Scientific Prize Fighting.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2820, 11 February 1888, Page 3

Scientific Prize Fighting.

Mr Julian Hawthorne writing on the prize ring, strongly condemns the introduction of the glove as having degrwl the science of boxing:— Whenyou fight with the naked fist you have to be careful where you strike. The bones of the head of the trained prize-lighter are as hard as stone,

Unless you catch him in a soft place, you are likely to harm yourself more *ffchan hfto; and soft places are strictly limited in number, and much more difficult to reach than any one who has not made the attempt would be apt to believe. Consequently the most accurate education of arm and eye was neccessary in the assailant; and a correspoding deftness in defence on the part of the assailed, But the fist protected by a glove may strike any whore indifferently, without danger to the list. It follows that the old skill, no longer required, is no longer employed, Pugilism degenerates into slogging, and no special qualifications beyond strength and pluck are required to exceljl'it, There are still a number of goim fighters, men who fight " with their heads," as they call it; meaning nob that they butt like,

rams or negroes, but that they bring the mind to the assistance of the body,

they bring to the play of the arm

something of the judgment, finesse, and : strategy that are practised by

eminent professors of tiie small-sword' But these men ore exceptional, The majority of prize • fighters have 110 other idea of boxing than simply to butcher their opponent. The process is performed in two movements, first you rush your man—that is, you run at him, striking right and left, until you have him rattled; and then, at a moment when his action is controlled rather by his physical sensation than by his scientific training, you bring in your round-hander on his jugular and knock him out. That is what glovo-lighting in four rounds amounts to; and the Marquis of Queensberry has done moro to degrade the ring than any more bruiser who ever fought,"