BOXING

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1918, Page 14

BOXING

That Georges Carpentier, the European heavy j weight champion, is again in condition to box is the word that haa reached America from abroad.

The French boxer has recuperated to a wonderful degree since taking charge of the physical and athletic work at the Joinvilie Military School of Training in. France, following his leave of absence from aviation work.

The above information is authentic, and comes direct from the well-known writer and sporting man of France, Victor Breyer. In a letter, the Frenchman says: " Of lato I have noticed in some of the American journals that Carpentier hed made up his mind to retire from the game. I have seen a great deal of the young man lately, and I can assure you it is. all a mistake. He is in splendid health now, in fact, 6ince he entered the Joinville Military School of Physical Training, he is transformed, and ha» never been better.

" His one desire now ie to see that war finish, co that he may etart again, an.d he is quite eager about it. At present he is giving quite a number of exhibition bouts all over the country, especially in the American camps, where he :s very popular. If anything, he is heavier, and would welcome a match with any of the big stare of the game when the war ie over.

" I have never seen him box with better judgment and his hitting is more powerful. There are many of the Ame» rican boys who are fine boxers, and Carpentier is not overlooking any chance to improve his own etyle."

In view of the cabled result thatl Leonard and Lewis had boxed a draw, the following from a San Francisco exchange, -written come time before the clash, makes interesting reading: Benny Leonard and Ted Lewis are to box in New Jersey. The contest looks to be one of the" best cards now before the public, and if they do their best the New Jersey fane will see some battle. There seems to be some doubt among some of the eastern writers as to the bout being on its merits. Several think they will merely step eiaht rounds at a fast clip to a draw. This was bfpu<»ht about by the fact that Gibson and Engle, managers of the pair, have been close friende? that the latter hae trained and seconded Leonard for all his important battles. GJbeon refused to give Lewis a match with Leonard unless he agreed to let Engle manage his affairs. Scenting a nice piece of change for his trouble, tie ■welterweight champion agreed to it, with the result that the match is now on. the "pan." "Bat" Masterton, sporting editor of the New York "Telegraph, ,, had the following to cay in hie column* of the match: —It is not our purpose to advise the New Jersey fcoxmg authorities how to run their business. Wβ aasume that they know how to do thai without being told by outsiders. However, it will do no harm to make a mM suggestion that seems quite pertinent at this time. If reports are to be relied upon, Ted Lewie and Benny Leonard are due for eight rounds of something ht New Jersey before long. Viewed from any angle, this affair bears all the ear-marks of a frame up. And for thai reason we suggest to the New York Boxing Commission that it give this proposed contest a careful going over. Tt, after doing so, tie commission finds that everything is on the up and up, 10 harm has been done. The match yin go on as if nothing had happened. But the coa*« mission can hardly afford to stand tor any more phoney prizering stuff in New Jersey."

Northern Boxing Association, attention! The Greymouth Boxing Association arc again to the fore, and after several weeks' negotiations an opponent has been found for Frank O'Neill (ss.>» an exchange). The visiting •pugilist on this occasion mfl be A. Goodman, ol Dunedin, one of a family of boxers that have made their name famous in the history of New Zealand boxing. Good" man Is described as one of the wade-ia-from-the-start class of fighters, and capable of great endurance. With regard to Goodman's performances, it is sufficient to say that he has twice held the New Zealand Amateur Championship. The meeting between these two doughty opponents will take place in the Greymouth Town Hall on November 9th, and will be looked forward to "with keen anticipation by local fans. Goodman will enter the arena ecaling 9st. 71b. The Greymouth Association are not going to let matters drop with the above match, but intend going further afield, in that, through their energetic secretary (Mr. A. Grogan), they are in communication with Sydney in* view to getting a couple of Sydney cracks over. II their efforts in this direction are succeaeful, the Sydney pugs -wiU be pitted against tnvo of New Zealand's best in Frank O'Neill and Frank Griffin over & two-night tourney during race week. If the Greymouth Association succeed in their efforts in this direction they will gain a Dominion-wide reputation in the matter of encouraging the noble art of self-defence. And what a draw such an undertaking must prove, not only anion* West Coast fans, but there are doubtless many who will come over front Christchurch and other centres. Max success crown thoir efforts!