BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 16, 18 January 1913, Page 16

BOXING.

Writing in the New York "Morning Telegraph v on the question of the repeal of the Frawley law, Charles J. Meegan. in the course of a trenchant article, says:— Ho sane legislator can refuse Lo take heed of the fact that exhibitions supposedly of cleverness, strength, and mental activity have been permitted under the guidance of the State Athletic Commission to degenerate into fearsome scenes of brutal, near carnage, disgusting in the extreme to men who like to see two evenly matched men pit their skill, cleverness, agility, and strength against each other in the mnnly attack and defence. I am not advocating the abandonment of strenoonsness in ring contests, neither do I favour making them tame as bean bag games. A bleeding nose, discoloured eye or swollen cheeks is a legitimate part of the sport as played fairly, and even a knockout is entirely permissible and do«s not hurt the game. A hard walloping never did anybody serious permanent injury, but it is time to call a halt when a helpless, perhaps half-blinded and only semi-conscious man 13 hammered and pounded, bruised and maimed until he falls to the floor and is counted out. I am calling upon fairminded men to help save the boxing game by insisting on the elimination of its greatest menace—brutality. The ilarquis of Queensberry rules were formulated to prevent, not foster, brutality in che ring; were intended as a guide for a contest of skill, not a slaughter, and if interpreted properly form a safeguard instead of a menace. Referees have discretionary liberties, and should exercise them. »The Hawke's Bay Amateur Boxing As-1 sociaiion has matched Hegarfcv and Trus- ' Ait for the light-weignt championship of New Zealand and a purse of £50 on January 31. Both men agree to weigh in at 10 stone. . " Hock" Keys, the Australian light- ; weight has notified the Wellington Boxing i Association that he is prepared to box I in Wellington on February 12, and an : effort is being made to match him with Hegarty or " Jack " Eead. It is under- • stood that Keys La also anxious for a ! match in Auckland-

Although Jack Johnson is reported to be down and out, and recent happenings might have been expected to cool the ardent desire of the big negro to bask in the limelight, scenes of extravagance were witnessed at his recent marriage with the 19-year-old white girl he was charged with abducting. The ceremony was performed at Johnson's, home, which he converted into a perfumed conservatory for the occasion. Surrounded by chrysanthemum blooms was a wedding cake more than 3ft in diameter, ornamented with boxing gloves and a choco- ; I late Ajax in the centre defying everybody. There were also miniatures of ' Jeffries. Tommy Burns, and other I-White Hopes" lying about in various anguished attitudes- Beer and whisky | were distributed to the crowd surrounding the house. Johnson gave his bride ! a £500 ring, a set of sable furs, and her , I trousseau.