BOXING MATCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3970, 23 November 1891, Page 2

BOXING MATCH.

ICattbevs t. Kiriw-ood.

A boxing match fur £5 a side and the gate money, between Bob Muthews, the light-weight champion of New Zealand, and Bob Kirk wood, of Sydney,, came oft iu the Masterton Theatre Royal on Saturday evening last, and resulted, after a hard fought contest, in Kirk wood being knocked out in the eighth round. The public, who were present in large numbers, were somewhat suspicious of the genuineness of the fight at the outset, but as things proceeded the opreseed opinion of all was that the set-to was one of the fairest and best efer witnessed iu Masterton. Kirkwood, who was seconded by Mitchell, was decidedly the heavier man of the two, but was altogether in too good condition lo fight. His opponent, on the other hand, stripped well, and appeared to be in the best of form. Matthews was seconded by Jack Thompson. Shortly after nine o'clock time was called and the men faced each other. The first round was devoted merely to sparring, Matthews being the aggressor. In the second round Matthews got home one or two undercuts and made things more lively, his opponent, who wasted considerable strength by running round, acting strictly on the defensive. At the commencement of the third round Kirkwood got one or two light ones on to his opponent's jaw, but Matthews retaliated with some tremendous left-handers. The fighting in the fourth round became very furioui, both men going at it with great determination. Matthews did considerabledamage with his smart undercuts. The fifth round was rather slow, the ouly noticeable thing about it being the visible signs of faltering displayud by Kirkwood. In the sixth round Matthews forced the fighting and went at it in desperate earnest, landing his opponent several fearful blows on the side of the face, which nearly resulted in closing one of his optics. Kirkwood, however, fought very pluskily, and got horm one or two regular " winders." The seventh round was not an eventful one, Kirkwood appearing to be very " groggyi" an( l ' l was thought he would uot again come up to scratch. When time was called, however, he stood up to his man and went at it in real earnest, but Matthews succeeded in placing some tremendous righthanders on bis jaw, and eventually knocked him down completely exhausted. As Kirkwood did not come up to time the fight was given in favor of Matthews amidst great applause. There was no doubt in the minds of the audience that the best man won. Matthews fought gamely throughout, and did not show the slightest signs of faltering, his display of the noble art being much admired. Kirkwood, although a powerful man, lacked the ability of his opponent. He had uo reason, however, to be ashamed of his beating, for be fought pluokily from beginning to end,