be up and doing. He rushed down th'P' stage and commenced to do! Straight, ' lefts to the jaw shook Truscot up eon-' siderably. but he quickly closed in and r ripped left and right to the body, alwl j finally upper-cut his opponent beaiitil fully. It was an even round . Porter I* again rushed things in the eighth aiid burst his right-hand glove. Truscott j stepped up and had a good look at. tjhej new glove, but failing to find any horjsej shoes or old iron in it. went back 'toi ! his comer. He was taking no chances! i Porter forced again, but Truscott's guainl was splendid and his foot-work kejpt him out of danger. Honors were fivieu. on the round. Both'stepped up briskly . in the ninth and Truscott had tlie'bettbr | of the opening clash. Len's left, f ejv.e.| was puffed slightly in consequence.. ,blit

lie got four beauties on to Truscott jin return. In-fighting again saw Porter jin trouble, and lie was forced into his earner. Right and left upper-cuts were 'directed at his jaw, but by pretty jdoiiging he escaped damage. The next. t\yo rounds saw Porter scoring in the optin, j and Truscott shining in close work. 1 f jle pace improved, and Porter eommencbd to make up leeway. Porter ruslifcd things from then to the iinish. at timles leaving himself open, but Truscott's blows, which were mostly directed at the body, failed to connect. Porter drove right and left to the jaw repeatedly, but force must have been lacking, for Truscott stood it all calmly amU contented himself with ripping in body blows in return. Porter was fighting the better of the pair when the gong sounded, and many people thought he had piled up enough points in the last, eight rounds to rather more than wipe off Truscott's earlier lead. It was a close thing, anyway, and when Mr. Farrell pointed to Truscott as the winner his decision was fairly well received. Personally, this scribe thought Porter had just "got there," but the referee- 1 - the only man whose opinion counts worth twopence-- said. "Trustcott. by 1 '/a points!" Truscott was favorite, but after the tenth round his stock went down with a run. Porter fought his best fight in Wangamii, but he lacked Truscott's experience and fine generalship. On Friday's showing Porter should just about beat Maxwell at Elthain on Thursdav night. The latter fight should be worth going a long way to witness. Besides the big fight on Friday even-, ing, two amateurs put up a very amusing six-round disturbance —both scrapping themselves to a standstill—and a lot of interest was centred in the mecti ing between the local "heavy," Lcn Caldwell (I3st.) and an aggressive party named Uartlett (12st 21bs). The latter hails from Canterbury, parts his thatch beautifully, and affects a Hash smack-your-knecs, then-vour-dooks, circle-both-arms-twice and bash sort of style. Caldwell stolidly stood his ground and anxiously surveved his pirouetting opponent. Bartlett did the dazzling trick and landed 011 the body. Caldwell's slow return failed to hurt the retreating Can- . terbury-ite. It was a tame round. Caldwell looked more confident when he stepped up for the second. Both landed. Caldwell's told most and he had his man on the ropes, but was too slow to take advantage of the position. Clear again. Caldwell attacked, but stopped a nasty right swing with his hearing-ap-paratus and went down for "five." Up again and half-dazed he stopped another with his jaw and found the floor the best place for "eight." Rising groggilv, he put up a poor defence, and Bartlett was just oil the point ot' finishing him when Referee Farrell put a half-Xclson on the visitor and sent him to his corner. Caldwell took a few steps, lurched against the ropes and sprawled to his chair. Bartlett the winner. Caldwell's downfall was a shock to Wanganui sports. He was voted as big a moral as Autumnus for the Stakes. That chance blow probablv touched his temple and hurried the disa>ter. Needless to say, the tournament was excellently managed. .Mr. Farrell appears to be a verv sound referee, and his grey hairs testify as to his experience. The crowd was a well-behaved one, and the boxers were all ovationcd after their various heats.