NORTHERN BOXING ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 250, 19 October 1908, Page 3

NORTHERN BOXING ASSOCIATION.

THE PRESIDENT'S CARNIVAL. The President's Carnival of the Northern Boxing Association was held on Saturday evening, at His Majesty's Theatre. There was a good attendance, which included a number of leading citizens, and those present were rewarded with an excellent evening's entertainment, the various bouts being well contested and of an exciting character. The principal event was the i-oiupst for the middle-weight professional championship of New Zealand, between R. Kane champion of the Australian Fleer, and J. Smith, amateur miildle-weijrht i-hampion of New Zealand, the best of 10 rounds. TUe bout was a good nne. and went the allotted time, but. after the fourth round, Kane touk :i decided lead, and the referees decision i.a draw} when time was called was received with louil hooting and groans, the popular opinion being rhat Kane s«"nrecl a fairly easy victory. Mr. Brown's verdict was undoubtedly a bad one. for if ever a man won a fight on points, -that man was Kane on Satnrday evening." Mr. T. Brown was referee, il'essrs. A. Hamilton and A. Plugge timekeepers, while the arrangement! for the evening were admirably carried out by a large committee, promient of whom were Messrs. J. H. Trudgeon (organiser), C. B. Rogers (treasurer), and F. D. Yonge (secretary!. Mr. F. E. Baume. M.P. opened proceedings with a short sp«»e<_-h. after whicn Craig and McCarthy :ippearpd to box the best of six rounds. In the first round McCarthy appeared to most advantage. Craig being a trine anxious*, but in the spcon<i round he improved considerably, and mixed it in jroo>l style, the in-tighting of both being (food and clean. There was not much to rtioose beewwn the pair in -the 3rd. 4th, ami Stb rounds, bur in the Hth Cnilg had the best of matters, and the decision "Craig wins" was w>-ll received. Both lads were lnadly applauded on leaving the ring, and deservedly so. for both boxed cleanly and fair throughout. An amosiD; ao.I closely-contested boat was that betwvo Myles and Stanmore, who went '5 rounds, fighting determinedly all the w:iy. and the decision was a draw. After an interval of ten minutes. Montague and Little (two bantamsi faced each other f°r 6 rounds, the pair givinir a good .■xhibirion. botu showing decided cleverness and their showing was certainly a treat. Montague got the award, but it was a very close thing. KANE V. SMITH. i The event of the evening. Kane v. Smith, was the next item, the weights being announced: Kane. 11.0: Smith. 10.104. Wht>n rhe men stripped. Smith looked much the heavier, but he hardly appeared ro be in the same condition as Kane, who looked as if he had attended strictly to his training, and was tn great nick. The first round was quiet, but in the second" there were some good exchanges, Kane being much the cleverer, md appeared to be able to land punches on smith when he wished. The third round was very fast. Smith boring in, and Kane needed all his science to keep him off. The fonrrh was a repetition; Smith still forced the lighting, but was unable ro make any impression on his opponent whose defensive work was I very tine. The fifth and sixth rounds were all Kane's but in the seventh Smith rallied and gave' Kane a lively time, and kept him moving till the gong. Both rirpd when they went to their corners. Smith did not display the same dash in the eighth, and Kane dealt ont 0 lot of punishment but Smith fnught gamely, and took hi- iruel like :i veritable glutton. Tbf ninth round saw Kane still having the best of ir. but rhr pace was beginning to tell. I and b<irh shon-Pil siens of firing. Kane was riinsidTably the fresher of the two as th-~y ntepp«'d up for ibe final round, and he h:id the bcttpr iif it throughout, and oncp or nvire had Smith raulrd. but was unable tv nut on the liuishing touches, and the gong sounded with, both men on their feet, after i keen and exciting go. fought in the most sportsmanlike manner. As mentioned above the verdict caused a lot of dissension, and Kane must bp adjudged unlucky.