BOXING

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 October 1908, Page 8

BOXING

THE MANAWATU TOURNAMENT. ROLLO WINS ON A FOUL. (BT TELEGRArH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Palmerston North, October 14. Every available space in the Opera House was crowded last night, and several hundreds had to be content with standing room, when the Manawatu Boxing Assooiation held tho initial rounds of the tourney. As usual, the manner in which the arrangemontsiverocarried out reflected great credit on the officials. Visitors arrived from Wellington, Tarauaki, and, in fact, all parts of the Island. The contests took place 011 the stage, all the reserved accommodation around t-ho ring being occupied. The principal item 011 the programme was the contest between Bob. Rollo, unbeaten light-weight of Australia, and Tim Tracoy, light-weight champion of New Zealand, for a purse of £50 and tho light-weight championship of New Zealand, and it was this contest'the largo audience had gathered to see, The initial item on' the programme was a four-round contest for bantam-weights between Kutner (Wellington), Bst., and Wat-kins (Manawatu), Bst. 2Jlb. Iu the first round both boys made it a willing "go," and Watkins caught the referee's eye, who placed him the winner., after tho final round. * . The contest- between Crawford, Bst. 121b. (Manawatu), and Leppcr. Bst. 6Jlb. (Wellington), ' was interesting in the first two rounds, and at the end of tho final the referee was not able to give his decision, and ordered another round. Crawford led right through, and gained tho judge's verdict. Tho next item on the programme was an exhibition by two very youthful exponents (James Bros.). Four two-minuta rounds were fought, no decision being given. At tho conclusion tho contestants were loudly applauded.

At 9.45, the principals for the big event took their places in tho ring, and wore greeted with loud applause. Rollo scaled 9st. 131b., and Tracey 9st. 101b. Tho men shook hands and entered the ring. Rollo was supported by Messrs. Sullivan and Watchorn, whilo Messrs. Gosling, Kutner, and Hale supported Tracey. A short interval elapsed, and both settled into' work. In the second rtnd third rounds Tracey was cautioned by tho referee for hitting low, and tho fourth Tound, saw tho final, Rollo being declared the winner on a foul, Tracey striking his opponent onco again too low.