BOXING MATCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4024, 29 January 1892, Page 2

BOXING MATCH.

Matthews y FranoU.

A boxing match for £25 a*sidc unci the gate money between Bob MuU thews and Arthur Francis, two wellknown pugilists, came off in the Theatre Royal last evening, and resulted in a win lor the fornix alter a moat desperate encounter. The audience was one of the largest ever seen in Masterton, and included a numbor of the leading citizens. The fight had been looked upon with suspicion for some weeks, but at' its conclusion everybody appeared to be thoroughly satisfied: that it was a " squarp go.'' As fianie on the'!)oarjjJ3 he was greeted w'jth cheers by his supporters, and' the friends of both were sanguine of, success, Although Matthews stripped much lighter than his opponent, Jje was •*" , n to he in the bedt gf form, and Abetting was Sain Hill, of Wellington, aJ".' a 8 second to Matthews, and Fred Williams to Frauds, Mr A. P. Whatman was chosen refereo, and was impartial in his decisions throughout. Mr Mattbewß acted as timekeeper. The gloves used were four ounces in weight. The fight commenced about half past eight, when the combatants set to work in real earnest, In the first round very little damage was done, Matthews being once knocked down by a heavy left bander. The second and third rounds wero decidedly in favour of Matthews, who got home some splendid upper cuts. Francis appeared to be acting on the defensive. In tbo fourth round Francis Baved himself by several clever feinte, and in the fifth succeeded in landing one or two behind Matthew's left ear and drawing blood. The sixth reund was fast and furious, doing a lot of damage;' Frauois essayed a La Blanche hit, striking his opponent with hia wrist. Afoul was claimed by Matthews bat was allowed. Francis was the aggressor in the seventh round, and appeared l to have a slight advantage Both men were, however, fighting with I great determination and neither '. showed any signs of faltering, In the ' oightb round some good fighting was I done, Francis placing apme heavy ones < behind his opponent's left ear, puring i the next few rounds' about.' an' (kjaal ' amount of punishment was ui6ttd bill;

In the thirteenth, however, Matthews made a tremendous hit and drove his opponent on to the ropes. Franois claimed a foul, but Matthews was let off with a caution, the referee appearing to be about as,' anxious as the audience to see a fight to h finish. Round fourteon was a most exciting one. Matthews forced the fighting, and his opponent several times sought refuge on the ropes. Francis showed visible signs of faltering and appeared- to havi had quite enough. He would not, however, give in, and fought with great pluck. From this out Matthews was tho aggressor, Francis doing all in his power to defend himself. Once or twice he fell back on the ropes and it was expected that a foul would result, but the referee prevented anything of the sort by promptly calling Francis into the ring. At the commencement of the seventeenth round it was seen that Matthews had it all his own way, Both of Francis'optics were swollen, and ho could hardly see. He several times claimed a foul, but oaoh was disallowed. It was every minute expected that his second would throw up the sponge, but, tough one as he was, Franois displayed the utmost courage, and continued Oghting until tho dose of the twentyfifth round, when it was announced that both of his hands were broken and he could fight nclongel. During the last tew rounds Matthews got home some tremendous hits on to the ribs of his opponent, who was quite exhausted, and it was astonishing bow he held out as he did. The result was received with great cheering by the audience, the win being apparently a popular one. The unanimous opinion was that no better display of the " noble art" has ever been made in the district, Although Francis was much knocked about he fought valiantly from beginning to end, and his beating was by no means disgraceful. With regard to Matthews he fought at a gieat disadvaulage,having broken hiß right band in the fourth round. His victory was therefore the more deserved. The fight lasted for an hour and forty minutes, and at the conclusion of oach round tbe contestaotsweroloudly chesred by the audience, who displayed the greatest interest in the event,