BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 80, 28 December 1907, Page 10

BOXING.

1 1 . , (By Mercury.) . ' ' Zealari'd"hation "iirto Ijerhonoilrisd" shove- all - others• (says -tho -Feilding 'Star") * Sir .George Grey once donned ..tho robo.of the. prophet, ajid'aeiclarcd that' "New' Zealand. would becomo a nation of pcetsland painters; and Macaulav prophesied' that an -artist from Now Zealand would sketch - tho rmns o£ London; But surely this ifconi, from. . America caps all: "Robert Fitzsimmoris, 1 as the most perfect modern production of-tho - Roman gladiator, is to bo sculptiured;, in marblo and placed sido by sido with tho gtatues of tho ancient fighters for in--otrnction of future generations in tho physical of tho twentieth contury. Now this same "Bob Fitz." tho prize-fighter got -all his development in-South Canterbury, for it was in Timaru that ho spent his/boyhood, and it was there, whilst a .young man, that ho learned tho art of selfdefence • that saftorwards .enabled - him -to v be-. como the world's champion,

The generosity of the Wellington Boxing Association to boxers who hnvo fought under its auspices- is -bearing' fruit in the shape of heavy batches of 'letters from "pugs" of all sorts and sizes asking for. matches. The mast desirable of the applications so far is one from the other side from "Ted" Green, who wants' to-be-matched with either Godfrey or Gosling. As it is now the close season for boxers in New Zealand nothing can be done about .it at present.,, but no doubt if Green, is of the same mind when operations are started again the Association will see that ho is accommodated. -In reference''to the above application the. AYelliiigtbH'correspondent of the "Referee' pays a tribute toDr. '■ Napier Jl'Lean; and at f ,tho.sania-time -makes a good point. Ho writes ■' "(peon's..-Jetter- is.. a crushing replyto those sirfall-miridecl.critics who, when the verdict "was 'given against Hanley in bis rece'nt- contest with i: ' Godfrey, abused theroferee and .declared, that no other Sydney boxer .would ever step into a Wellington ringAnd other Australian boxers of repute are :also anxious to cross the Tasman Seay which'- goes'to show that they are not quitev-soft enough -to ■ swaltow, the twaddle about.,one,of, v tiip:.-fairest and most capable inJ'tlie .Donjjnion . arid, ■ perhaps, in Australia."''.- .1-^,. Apropos'' of the "co/itest. referred to above the "Referee" fust: tp hand publishes an interview'' with' "ToininyV Hanley. I append a-.' few of his remark!, but leave comment: thereon; to those wli.o saw.what actually did transpire. jjo;. ' '■ -Tommy i:v"-Tbo decision—it was the 'taE"oOie town.. I leathered that; cliap up' a'treat f just by-way of a.spurt, in. tlie'-last few' r'6 ( . .. I was. waiting, witlf riiy' fir'extend to the'beaten man;: •; There Kasi'Gxidfroy nearly, laid, out' and/with ,hjs eye.-iii a: sling, and the-crowd.-, dumbfounded.,.. of., .them waited till-, two;iu tlie the referee.