AMATEUR CHAMPIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 136, 15 July 1914, Page 3

AMATEUR CHAMPIONS.

CANTERBURY BOXERS BATTLE. ' A • REMARKABLE INCIDENT. A variety of entertainment was provided by the concluding portion of the Canterbury amateur boxing championship tournament, held by the Christchurch Sports Club in the Theatre •Royal last evening. There was a considerable amount of strenuous slugging, a little clever boxing, a touch or two of comedy, and a mystery turn. These things combined to fill a large crowd with changing emotions. Occasionally the fans seemed to be hovering between annoyance and derision, but in the end thiey went away fairly well pleased, ou the whole, but somewhat argumentative.

The argument arose chiefly out of a peculiar happening in the final for the lightweight championship between N. Vernall and E. Morris. It was a happening that must be unique' in the annals of boxing—or, at any rate, of the sport in New Zealand. In the third round a heavy right to the jaw put Morris on the floor. He prepared tfb rise, as the count went on, and just before "nine" was reached he was resting on his liands and feet. The time-keeper counted "nine" and then "out," just as Morris's hands came off the floor, and he prepared to box on. By that time Vernall's seconds had entered the ring, but on finding that the two competitors were boxing on, although the time-keeper had eatled "out)" they retired again. But the referee, Mr T. E. Robson, entered the ring, and ordered the competitors to their corners, where they sat down and their seconds attended to them. While the 'spectators were speculating whether the counting-out of Morris was to stand good, or Vernall was to be disqualified because his seconds had entered the ring before they were entitled to, the referee complicated matters by ordering the seconds out of the ring and commanding Vernall and Moiris to box on until the full three minutes of the round had expired. So the lads went at it again, aud Vernall dealt out some heavy punishment. The gong wounded with both lads on their feet, and so the referee waited for the findings of the judges to be handed to him. A "minute or so weut by without the judges' awards being handed to him in the usual way, ami then Mr Robson, seeking the cause, found that one ot the judges had left ,|iis seat and was at one side of the stage, which lie was apparently leaving. Asked for his decision, that judge replied to Mr Robson: "I left when you counted the man out." That left the referee nothing to do but decide upon the winner himself, and so he announced that Vernall had won.

As 011 the first night, the refereeing was poor, Mr Kobson failing to handle the bouts efficiently. At one point, when he made an announcement that the club will hold a tournament next month, he was met with cries of "Get a new referee." As a result of the tournament, the Canterbury amateur boxing ehampionships for 1914-|i» are now held by the following:

Bantam weight: W. M'Minn (Coal gate).

Feather-weight: C. Cfjisnall (Christchurch). Light-weight: N. Vernall (Christchurch). Welter-weight: J. Penrose (Christchurch). Middle-weight: P. Manning (Ashburton). Heavy-weight: W, Robertson (Christchurch), unopposed. The champions last year were: — Bantam-weight, W. Cooper; featherweight, J. Digby; light-weight, J. Penrose; welter-weight, E. M'Minn; mid-dle-weight, P. Manning; P. Burgess. Details of last night's contests, which were watched by a big crowd, are as follow: BANTAM-WEIGHTS. Filial: WT M'Minn (Colgate), Bst v. G. Gunn (Timaru), 7st 12$lb. M'Minn is a -matured, experienced, and shifty fighter, Gunn a stripling/of 16 years. The Timaru lad was cool arid, as far as he cduld .be, clever; he brimmed over, too, with pluck, and showed good stamina. But the odds were all against him. ""M 'Minn did all the attacking, trying to drive his slim opponent into corners and there make a human punching bag of hirfi. But Gunn was quick on his feet, and his blocking was good, so that M'Minn did not have matters all his own way. However, victory was assured to M.'Minn, and it became a question whether Gunn would last the. three rounds. And he did last, finishing quite fresh and with scarcely a sign of having taken punishment. M'Minn thus had to be content with a win on points. Gunn's was a gallant effort, and he was heartily cheered.

FEATHER-WEIGHTS. Final: O. Chisnall (Christchurch) Bst 81b v. L. Grant (Christchurch) Bst 131b.

These' were the only competitors in this division, and their bout was very short, Chisnall winning- in less than a rrund. Grant has only just emerged trcni the novice stage, but he is not fulfilling the promise tie showed as a ru-vi.ce. When the call to arms sounded, Grant attacked, and found Chisnall's defence very solid. Grant was swinging too wildly. Then Chisnall unwound, went after his man, and nailed him with heavy rights and lefts. Grant went down for seven seconds, and then again. Another battery put him do vn iitnL out. LIGHT-WEIGHTS. Final: N. Vernall (Christchurch) 9st 7Jlb v. E. Morris (Christchurch) 9st 9Jlb. Vernall started the first round with good boxing, but he did not keep it up Icr.g. Morris, a strong fellow with two quick hands, which he uses chiefly for swinging, warmed up to his work, and then forced the lighting. Although Vernall made him miss at times, Morris sent in some good body punches, and < ccasionally! his swings landed 011 Vernallface or head. In the first two roun :1s Morris had a shade tue better of matters, but in -the third round Vernall had wiped off the deficit and was getting a little the better of the joints when there happened along the peculiar incident already described, which ended in Vernall being declared the winner. ' . WELTER-WEIGHTS. Semi-Final: B. Toner (Christchur i) lOst 7 J lb v. J. Sloan (Christchur, a) lOst Bilb. This was a slugging match. Toner,

