BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1922, Page 3

BOXING.

TOURNAMENT AT NEW PLYMOUTH. TO-NIGHT'S CHEAT CONTEST Those who have followed the two champions in preparation and training for tonight’s fight are certain that one of the finest bouts ever witnessed in New Plymouth will take place. Both men are in splendid condition, and are fit encnfgh to fight twenty rounds if necessary. It will probably be a contest between Whitaker’s speed and science and Gleeson’s punch. The preliminaries hare been specially arranged, ana the amateurs in these bouts should give a good account of themselves. Arrangements nt the “New Plymouth Stadium” (Coronation Hall), are well forward. Everything for the comfort of patrons has been provided. The limited number of reserved seats are practically filled up. and any patron wishing to reserve a seat should do so immediately. TO-NfGHTS TOURNAMENT. The following amateurs will take part in to-night's tourney in the Coronation Hall: — Bantam weight: Walker v. Marshall (both High School boys). Light weight: Fletcher (Tarata) v. Coates (Omata). Heavy weight: Mitls (RivteTlea) v. Tutu (Omata). Feather weight: Parker (Willington) y. Cndby (Waitara). Fly weight: Barlow v. Fields (both High School boys). Tile opinion was freely expressed that these w«»re the best lot of amateurs yet matched by the committee, and some clean scientific bouis should be witnessed. All arrangements are now completed and a successful evening’s entertainment is assured. Both competitors in the professional contest are in the pink of condition. Gleeson does seven miles of good solid road work each morning and cleans up all and sundry with the gloves in the afternoon. He is very confident he will land the heavy end of the purse. Cyril Whitaker is confident that he will win, as he says he never felt better and will see the fifteen rounds right out. His training consists of road work, shadow sparring, skipping, and gymnastic exercises. Last evening he boxed twelve fast rounds with three of the best local talent, showing fine form. Patrons to the Coronation Hall to-night will see something worth while. The committee have fixed the prices to suit everyone. A flat rate of 5s plus tax is the charge to all orrts of the hall, with a limited number of reserves at 7s 6d. School boys can obtain their tickets (price 3s. plus tax) on application to the secretary’s o.Vce up till p.m. to-dav. The seating has been so arranged that everyone will get an equally fine view of the competitors. Doors will be opened at 7.30. Mr. Tim Tracey (ex-light weight and welter weight, professional champion of New Zealand) arrived from Wellington last night. He will referee at to-night’s boxing contests in New Plymouth. The Hobart Mercury devotes a trenchant leading article to the news that Siki the Black had thoroughly thrashed Georges Carpentier. Its point is well stated: “These prize-fights,” Rays the Mercury, “between white and black pugilists, whether the whites be Anglo-Saxon or Frenchmen, and the blacks Americans or Africans, are a hideous blunder, charged with consequences of the utmost danger to the civilised world. Fights of the kind are degrading to all concerned In them, and not worth While reading about, even if fifty thousand witness them and fifty millions bet on them.... The reason we say such contests ought to be stopped, not simply by supine or inefficient ‘authorities,’ but by the good sense of every civilised man, is because they directly tend to stimulate, encourage, and Invite an epidemic of mad insubordination among the inferior races of the world ‘that is alretdy only too possible and too threatening, and which. If it took place, might conceivably drench the world in blood and put it back into Dark Ages- worse than those that followed the downfall and break up of the Roman Empire.”