BOXING.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17430, 15 April 1922, Page 14

BOXING.

HEAVY-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. The contest at King Edward Barracks v this evening, between B. McCleary (Christchurch) and C. WhiTaker (Wellington), for the professional heavy-weight championship of New Zealand, is exciting widespread interest. The reserved booking is exceptionally good, and a record attendance of visitors is anticipated. Applications tor seats have been received from far north a3 (iisborne, while the demand from Wellington is unusually heavy. A large number of visiting lootba.»er3 will bo present, one local club having reserved 100 seats for their members and visitors. Wiiitakcr arrived from Wellington yesterday, and looks very well. He is in firstclass condition, having undergone a thorough preparation, and his supporters are Confident of success. McCleary is also in first-class form, and in a try-out at bis training quarters a day or two ago put up a fins performance. He went tho full distance against six sparring partners, and the form shown by the ex-Australasian amateur champion delighted his trainer and supportera. Ths previous meetings of this pair prove that they are very evenly matched, and boxing enthusiasts anticipate a contest full of interest. Whitaker will probably enter the ring about 10lb hoavier than McClearv, who will strip at about ]2st. , A. Pooley, the Auckland heavy-weight who defeated Moderich at Timaru on Wednesday night, is challenging tho winner of tonight's contest. Both McCleary and Whitaker have signified their readiness to mpet Pooley, and a match is being arranged by the Christchurch Sport** Club to take place probably on May 20th. For to-night interesting preliminary bouts have been arranged between some., of the best local amateurs, and they should supply a first-claaa display of clean boxing. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —I see by your paper that McCleary and Whitaker are this evening to box ior the picieasional heavy-weight championship of New Zealand. Can you inform me how this has come about ? If so, you will interest many like myself who are astonished to know that two men just emerging from the amateur ranks), and wno are for tho first time competing as professionals, can bo billed to fight for the professional title. Why are tho experienced prwessional boxers, men with firstclass records, passed over'! What is wrong with A. Pooley, ex-professional heavy-weight champion? He lost the title to T. Heeney, but now that the latter is out of the Dominion, why doe* the title not revert back to him? Does the Council think that he is not fit to hold the title? In Thursday's "Press" I see that at Timaru 'Pooley, in a 15-round bout, knocked out Moderich in tho eighth round, showing that h<j is still going strong, and has a punch to knock out a man heavier than himself. The rule dealing with the New Zealand professional championships says that in the event of a championship becoming vacant owing (inter alia) to the absence of the holder Dominion, the Council shall have potoer to nominate tho person to hold the title." Heeney, the present holder, is out of the Dominion, and in justice to Pooley (the ex-champion) the title should revert to him. If this had been done, it would have given satisfaction to everyone, but to give two men just out, of the amateur ranks Hhe privilege to box for the title, passing over men like Pooley and others, is, in my opinion, most unfair, £nd is not in the interest of boxing. I bear it stated locally that the Booley-Moderich match at Timaru Bhould have been for the title, but the local Sports Club got in first with its application for the championship. But this should not have influenced the- Council. It has the right to nominate the person to hold the title, and in justice to other Associations, and particularly to professional boxers generally, one of them should have been nominated. One &f the objects of the Council is to foster and encourage scientific boxing in Now Zealand, but I take it that this kind of thing will not be very encouraging to the' professional men who have been passed over. I think in would be a. sportsmanlike action if the winner to-night refused to take the title till such time, as he had proved, by contests with other professionals, that he is worthy to hold it.—Youib, etc., CLEAN SPORT. [As stated elsewhere, the winner of to-night's contest will be matched against Pooley for the title.—Ed., "Press."] A MATCH FOB BURNS. (By <)ible—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received April 14th, 5.5 pjn.) LONDON, April 13. Acting under a specialist's advice, Burns is resting nis thumb, and his fight with Moore has been cancelled. "Kid" Lewis has expressed'his willingness to meet Burns, and a match is being arranged.; at Holland Para in June. COOK-NTLLS FIGHT OPF PARIS, April 13. The _ "Auto" states that the Cook-Nillea fight is off, owing to Cook's , defeat by Beckett.