BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 12

BOXING.

OUE OWN MEN IN MANY EINGS. (Bγ "Mercury.") Murphy and Tracy at Blenheim, Good warm hearts will go out a lons way to "Tim" Tracy in the catastronhe— a broken arm—which befell him in his match with "Denny" ilurphy at Blenheim on Wednesday last. It was a plucky showing by "Tim," and that perhaps is as far as one may go till more facts come to hand. Before the match "Mercury" had a short conversation with Murphy's excellent mentor ("Mick" Hogan), and learnt that, though Murphy was a little short of work, their party had great hones. In view of the contretemps, however, it would bo idle going into that.

During his sojourn in Sydney Murphy did a good deal of boxing with "Jimmy" Clabby, and others of the American brigade, who were recently in Australia, and he benefited accordingly, especially in the finer work of the infighting department. He has acquired an uppercut of the Johnsonian variety, which is brought into action in the "break-away," and generally has aided to his store of knowledge. All this his trainer told the writer ■ before the fray, and, judging from the result, there can be no doubt that Murphy must have improved out of knowledge since "going pro." The moral effect of meeting an old and tried hand like Tracy is a big thing in.a contest for a man just starting his professional career, even though, as in the present case, the younger warrior had the best of the weights. 'Murphy must be a good man at his poundage, which would have been about lOst. 31b., and it is now time for tho Wellington Association to give the local public a chance of seeing their neiv welter champion iu action. "Oh! Another Benefit for Tim!" Sympathy will be felt for Tracy. This is the first defeat which he has suffered since Eollo was given a decision against him on a foul at Palmcrston some three years ago—an indefensible verdict on the part of the referee. Still, his consolation lies'in the fact that ho is yet champion in his own class—the light-weight division—and there is no one in sight likely to priie that soothing balm from his grasp. Also it may be that the present reverse will stimulate business for "Tim," and tempt others to try their luck. It will certainly have the effect of increasing interest in professional boxing, and will go a long way towards putting a stop to the remark that one so often hears when it is announced that a match has beon arranged and will shortly take place between Tracy and another—"Oh! Another benefit for Tim, I suppose!" Rudd—Medical Trouble Surmounted. Last Wednesday "Bill" Eudd, having been successful in obtaining a clearance from the doctor'who "stood him down" on tho week previous, was scheduled to meet "Jack" Blackmore in their return contest at the Stadium, Sydney. It appears that Eudd's trouble was only transitory, probably (according to the*medical idea) the result of over-training. This will be a matter for relief for Eudd's wellwishers in Wellington, but it is doubtful whether Blackmore was so pleased at the end of the bout. The cable man has not seen fit to advise us of the result, so rfe must await the news thereof by mall, but, according to the Australian's showing in their first meeting iu Napier, he was either then a long way below- his form, or else ho has no chance with tho Welliiigtoniau,

At Melbourne: Wcnand Comes to Grief. "Billy" Wenand, another Wellingtonian, and winner of the Australasian feather amateur championship eoiiio two years ago, struck trouble recently in Melbourne. Hβ was matched aguiiift ono "Kid" M'Coy, and, according to ''The Deforce," the fallowing was the manner of his undoing, though^(truth to tell) it docs not read like the. Wenand whom wo used to'know:— ■

Wcnand's peculiar style of shaping amused the crowd. He tried his lcit shift over and over again, but , was unable to effectively connect v.-ith tho elusive "Jvicl." M'Coy used himself with great judgment, aud ho peppered Wcnand. Wcnand boxed very pluckily, but ho didn't seem to have a punch. M'Coy beat him all to pieces wit'i left hooks and right crosses. "The Kid" put it in strongly in tho third round. Wenand was fought to a standstill, but managed to keep his feet. M'Coy let up to some extent during tho fifth round. In the sixth ho dropped Wenand to the boards with a right. M'Cov was leading all along tho line, lliough Wonami now and again shot over a eomid punch. Wenand simply throv.himself upon M'Coy in an cifort to cheek him. Half way through tho seventh round AVenand was beaten hard against tho ropes. Ho came away, but was driven back agaiu. Then ho signalled to his corner, and up went tho towel in token of dofeat.

