BOXING

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 13

BOXING

(By MEncunY.) COMING EVENTS. Juno 10 and 11—Otago Amateur Championships. Juno 16 and 17. —Wellington Amateur Championships. July I.—Gosling-Gault match (Opera House). Septembor.—Tourney (Opera House). • Tho rumour' that "Bill" Squires had "outed" Burns in London in tho twentysocond round of their return match, which was billed to take place a Week ago, has not, unfortunately for the glory of Australian pugilism, been verified by the cables. Tho fight for some reason so far unknown did not eventuate. . In any case the report was not taken very seriously and the word "falco" was loud in the mouths even of thoso who believed in it. Squires appears to be in an unenviablo position. Should ho lose the public say "Well what could you expect," and if ho wins it says " Fako," From which it would appear that now tho Australian idol's feet liavo been shown to ho clay. ' ' Tho "Bulletin" sums up the question of tho world's championship thus:—Will Tommy Burns tako on Jack Johnson, who arrived in England last week? The odds seem against it. _ To begin. with ; Burns draws tho colour-line, and in .so doing has an immenso section of sporting Amorica in sympathy with him. Johnson, moreover, is tho only fighter on- earth whom tho experienced fight "fans of. thp U.S.A. tip ■ as the present champion's master. And Burns is a business man. The heavy-woidit championship is a big financial asset, and ho isn't tho sort to monkoy with it unless the odds appear to bo his way. And even if ho does decide to shelve his prejudice against Johnson's hue, and at tho same • timo 1 to- risk his present status, there is a likelihood of negotiations falling through. Burns "manages" for himself arid does his own business well and hard. His stako and gate terms are tho hottest hitherto set up by any member of the fighting world. Mr. Johnson) if ho wants his match; will have to bo satisfied with about a 10 per cent, dividend; 80 per cent, vail go to Burns for a certainty, win or lose. ' He is a putrlist whose matches are the only known, ones in the history of sport wherein it is possible to pick unerringly any number of days beforehand the financial winner (viz., Bums) and the. "also rails" (to wit, his opponent, his would-be oxploit-ors, tho cinematographers, otc.). . During tho week Messrs. M'Kibbin and Stovens, tho proprietors of the Belvedere Club, hold an "open night" under the patronage of the Anglo-AVolsh footballers and members of tho Boxing Association at the Club rooms in Lower Cuba Street. A very croditable display of wrestling, woight-lift-ing, and boxing, was given, .the star turns in tho last-named department being bouts between Traoy and M'Kibbin and Gosling and a very promising feather-weight named Perry, of whom more should bo heard in future. .

"Amateur" in the Sydney "Rcfcreo" saysA. syndicate of well-known Sydney gontlomen have had tho cable pretty busy for some time lately in an endeavour to have tho world's champion, Tommy Burns, visit'this section, and tney thought they hadsucceeded the other day, when their representative in London wired: "Burns willing if £3000' and transportation guaranteed.. Will only fight ,whites," or iwords to that effect. The syndicate considered the rnat--tor; and replied: "Close; terms-agreeable," but ere tho latest messago could have reached its destination, another one 'was delivered, in Sydney. It read: "Burns off." Now the. people at this orid are puzzling as to whether that moans the Burns-Squires match was off, as had been cabled earlier, or whether some unexpected obstacle cropped up— possibly tho cinematograph: picturo rights which'had previously taken a lot of getting over. A request for further information had not been replied .to when' the " Referee ",' wont to press. . !