BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 12

BOXING.

(BY Mkrcubt.) , FIXTURE. June, 8 and 9.—Wellington Provincial Championships, Town Hall,. 1 ' Local boxers are reminded of the Provincial Championship meoting in the ■ Town Hall on June 8 and 9. Entries close on the Wednesday previous, and are to be a<xx>mpanied by a deposit of 2s. 6d. ( which will bo forfeited to the association if the' entrant scratches without a satisfactory'explanation. The change to tho . Town Hall should be welcomed by enthusiasts. The executive haß been at great pains to bring the appoints ments ana gear thoroughly up-to-date for its new habitat, and has provided for - a twentyfour foot platform to be built out: into the hall from fhe present stage. Upon this will be the 20-foot ring with all the latest in the way of' ropes and fittings. The new stage is to be 3ft. 6in. in height, and will be plainly, visible from all parts of the seating accommodation offered to the public. ; The New Zealand championships for the 1909 season have been'allotted to Dunedin.

An Australian exchange has the following: Mr. Sam Allen, of Melbourne, who entered into negotiations some .time ago for a match between Jack Johnson .(champion of the world) and James J. Jeffries, has received an interesting letter from Johnson, who was a party with him to the projected oontest. : "I think it is about time I let Jeffries know upon what terms he can . secure a fight with me, if ho really wants one," BaidJbhnson." Jeffries or the prospective promoters have been doing all the talking so far regarding the terms under which ho . would fight me, provided he makes up his mind. Well, I tnink this is an opportune time for me to: remind Mr. Joffriea and any promoters who have the world's championship battle in view that I am'champion at present;. and as such, I am'entitled to at least some say in Regardto the terms under which .the financial .end of the_fight will be arranged.' Now, if. a' purse is offered large enough to suit Mr. Jeffries and myself, I am willing to fight him for the, championship, and the purse to bo split on a basis of 60 per cent, to the winner and 40 per cent, to tho loser. I am quite willing to forego any claim to the 'ohampion's portion,', which somo fighters have been demanding of late. These figures. I consider, are. eminently fair to both of us." In the same connection,: the following appeared in , the last ".Referee"Chicago, March 23.—0n Monday afternoon in New York Jim Jeffries will receive an offer-' of 1000' dollars for one word.. If that , word is "yes" he will receive a 1000-dollar bill, and if he saya - "no" : the money will be his just, the Bamo. The donor in this offer trill bo Abo Arends, .of Chicago; and he will represent - champion Jack Johnson ,• in the transactions; The idea of Johnson and his manager is to know whether or not tho former, king of pugilists is serious in his implied threat to return to the ring, The black lighter feels in duty bound to havo some sort of an understanding with the most , likely, contender .for his fistic title before he plunges into the field of easy money. Particulars are now to hand of tho return battle between Frank Fitzjohu and Billy Elliott-, New Zealand's, featherweight champion. It will bo remembered that, in their Erst meeting, the referee wa-s unable to decide between tho -boxers,\although it was | supposed that Elliott "had "slightly tho .best of the bargain. On the, present occasion, Kitzjohn turned tho tables,' and won handsomely, in a great bout that must havo boon very similar to the Elliott-Godfrey contest in the Opera House last season. "Tho Amateur" waxes very enthusiastic over tho affray, as follows: —"It was a battlo really great to watch—science, strength, determination, and endurance were, in; evidence all tho time. Not a whit moro than was necessary did cither give way to the other, and the hottest situation was never shirked if there appeared a dnuioo to tcoro. 'Tin suoh

liglils, if wo could see some moro of them, that would build the peat old game of fisticuffs up to tho high standard readied n score or more years ago.' Indeed, things occurred between Elliott and Fitzjohn which sent memory over the hills of time and brought many a sterling go athwart the mind's eye."

The Stadium will bo tie scene of n great conflict on May. 19, when Frank Thorn and Arthur Douglas are scheduled to meet in their return match. On the last occasion on which the Australian and African champions met, a splendid battle was declared o draw, and, since then, feeling has ruii rather high between the two camps, and public interest has been stirred up by a wordy newspaper duel botween the conflicting parties. In connection with this engagement, the writer, notices that tho,"Reforeo" mhkes a rather strange statomont in saying that "Douglas's finger is all right again; consequently, ho may be relied upon tc put his vory best foot forward. 1 ' This jr no doubt a fact, but it is strango logic, and stranger English." Harry Sandow,' well-known here, was to have met Peter Kling; at the Gaiety, Sydney, last Tuesday..

Mr. H. ]). M'intosh has booked world's champion 'llattling and ex-cham-pion "Jimmy" Briit for :in Australian tour. On May 4, at tho Oyclorama, Melbourne, Tom Junes obtained a verdict over champion Frank .Thorn on points — a 'decision that caused a great sensation among tho, audience,, and which has been generally slated by the sporting press. The , verdict dons not appear to havo carried with it tho championship title (which was not involved, according to the articles), but, as Jones weighed in at the "feather" limit, he will no doubt put in a strong claim for tho honour.