BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 180, 25 April 1908, Page 9

BOXING.

(By Mercury.) Further comment on the recent DriscollGriffin contest at Homo is supplied by " Tlio Amateur" in.this week's "Kcfcrco," as uiic|er ._Xj, H. (Tod) Ilcwitt, tho well-known Now Zealand jockey, Writing to a friend in Sydney from Newmarkot (England)-on February 26, says:—"A feiv lines to catch.the mail. Tilings are just the samo hero in general. Our season starts in three weeks, when I will bo kept very busy I think. Young Griffin fought here, last night, but got disqualified for butting. He fought a great battle, and he has improved sinco I saw him light in- Australia. Bums,' the champion, was in'his comer, advising Griffin' what' to do-, and ho had never soon Griffin spar even. .wrongly, aa Grif : ,

fin's game is getting into it, and not standing oif, as I don't think' ho is .worth .a hangtrying to fight clcvcrly,- although he fought moro clevcrly hero than-I've, ever seon. liim do before, as the boy he'.met (Driscoll).. is. about tho champion of'.the'world. " There are thousands of pounds hero for Driscoll to fight anyone'world, and Burns said' after, the' fight that, ho would beat anything'his weight■■;in America to-day. He is about-the cleverest'tlioy have, here "at • a break-away- from .'a\ clinch,, but at this gamo Griffin: beat him' every, time;; and Griffin stood oif until about, the twelfth round,, never letting• himself go-even once,and everyone was tired; of;-it,;and-thought-he knew nothing. Thon'lie' let^liijnself'go' with a little of his old dasli,'-'and'was getting* Driscoll n. bit distressed.. . Griffin ', looted..to have a good even chancoi-of'.winning.,, .'.Ho., was mixing it a bit hot,, and Drrscoll'.s_cbin met Griffin's head, and Griffin.gave-him a good butt, and when it canib oif, lie. did it .again. , ' ■ . ■ "Then he was cautioned, but:after d?' n g it again twice, the referee stopped tho round, .and cautioned him onco more, but leathern go oh again. Driscoll kept his" chin on top of Griffin's head-everytimo ho. got a' chance; Griffin fell into..the.trap,ajid,butted, him again, when lie was; disqualified.;...- - "Griffin-put up a grand fight-considering 'the class of goods he was up against, and I myself think, if he had fought. his. old style, lie would have won, .as Driscoll could not make any impression on Griffin, no matter how lie liit liim. . - i"Thoy fought with • 6-oz. gloves, .which Griffin could not use as -well as • those lieused in Australia. I think -lie i'ouglit .wonderfully well, and lots ■ of ;;people were surprised to see him stand up -as -fresh as \ho. started, after receiving the punches , lie did from Driscoll. I am. sure .Griffin will beat more here than will beat him.-' It's a great pity he did not fight his own stylo from tlie jump, as I think he would liavo made things very warm for Driscoll, even if lie. didn't win. . ' '' "Griffin really deserved to'be disqualified,' and he admits it. gavo hiro. more chances t|ian--I've ever-.-"-seen..anyone get in the ring, and this . Griffin appreciates, but if he gets'another ■ match on; ho will take the referee's advice.-.-If it had been a fight to the finish, I .think it would" have beeii odds on Griffin, provided they had 4-oz. gloves. In t,his .Griffin ll bears "mo outr .Burns, thinks the National Sporting Club gloves, are .-far too heavy."'; ; "Griffin- - was nono -the"'w'orse'. after' the" fight: he went to , supper with .'me;'and :'a few friends. He is going to; stay with mo for a week or-so'after-next week." .• Groat interest is being..taken on. the ."other, side of tho Tasman in the fortlicomihg nieeling between Hock Keys and'.Fraiik Thorn. The disturbance is to occur-in Melbourne .at tho Saucer Track (the now- indoor cycle racing rendezvous) on next.Monday night, aiid the conditions aro that, , the' men bos the best of 25:rourids for a purse of £1$0; A' few weeks ago a ; nurse .of . £500 rwasoffered through tho London-: ".Sportsman"" for a.match between Bill Smith and Gunner Moir, to, take; place in ; : Johannesburg.- VTho Gunner declined, however.'_. Smith"now" .thinksof visiting the Old Country to endeavour to forco Moirj' who ■ still -claims tlie - cliamV pionship of England, to' defend . his -title, Moir, it will be remembered,-defeated Smith' 'in' Australia three years back, but according, to report. the last-named, has since then" improved almost .beyond' knowledge. 'Anyway, ,if Smith planks down good' money, Moir.,will bo bound to pay attention to His" challenge. Moiiy in spito of his defeat by .Tommy-Burns, is still "persona grata-"-.-.,with followers of; the fistic art,- and a gonuino- monqjvjniatch .fetweeri- him and :.doubt. command a fairaized purse.