BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 8

BOXING.

'" Johnny '' Summers, who is to meet " Hock" Keys at the Town Hall on August 6, is training very hard for the contest, and promises to be in the pink of condition. A visit to his quarters at the (Harp of Krin, which, by the way, both 'Summers and his companion, "Boyo" Driscoll, state to be the host spot they have yet struck for training purposes in their wide travels, was made by the writer yesterday, and the English champion extended a glfid welcome. '"Johnny" is a great believer in sleep, always having at least ten hours rp.'t, and does not follow out the old maxim, "'early to bed. early to rise." He generally retires about ten o'clock, and gets up somewhere about that time in th« morning. While training he does not indulge in breakfast, but after getting up and dressing, is away for a seven mile journey on the road, covering that distance in about 50 minutes. A bath tind massage follows, and then a good dinner, which is done full justice to.

The. afternoon is devoted to the gymn a skim, and the hall attached to the Harp of Erin has been fitted up for the purpose. A spell at punching the ball, at which he shows considerable cleverness, and then he dons the gloves and takes on all coiners as fast s\s they liko to come. In these bouts there is no

"beg pardons," for those who oppose the champion are invited to bang away as hard as they like and land as often as they can. Of course, they have also to take what ie coming, and yesterdnr there was one clean knock-out. Quite a feature of these, bouts is the by-play of

"lioyo" Driscoll. who encourage* the boys to do their best, and his chuckle as he keeps them at it is real amusing. Summers shows the cleverness that has. earned him his high reputation, when he mixes it with his partners, for he has a solid punch in oithrr hand, and, n-i " Boyo'' remarked, he cannot keep it back, even ■when sp'nine. "He will fret for houTs about knocking out " Poor Bill.' continued '" Royrv." whos« ("(Tort" by tie way. to fetch the said Bill round were funny beyond words. Up to the present Summers has had no lack of talent to keep him busy, ranging from heavies fx> bantams, amongst the many being Dwyer, Crawford, Con way, and O'Connor, and of the last-named pair Summers has a high opinion. After the sparring there is quite a crrcus performance, the schoolboys, of whom crowds drop in on their way home to watch the proceedings, beinsr invited to have a try to hit the champion. The determined manner in which the yotingstere hit out and try and earn fame, by getting home a tell ing blow, creates roars of laughter. The quick footwork of Summers in dodgin<r the youthful pugs is very clever, and tho exercise is much bettr-r than shadow sparring. It is great fun for the boys and great training for Summers. Abdominal, leg and arm exercise complete the afternoon's work. After ten. a short walk i« indulged in. and bed between 10 and 10.30.

The interest attaching to Summers' training can be best gaugej by the crowds attending daily. On Saturday n.ftTnrwMl there were ov»t ?0f "r''=»nl After the work is finished a collectionbox is passed round, and the money contributed is to be handed over to one of the Ellerslie churches, for the benefit of some charity.