BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 216, 12 September 1925, Page 25

BOXING.

RINGSIDE GOSSIP. Charlie Purdy and Reg. Trowern have been matched by the Northern Boxing Association. They will meet at the Town Hall on September 21. Every fight follower in Auckland has been waiting for this match, and the Northern Boxing Association is to be congratulated on getting the two men to meet. The contest would draw a crowded hoxise in any town in the Dominion, and locally the interest is siich that it is doubtful whether the Town Hall will prove large enough to seat all who seek admission. A large faction of ringsiders affirm that Reg Trowern will beat the undefeated Purdy, despite the fact that Purdy was the conqueror on both occasions when they met as amateurs, and that the decision was given against Trowern when he fought his first professional contest with the ex-Olympic representative. Events took such a turn during recent months that the bulk of the local boxing public gave up hope of ever seeing the two men in action. It appears that the parties have abandoned their obdurate attitude. The friends of Purdy, who are not nearly aa numerous as those of the hard-hitting Trowern, scout the suggestion that their idol will suffer defeat, and to the unbiassed critic the contest certainly looks like an even bet. Though Trowern did not prove victorious against the New Zealand light-weight champion, Les Murray, he has stopped Jimmy Hill in eight rounds and Nelson McKnight in four, and fought a draw with Australian Em Baxter since he last met Purdy. Since Purdy returned from Sydney, where he fought a tame draw with Jimmy Allen, he has been out of favour to a large extent, but this fight should replace him in the front rank of popularity. It is unfortunate that Hughie Dwyer wa.s unable to keep his engagement, owing to an injury received while training, but his defection has left the way open for the Northern Boxing Association to make the best match announced locally for a long time. Hitting with the open glove, termed "flicking," is a common spectacle at boxing tournaments. It is* difficult to remember a Town Hall carnival at which one or more of the competitors have not offended in this respect. Yet it is contrary to the rules, and just as much an offence as hitting an opponent while he is down. A referee must, after one caution, and may "without a caution, disqualify a boxer for delivering a foul blow. Flicking is included in the list of foul blows. The only legitimate blow is one delivered with the back of the glove. Charging, butting with the head or shoulder, hitting in clinches, hitting on the break-away, hitting below the waist, holding and hitting, hitting an opponent on the loin or on the back of the neck, wrestling, roughing at the ropes, kicking or falling on an opponent, using the knees to avoid a blow, striking an opponent who is down, deliberately holding an opponent, going down purposely without being knocked down, failing to break, away when ordered, pushing the forearm or the heel of the hand against the throat of an opponent—these be among "thou shalt nots" of boxing. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Council was a tame affair to what Jias been the order during recent years, when motions for changes in control have been fiercely debated, writes "Cestus," in the "Evening Post," Wellington. Probably it may be accepted as a vote of confidence in the governing body that there has been absence of any controversy, the governing body being ably represented toy the treasurer, D. R. Hoggard, whose lurid explanation of the financial position was favourably commented on. Probably many of those present at the meeting were unaware of the enormous amount of work which the treaeurership has entailed. In the appointment of its treasurer there can be no doubt the council selected wisely. It is noticeable that a year has never passed in the government of iboxing without changes being made to the rules, and this year proved no exception. Last year the centre championship system was abolished, except for the holding of the provincial championships, and this year saw the last of any rules dealing with the subject. In connection with the centre system a somewhat complicated system of finance was passed. And with the abolition of centres it became necessary to arrive at some new allocation of the funds of which a fair proportion '« was previously absorbed in carrying on 1 the centres. The amending rules pro--1 vide for the retention of the various sources of finance, with the exception of the registration fee payable toy amateurs. One-half of the amount is to ■ be earmarked for what may be termed international contests, while the other half is allocated to the general fund, with a special clause providing that 60 per cent is to be devoted toward the j fostering of amateur sport at the discretion of the council. What is "sport" to-day? Four years ago more than 90,000 assembled to pay 1 over £300,000 to see the champion heavy- ' weight of the world hammer down a 1 frail-looking middleweight. That Car--1 pentier would surely have "got" Dempsey in the third round had he been able ! to hit with his left hand when his right '■ hand broke with the blow that stag- [ gered Dempsey, has nothing to do witl ■ the ethics and principles of such a ! match, yet it was heralded as "the ' battle of the century," and headlined , accordingly, says a writer in the "Sportt ing Chronicle." Dempsey received f £00,000 for knocking out the Frenchman, t who, in his turn, received £40,000, with - spectators paying up to £10 a seat to : witness an event that should have been r staged i nthe Chicago stockyards, rather • than in a sporting arena at Jersey City. i Is there no line of "sport" and sporting , instinct between Dempsey leaving his 5 barbed wire enclosed training quarters, i equipped with a turnstile, and a box- , office, to pound a middleweight insen- ; sible, and a 17-years-old girl (Gertrude i Ederle) fighting the greatest of all elel ments with so box-office —nothing but . the love and glory of doing something ' no other woman has been within strikt ing distance of accomplishing? Yet the 3 masses prefer to sit and sniff resin dust - rather than follow a bobbed head through - the foam or raging waters. It's a queer j world. r Bill Thurbon, who recently defeated ) Jamito, is said to" be coming to New 1 Zealand soon, in an endeavour to collect lightweights' ecalps—and cash.