BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 317, 31 May 1913, Page 7

BOXING.

| THE WAXGANUI TOURNAMENT. (From Our Own Correspondent). 1 A full house rolled up to the Bartlett Ireland disturbance at the Wanganui tournament, and the scrap was a good one. Ten oE the fifteen rounds were strenuously fought, and the only jarring item on the menu was the fact that a big percentage of those in the body of the hall didn't agree with Referee O'Farrell's verdict, and got on their hind legs and said so. Many hooted for the pure love of it, and they evidently missed a lot of the finer points of the contest, i Bartlett (12.2) looked points ahead of Ireland (11.2) as regards condition, and his pull in the weights and' extra length of reach should have made him a tough nut to crack. He certainly made most of ttfe fighting, "Barney's" superb defence--particularly his sure "blocking"—rendered the jabs and taps useless as a pint of sour beer. Ireland's slouchy style and affected "tired feel:ng" business was a sure take-down, but i'artlett was only caught once. When :ie "mixed it" the bigger man struck a whirlwind and retreated "down stage" as the aetor johnnies say—before ,a veritable tornado of straight lefts and rights. The first three rounds passed off as peacefully as a Sunday school picnic, hut in the next Burtlett assumed a confident look and stepped in. A warm encounter took place and the big man's rib 3 blushed scarlet under Ireland's wicked blows. In the fifth Bartlett again proved aggressive, and on "Barney" inviting him to "bang away" did so with brotherly enthusiasm. The sixth and seventh saw Ireland easily stepping awav from "Bart's" weighty uppei-cuts, and the one big rally ended in Bartlett being forced on the l ropes and pounded on the diaphragm repeatedly. Slow work marked the opening of the eighth spasm. Then Ireland cut loose and rushed his man up stage. "Bart" fought gamely out of a tight corner, and retaliated in same. Ireland again broke the rules of good fellowship early m the tenth round with hefty body blows, and "Bart" cheerfully clouted him on the jaw in return. Ireland stepped back smartly from danger dealing upper-cuts and then plunked a good one to the bread-basket and forced the Canterburvite to retreat in disorder. Bartlett forced matters from then to the end, I but his attack only served to illuminate "Barney's" smart lootwork and solid defence. .Scores of blows were taken on the glove and Ireland contented himself with occasionally putting in a straight left to the "puka," or a hefty right swing to the hearing apparatus. Bartlett boxed confidently to the finish and was the most surprised man in the house when Mr. O'Farrell stepped past him and the finger of success at Ireland. Tile disorderly proceedings were ,l)clow par. but what they lacked in science was more than made up in humour. Thomas, a fierce-looking Elthamite, was too solid for Bond, and the .former might' have ended the ser.vn sooner had lie gone in to win in the tlurd round. Walter Ireland made the Christchnrch lad—Anderson— look a novice at _ the game, and K. CrottrV ring experience pulled him through with- (!. Delaney. The latter's proboscis a«<a>med a gory aspect just about the tinvhis smile turned to a sad and fearful grm, and. badiy dazed, he was simplv a pimciiitig bag at the end. The Oallan--Imri-S.vn-es stoiish was a broad faree.' Alter round of shadow sparriii" tlipv look the barrack to "get into if seriously, ami continued their wild and nerce disturbance long after the funded duties wine up groggy in the thud, stopped a beaut, on the solar plexus, and fell with what the papers describe M a sickening thud—down and out! Thn management of the tourimien* rr'iifeied !?rr.< credit on f.lic lion, secrc'l:tr.v, '"-'j uu3 Ji*