BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 65, 16 March 1907, Page 12

BOXING.

Mr. W. G. Atack, of Christchurch, has written to "Cestus" of the '•Sportsman" a lengthy letter concerning the merits of "Snowy" Baker, the New South "Wales amateur middleweight, and A. Blewden, of Auckland, who are now nearing these shores in the Oroya, intent on "lifting" our amateur championships at their respective boxing weights, writes our London correspondent. Mr. Ataek is evidently sweet on the chances of both men when they meet our amateurs at Alexandra Palace on March 27. For "Snowy"' his enthusiasm is whble L souled. He is "the whitest of white men, the idol of the Sydney athletic world, and a grand fellow, a true sport," and "absolutely the best all-round athlete that has ever left Australia." It is good to hear one man sing the praises of another in this fashion. As regards Blewden, Mr. Atack says without hesitation "that he is the 'best light-weight in Australasia," and that includes Parbury, the great Sydney boxer, whom until the last Australasian Championship I placed in the little group which included Baker, Doveridge, and Dickinson, the bantam-weight. Blewden is a hurricane boxer, and has such splendid stamina that he can go the hottest pace throughout the three rounds. The climatic change may affect him, but let Mm be fit and well, and he will show you some terrific hitting and wonderful speed." Mr. Atack adds: "As regards J. Doveridge, the Auckland feather-weight, nothing appears to have been done by the Queensland Association in the direction of raising a fund to meet his expenses. This is most deplorable, for Doveridge is unquestionably the most scientific boxer in the amateur ranks in Austraiasia, and he would have delighted the BritiSh public with his cleverness and skilu. I have seen your amateur, J. Godfrey, who won the feather-weight championship of England in 1903, and is now in this country, and he is not to be compared with Doveridge, which will give you some idea of the class of the Auckland youth. Doveridge stands alone in the feathers, as does Baker in the middle-weight."

Mr. Atack's eulogium of the invaders will, of course, cause us to expect something very much out of the common from our visitors, and I sincerely hope that the vagaries of our "glorious climate" will not preevnt them giving us of ifssix best on March 27th. They will want to be "fit as fiddles" to beat the best of the Home team of middles and lightweights.