BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 123, 24 May 1913, Page 8

BOXING.

THE WAIT G-JTOI C__Un~T__,

IRELAND V. BARTLETT. V», AX UNPOPULAR DECISION. "" ' (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent .

WANGU—TCI, Friday. The Wanganui Amateur Boxing Association held a carnival last evening, when the principal event was a fifteen round contest at catchweights between Bartlett, of Christchurch, who recently entered the profess • sional ranks, and Ireland, the well knows light-heavy of Waipawa. The fight went the whole fifteen rounds, and the decision went to Ireland, though to the majority it appeared that Bartlett had all the best of § it. and was decidedly unlucky to lose. The worst that should have been given against him was a draw. ... • In addition several amateur bouts were decided, Ireland beating Anderson on points; Thomas knocked ont Bond early in the fifth round; Callaghan knocked out Symes in tbe . third round: and Crotty and Delaney boxed six willing rounds, the latter taking a lott-BM punishment before acknowledging defeat, Tbe weights of the pair were announced: Bartlett 12.2, Ireland 11.2, Bartlett looking .. fly the stone heavier. The first round waa : uneventful, Ireland crouching low and stab- ' bing for the body, while Bartlett fought for - tbe head, and thrice landed what is now known as -'the occipital punch." But "he got too far round to do much damage. There I was more fight in the second round, Ireland landing twice with a right to the head, but 1 too high up to be effective. Bartlett more than evened matters up, scoring with both hands, and the points were In his favour. 1 Ireland's footwork in the early part of the third Eaved him several times, and he wis showing a better knowledge of ring tactics i than Bartlett who was cautioned for bitting ' 11 with the open glove. Tbe round was not I marked by any brilliant work. Ireland came • lin with a crouch for the fourth, and after [j feinting for the body with the left, scored in a heavy right Bartlett came across with [ a right but Ireland got away. Ireland seemed \ now intent upon forcing the fighting a bit. He waded in and scored with both bands. but Bartlett was not idle, and Ireland had i to smother up to avoid punishment In the-:' • fifth round Ireland kept stabbing with the , left for the body when tbe pair got together, I and there was some neat infighting before ] they clinched. Bartlett crowded Ireland to ■ the ropes, but Ireland was smothering j cleverly, and laughingly told Bartlett to" • i '-punch away.*' The round ended even. -Ire- H > laud opened the sixth with a right to.the , i head, and Bartlett who seemed to be boxing. I with more confidence, swung an uppercat. ! •I which Ireland took ou his glove. The only ,| thing worth noting was a rally half way i through. Things happened along quietly for •I a while in the seventh round, tUI Ireland ent loose, and scored with both hands, forcing I Bartlett on to the ropes. The latter fought I y back in good style. - The second half of the fight saw one or. 1 • two interesting rallies, somewhat in favour l of Bartlett, and Ireland was compelled ts , break ground continually, bis better kaow* ,1 ledge of ring tactics and superior foot—ork , 1 getting him out of one or two tight corse—. I In the ninth round Ireland landed a right •! to the chin, and Bartlett went down, but it ■ was more from a slip than the result of tbe >. blow. He elected to stay down for Mm sj seconds. On rising he scored with his right, I 'I and Ireland missing a left book, Bartlett: 7 ii drove him to tbe ropes. Ireland got ont at X 1 i trouble cleverly. The tenth round was m-. ■! eventful until nearly the close, when Iretaat - I forced Bartlett to the ropes, and dealt est i heavy punishment, bit the Cbri-tebtncK,- :. . man fought back, and was mixing, to t tbe gong. Two thirds of tbe fight was now over, tie i roints being in favour of Bartlett, who hat V ■ more weight in bis punches. Ireland war 7i trying the antiquated game of foxing, whirl would only deceive the veriest novice, tot ■ there was very little done tn the devest*.j In the twelfth round they mixed it at the • opening, Ireland complaining of being Jit | low. Ireland cut loose, cad forced Bartlett . to the rope, where he dealt out a lot.of punishment and appeared to bare BartMt , going, but the latter took the gruel like a game one, and fought back like a tiger,-asl the round was exciting at the close, IreUnf having the advantage, and Bartlatt showlaa signs of weakness as he went to his cornet He came out greatly refreshed for the tt__| teenth round, which was somewhat taint, but there was more doing in the fourteenth. Bartlett scoring repeatedly, till Ireland steadied him with a right to the side of the jaw. Bartlett recovered in great strie, and outfought Ireland, who went to h_ corner a bit the worse for wear. The last round opened with pnnch for punch far same time, till Ireland got home a heavy _J*_t It had little effect on Bartlett, who was doing the better work, but at the decision Ireland got tte verdict, a dedsion that waa reeerfed with considerable dissension, the crowd booting for some time. r,X-