BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 9

BOXING.

(BT Mercukt.) COMING'EVENTS. October 7 and S. : —Hawko's Bay Championships. Harry Ireland, our recent visitor, .lias not been long getting into action again. On Saturday last he was billed to box "Dealer" -Wells, the best of twenty rounds, at the Gaiety, Sydney. ' The local association has . been. in communication'. with Mr. Corbett, its representative in Australia, with the view of getting the New South Wales champion light-weight, Sid. Sullivan, to come over to meet Tim Tracy hero on November 24. The negotiations, however, hav£ come' to nothing, as tho terms set by tho Sydney, man are . too high, and, as there appears to bo no chance of getting a boxer worthy of Tracy's stool to pit against him, it looks as though the association must look elsewhere for a suitable match. This is hard'luck ( for Tim, who. has not had a "go" on his native heath this season, and who has been especially keen on measuring his strength with. Sullivan.' He has hitherto held his end up against all the Australian importod talent, with the exception of Hock Keys, and-it would have been decidedly interesting to. see how -he would havo fared ' with one who is admittedly! at the top-of his class on-tho-other side. As. this cannot be done, at any rate this year, it remains' for the association. to close the season, with as good a tourney as can bo arranged, yln my opinion this can, be done by promoting a return match'. between Gault and Gosling. The last meeting of these two will .be fresh in the memory of the publio, and, though on that occasion the local man was disposed of in rather short order, another "go" between them would draw like the proverbial plaster. It is the common opinion locally that Gosling was then the victim of his own over-eagerness, and without in any way wishing to detract from-Gault's performance, I think "myself' that ho was.lucky in.catching.Gosling nap-; piiig. Since then the latter has taken his lesson .to. heart, as he showed in his recent victory over Ireland; and if given another chance,, at the , Aucklander. would make "a. fight well, worth seeing, and one that the public, would: take the keenest iiitercst in.. . !" Latest, advices about Godfrey show that he is at Rotorua undergoing treatment .for his rheumatism. He is making.satisfactory progress, ; but it is unlikely that he will, be able to make another appearance in the ring, which will bo regretted exceedingly, by his many admirers ill Wellington. ; . ; I hear that "Cocky" Dawson, .well-known on tho running-track and in.fobtball' circles, 'has seriously taken up-the "noble art,'-' aridthat it is!not unlikely that-he will be "seenperforming 'in public before. long. • ; ■ The boxing tournament in connection with the Olympic Ganies in London, is scheduled for October 27. Tho usual five classes will bo ' and an ' entry of fiftynirio has been.received, included in which are the names ,of Baker, and Blake, of Australia. These<two are,the., only Ajntipodeans. taking, part, but both are sure tol-make good show- 1 ings-in their respective! sections. , Blake is. a light-weight-and Baker is, of course, "Snowy" of that namo,. who up to tho time of his donarturo from Sydney was Australasian middle-weight champion.' " : | ■; A match that is . tolerably certain to take, place in Melbourne on Cup morning is. one m which Bill Lang and Bill Squires will meet for' the Championship ''of Australia'. So far the best purse offered • is £300.' Whoh, negotiations were concluded for the. Burns and.. Squires match it was stated in the . press ■ that .Squires was under, 'contract; to fight..for -the: Scientific.; Boxing Syndicate while in Australia'-'only/"and.'at tho expiratioii of liis contract, lie ■ was to return to England.' Squires has been asked by a certain Melbourne promoter to see how; far lie was held by that contract, and, provided lie is- not bound down, he and Lang will be offered a substantial purse to box in Melbourne on Cup morning.