a big, strong fellow with fighting hair aud plenty of fighting spirit, walked in ■and'swung mighty punches at the atr. Sioau, who in this tournament has not | boxed as coolly as before, followed suit, and speculations arose as to which would be the first to atop with his jaw one of' those haymaker-like swings whicih were agitating the atmosphere. When the pair got breast to„ breast they slugged away in any old style. Toner was fighting much better than on the first night, and his vigorous efforts soon made hin; the favourite with" the crowd. Instead of boxing his man, Sloan 11 mixed it," and for the three rounds the battling was strenuous but unscientific*. Sloan was doing,a little tne neater work, especially in bis body junchos, and he had a shade the better of points at the finish. But the decision went to Toher.

Semi-Final: J. Penrose (Christchurch) lost 81b v. E. M'Minn (Ashburton) lost Bib.

This was a lively bout. Early in the iirst round it was evident that M 'Minn, last year's champion, was the better toxer, Penrose the better fighter. By quick footwork M'Minn made 'lis opponent miss several itmes, and he himself scored with his left. But Penrose was not breaking cleanly from the dir.ches, and he became angry whon M.' Mii: it rem on'it rated with him. Then the referee entered the ring and stopped the fighting while he demon.strat-jd what a clean break is. But very soon after hostilities were resumed Penrose was trying to hit without breaking away properly, without being warned, aud Ml'Mi tm lost his head. Then the moil tall-red away at each other like a couple of angry fishwives. Penrose Liecure angry, and M'Minn foolishly 'mixed it" with him instead of bov.ng huii. At that game M'Minn was bound to suffer. Toward the end of the second round he was down for nine seconds. Coming out half-dazed for the third round, he received more punishment, and then went down for nine seconds from a powdery right cross to! the jaw. The pair wore battling again when the referee interfered and ordered the men r.o their corners. As he made M} .immediate annoiu cement an impassion went out that lie had detected a foul. But a;'i"cr the crowd "had called for a verdict he announced that Ponrt.se I;aiwon.

A Win by Default. Toner was unable to appear in the f"ial. Sloan's body punches had hurt him so much that Toner could not pass the doctors again, and so Penrose won the final by default. MIDDLE-WEIGHT. P. Manning (Ashburton) lOst 13£lb v. E. G. Norman (Christchurch) list 2-|-lb.

Norman is a promising Jail, but he found Manning too experienced for him. Manning scored well with his left, which Norman stopped with his face as a rule. Norman was hitting too high, instead of going for the body more. In the second round Manning scored time after time with good doubles, shooting out the left to the face, and then, as Norman's left came out, crossing it neatly with the right. In the third round Manning's timing and judgment deteriorated somewhat, but Norman frequently ran into his punches. Norman was plucky, and occasionally he scored, but Manning's greater knowledge beat him. It was a good clean fight. Norman had fought in a style that just suited Manning, and the latter wo.: /ell on points. L. A, Cade drew the bye and sparred

it with R. Bradley, in a gentle way that soon brought a reproof from the gallery: "Get a feather duster to work." Presently, when a slightly | harder tap than usual landed, there was "Look out, you'll hurt him!" But it remained for a cry of "Murder! Murder!" to bring down the house. Final: P. Manning (Ashburton) lOst 13 Jib v. L. A. Cade (Christchurch) lOst lljlb. In the earlier portion of this bout Cade back-moved or knocked aside Manning 's left leads, but presently the Ashburton man varied his work more. Each took a solid right to the face and each scored with the left. But Cade was t not attacking Manning's most vulnerable part, the body, sufficiently. As the bout wore on Cade's judging, timing, and footwork became faulty. Manning scored well with the left, and made his opponent miss badly at times. Once or twice-Cade scored w;ith body punches, only to be repaid in kind. In the third round Manning scored well with his left, followed now and again by a good right. Manning won well on points. ELLIS v. HAGERTY. During the Canterbury Amateur Boxing Championships Tourney last evening it was announced that the Christchurch Sports Club had matched J. Hagerty, of Timaru, and Frank Ellis, the Wellingtonian, who is now in Sydney. They are to meet in Christchurch in November, during Show Week. Hagerty is light-weight champion of New Zealand, and Ellis is g, featherweight, but Hagerty has agree<l to bring his weight down to 9st 51b. The contest will be for a purse of £IOO, with £2O expenses for Ellis. . -