AUCKLAND AMATEURS.

NZ Truth, Issue 59, 4 August 1906, Page 3

AUCKLAND AMATEURS.

NORTHERN BOXING ASSOCIATION.

Second Annual Provincial Amateur Championships.

!(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The Federal Hall was packed chock-a-block on Friday evening last and again on Saturday and Monday evenings'. But the sport was very poor and the Association would do well to squeeze it into,' at most, two nights m future, the available talent having proved so limited. A couple o£ good set-to's, padded out with a number of farcical "exhibitions" by boxers whose inability to use their dukes scientifically is only, surpassed by their sublime effrontery m entering the ring' at all, is not enough for a night's entertainment. What the ' Northern Association has to learn is that if it wants the whole-hearted support of the public, it must keep faith with the public The management may: be given credit for sincerity when it issued a programme containing 28 names entered m five classes, and no 'doubt, aa Secretary Keeran stated on Saturday night, , they were muchly disappointed that sickness, business and other causes (maybe including funk) prevented more: than half of the competitors named' entering the ring. But the lesson should not be lost on the manage^ ment, nevertheless, or their boxing patrons will be, sure. Except for the lapse stated, the tournament was carried through successfully enough, and the generous support it received should add considerably to the Association's coffers. FRIDAY'S PROGRAMME : Bantam Weights, 3.4 and under : In the first series P. Pooley and J. Ward sparred cautiously, neither lad apparently having sufficient confidence m himself to go into it. The bout was tedious to watch, no damage* being done until the third and last round when Ward got' a few blows m and got the verdict. Feather Weights, 9sf and under : A good go was seen between J. Godfrey, ex-amateur champion of England, 1903, and H. D. Donovan. Donovan kept the classy • cove well away by maintaining a rigid left, but Godfrey kept at him, and by means of slippiness of foot and feinting, managed to get m a few clouts on his opponent's ribs arid front piece. Donovan defended well, but could make no progress and Godfrey secured the major points. Light weights, lOst and under : V. Dunne and Cotterill went at each other from the gongMn fine style, first one and then the other gaining a point. In the second round Cotterill began to hoist signals ,of distress, hut hannnered away, all he knew.. How?

ever, he got a dirty drubbing m the final bout and it was easy to see it was a case of Cotter ill being done. And the referee said io was Dunne, too. The second heat, same class, saw A. J. Blewden up against J. Cullen, a boxer with a reputation at Waihi. Blewden, a tall lad with a terribly long reach, waded into Cullen right away and gave him hello. Within two minutes Cullen went to the boards four times, and the referee mercifully interposed, leaving the Waihi champion on the floor t probably wondering Waihi had'come at all. . SATURDAY: Bantam weights, final: 'J. Ward met J. Montague, who drew a bye m the first round. The smaller lad pranced round-and round his opponent and feinted to some,purpose occasionally. Ward evidently wasn't taking any chances, but played a waiting game. The % first three rounds were even and an exttfa round.of two min-utes-.was ordered. The pair still paraded round each other, until within half a minute of time when Ward suddenly woke up and landed a few jabs on the face and ribs which secured him the verdict. • Feather weights, final : J. Godfrey, and C. Whitf ord came together and the latter made a - good show, against his redoubtable opponent. Loud cheers encouraged him as he found Godfrey's phiz, v. oter, and; over again. :Gadfrey took -all the 1 punisliment met:ed but to him, but had a' dirty : left which was repeatedly doing damage. The three rounds were well" contested, but Godfrey had the science and was top dog at the finish. Light weight, final : The two successful m this class on Friday night, A. J. Blewden and Dunne; came up •to decide their claims {or championship honors. Blewden at once assum-. Ed the aggressive and getting solidly on to Dunne's snout, made the rosy flow pretty considerable. Dunne's face came m. for some terrific punches, and at the end of the first round he looked a pitiful picture. The second go was a repetition of the first, Dunne hanging over the ropes most of the time. His .seconds .chucked it and Blewden secure^ttte light-weight honors of Auekl^ndv Heavy., weight (any weight) :■ J. McConnell was. the only competitor of five on the programme to put m an appearance and he was.Cdeclared champioii (by default). ' V". Middle weights, list 4ft and under: F. C. Lewis met J. Lucas m the first series of the middle weights. Lewis hooked, Lucas prettily a couple of times, but Lucas evened matters up m the second round." A hard left found its billet on'tLuedLs' conic and he dropped his guard f iind hung m the corner. Lewis' was given the verdict. MONDAY: ' ' On Monday there was another disappointment ;|6r the \< crowd, as there was only one fin^l- to .be decided .In the middle-weight, Brophy failed to appear and F.: C. Lewis was declared champion for.the season. . A six round contest was hastily arranged, for a trophy, between Hunter and Hay ward, middle weights. The pair put up a willing go, m which Hayward did most of the hitting, while Hunter bided hi'S time and sparred' for .".'an opening for his right which :cgme like a sledge-hammer two or threextimes; to out Haywafd'each ; time; At .the end of the-fourth round; IJay ward was given the verdici on-W'very trivial foul which was app,atently 'unintentional. Donovan and Gault, feather-weigjhts, boxed for. another trophy, but the former's wrist 'gave out.before the finish of the first round.'' , , , Exhibition spars by J,. Geoffrey and J. Ross and OJGrifT and Coolc eked out the programme. .