A BOXING DUEL

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 83, 2 January 1930, Page 20

A BOXING DUEL

SHAKING HANDS UNDER SHOWER 1 A boxing duel to settle an affair of honour between the head of a well-known u. London hotel and a racing ‘motorist was fought in secret in the West End recently. It was first suggested that the affair, which is said to have involved the name of a woman, should he decided by fa, duel with weapons, but a distinguished member of the National Sporting Club persuaded them to wipe out the score with the gloves. Accompanied by their seconds, doctors and a party of city and West End sportsmen, including several titleil people, they met shortly before 6 o’clock at a gymnasium at Charing Cross. The fight was staged under. Queensberry rules in n 12ft. ring. Captain Jackson refereed, and the editor nf a sporting paper acted as timekeeper. Both men wore boxing shorts and vests, and before entering the ring were examined by two doctors. It was to be a fight of six two-minute rounds. One man was aged about 40. the other about 30. The younger man knew a little about boxing, but bis opponent apparently nothing.

Tn the first round they went at each other hammer and tongs, and within the first few seconds both drew blood. They fought tlieniselves to r. standstill. In the second round the , elderly man was still battling gaincl.v. but toward the end tin! younger man put him down for a count of nine. He made a plucky effort to carry out. but wns knocked into the ropes, and the referee called the light off. The young racing motorist had won.

Amid the laughter of their friends the duellists shook hands under the gymnasium shower-bath.