Ai Sydney: Hale Still Winning. Still another Wellington man gels space in "Tho Keiercc"—Percy' liale, to wit. l''or some time past "Mercury" has been chronicling the achiovenicntsof the local ex-heavy-weight champion in his professional career, and has been glad to report a step gained up the pugilistic ladder on every occasion. This present account shows thai he is still steadily mounting, his latest victim being "Dutch" Hickman, a stalwart scaling 13st. .Jib., to Halt's 12st. To quote "The Kefcree" once more: In the first round the heavy man countered a straight left with* n left hook, dropping Halo iov seven 'seconds, and he- looked beaten when ho . regained his feet, but kept very cool, and as Eiekmim came in ho shot a stiff left. It must have been a hard blow, for Hickman carefully baulked three more attempts of the same kind, and then drove in a heavy riglit. Halo's footwork and feinting caused Hickman's leads to fall short, and before ho could recover his left and right would send Hickman back to his tracks. Hide's . better boxing knowledge scored for him the greater number of points,- and he looked liko a winner all through, excepting in the fourth round, towards the end of which Hickmau threw him heavily. The fali took a lot out of ITnle,- who, after spelling for seven seconds, fought very wildly, and was rocked badly by two right swings. The fifth proved the last. Halo back-moved a left, and comin? in finiciily. hooked his sinister hand] and followed up wiili three straight ones. A right upper-cut nearly settled Hickmon, who was compelled to (-mother up. Halo backed from loft and rialit, and soon returned with both. Hickman's right just grazed the iaw, Halo binding his head back far onough to escape it, and., driving tho . right in which caused Hickman to ■ run sideways and throw himself . down, where he remained long after the count had ended.

Antl yet again is there news to chronicle of an ex-Wellingtonian—"Gus" Dovitt this time, who is billed to meet "Ted" Whiting on May 22 in a return raatcS at Melbourne.

What is a-doino in England, A cable message was received in Sydney last week reporting that tlio match between Bombardier Wells and "lan" Hague, for the heavy-weight championship of England was won by the soldier, who knocked his man out in the sixth round of what is described as a disappointing contest. Hague jumped to the front through summarily disposing of "Gunner" Moir some time ago, since when he was knocked out in four rounds by "Sam" I-angford, since when nothing much has been heard of him up to the present. Ueccntly Wells met Moir only to be. knocked out. by him (also in the fourth round) so things in the heavy division at Homo are still mixed.

Next Saturday evening the contest between "Bill" Lang and "Tommy" Burns's protege. .Tack Lester, is to take shape at the Stadium, Sydney.

Vinnettes of the Star Club's Tourney. The Star Boating Club made a good beginning on Tuesday night with the first of what is to be an annual series of boxing championships. The entries were not large, some of the likely contestants being coy about making their debut in

the ring, but the success of the evening's sport should remedy this defect in future. Three classes were disposed of — light, lvclter, and heavy, and four twominute rounds were boxed in each case. Stiangely enough the middle weight division, a class that should have been the most popular in a club of this nature, could only produce cue starter, so went by default , . Tho work shown in the light-weight division was distinctly good, the four entrants displaying more than a little knowledge and i>. commendable amount of zeal. The first heat was won by F. Allen (Ost.) from E. Nathan (lOst.), the second by Lance Bridge (Ost. 81b.) from H. Wardrop (Ost. 71b.), and the final by Bridge by virtue of a straight left and a longer reach, as against the rushing tactics of his adversary. The first two rounds went to Allen, but Bridge's coolness stood to him well in tho two concluding sessions, and he gradually wore hU man down, and won handsomely. The welter bout was productive of a displav of the rip-ami-tear order by D. Fife and L. Hulbert (both lOst. 71b.), who "cot to" each other with a glorious disregard for consequences, and consenuently assimilated a good deal of punishment. Hulbert established a lead early, but his condition pave out, and Fife' eventually was awarded the decision after a most exciting battle.

The first heat "f the heavy-weielits was battled out by H. Wallace Mid F. .Alexander, and was marked by hard hittinc nn the part of the latter, and sound defence by the former. Alexander won a very clop? thing by virtue of sunorior at'gressivene.?':. and, in the final, disposed of C. .E. Bridge on points and so won the comnetition. There is talk n"w nf a matr.h beinr firranf»d between the Boating Hub and the Victoria College Boxing Club.