—"Referee." '■ BURNS : JOHNSON,,MATCH. , ; ; The match 'between". Burns _ and Johnson for the world's .championship is now un fait accompli;' For!'" particulars 1 can- do .no hotter than append the'following clippings from tho Sydney "Referee," of September 23:— ' "Hitherto America has had a moiiopolj of world championship contests, and it will prove a staggerer inuoed for the people of that ..country ,to hear that .this little continent has' outbidden" '' and '. out-generalled them in the matter:- Purses - varying in value from £4000 to £7000 have been ottered by different promoters. and' syndicates in the States t'the two .biggest.- (£6000 : and ~£7000) coming 'from Californian speculators, and the, •knowledge that . those hufeo shins 'were* awaiting him' Ifos!',back of.-. "Tommy. ,fusal to : accept . the National i Sporting:; Club of-. England's- proffered .'£2500,s an ; amount which ..they- thought . shouldvbe,,-tempting-. enough for 'the most-avaricious, and indeed it would have found Burns very willing, but for tho fact ( 'already :, stated, . viz., that, there was more money-in'evidence elsewhere; and, .between- whiles,, there were one.'or two addi-' tiorial .'lemons'' (as American' scribes term them) to be gathered; which brought the champion £500 over and abdve the' full total of the National' Sporting Club's prize, that 'even if he,won, could not have,been all his, and .then tho'Australian' opportunity-must have been .- lost altogether,' S as Tommy was only wanted here ..while tho American Fleet remained in our waters. • Now Johnson will be taken on, and the remuneration is very nearly threefold'that the National Sporting, Club were prepared to.'give. : "Tho cable says tho match will be to a finish: but that is nonsense. Tho law does not allow.'it, and the promoter, of the contest, Mr. H. D. i-.M'lntosh, -is risking too'; much--a :small '. even think 'of doing anything which might, bring -him into .collision "with thbso, whoso duty it is to; sec that nothing illegal occurs! ' The compact signed in England provides for a points do-, cision at tho end of 20 rounds. At present it is not- certain whethor the match will be fought in Melbourne or -in Sydney, but that question may be decided shortly. The date lias, however, been fixed for Boxing Day— probably, in the morning, so that'the races may be attended during the afternoon. . ' "Johnson left London last Friday by the R.M:S. Ortona with Fitzpatrick, his trainer, and before _ sajling asked per \cable that a stated portion of tho amount of the purse to whicli the defeated , mail will be entitled should be handed .over to mc straightway, and, upon receipt of my message to tho effect that his (Johnson's) wishes'had been complied, with, tho articles of agreement might he considered,'signed, sealed, and delivered,' The desired'intiniation'was cabled on Thursday' evening. A provision of' the'' compact is that' the two ■ principals' : shall mutually: agree-regarding the choice of a referee, but should they. fail to do so within a given time; : the : duty of selocting the thirdman in .tJio ring shall, rest with the promoters, or your humble servant. J During the negotiations Johnson said something >, about' being prepared .to; give Burns-'£looo if (Bums) .'stayed twenty rounds, an offer which tickled the: champion a great, deal'.when lie heard of'it. 'Never mind' about that,' said. Tommy.' 'Johnson is'too generous.' Til put up £2000 witlv, the Sydney "Rcfcreo" and bet him ,£IOOO that'ho can't beat me in 20 rounds, and another £1000 that I beat him. If Johnson has not got tho money himself, some of his admirers may find it for him.' This was conveyed to 1 Johnson, and we'will know how tho proposal meets his views \yhon ho; reaches Sydney."

■ The following teams will represent, theii respective districts at. the approaching boxing touriiamont, to take place at the Palmerston North Opora House on October 14 and 15, for the Alanawatu challenge cup:— ; Taranaki.—Bantam, J. O'Brien; lightweight, Lovegrove; welter, Steel; heavy, Nightingale. : , Wellington.- I Bantam, J. ICutner; feather, Tepper (Petone)light, Smith (Pet-one); welter, J. Kronast; middle, G. Davitt; heavy, P. Hale. | Palmerston North.—Bantam, Watkins; feather, Crawford; light, Watchorn; welter, Williams; heavy, Cole. The names of the teams representing Hawke's Bay .and' Horowhenua are not to hand yot, but. both these. associations havo entered teams. The chief attraction on the first night will bethoßolloTracey return;match for a purse of £50, and on the second night, tho Ben Tiacoy-Sliields, six rounds' ooutest.