BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 160, 7 July 1909, Page 7

BOXING.

The preliminary bouts in coanecijion with the Auckland provincial championships were brought orf in the Opera, House last Saturday, when an interesting afternoon's sport was witnessed, the only "fjy in the ointment" being the disturbance which was reported in Monday's, issue. Tho tournament will be concluded in the Opera House on Saturday next, when the semi-finals and finals -will be decided.

An Australian gentleman of sporting proclivities tellg mc that "Iron" Hague, who was defeated by Sam Laugford at the Xation-al Sporting Club, is contemplating a trip to Australia (says my London correspondent). The way the Australian met the pugilist was rather peculiar. Disappointed at not being able to secure a seat at the National, the Antipodean wandered round the West End, and, going into the saloon bar of a wellknown hotel, bumped into a tall young fellow. The young man accepted bis apologies with a- hearty '"Don't mention it, sir," and the Australian then asked, '"Do you happen to know liow the fight went off?" The reply startled him a little: "I was knocked out in the fourth ■j*una. ? ' It was Hague himself. The pair drifted into conversation, in tha course of which the "Iron" one showed himself most anxious to learn all about Australia, and evidently desirous oi making the- trip out if there was any chance of getting matches for decent nionoy. Hague struck the Australian as a very decent sort indeed, but the Yorkshireman, he declares, was in no condition for a serious fight, being fat in the face and carrying an incipient "corporation." He bore no facial marks of his recent encounter, and didn't seem a pe.riny the worse for his "outing" at the hands of the black. Naturally, however, some of his confidence in himself had departed, and he took in very good part the somewhat trenchant criticisms of his condition made by his Australian acquaintance.

I hear, by the way, that old Bob Fitzsimmon3 intends to proceed to Australia shortly in order to try his luck in the ring. He states that he is open to box Burns, Lang, Squires, or any other heavyweight for as much money as they can find. Bob is 47, but believes he is good enough to-day to cut the combs of most of the younger aspirnntst for heavyweight honours. He appeared! at Jem Mace's benefit at the new Arena the other evening, and made on the stago a horseshoe, which was sold forthwith for £12.