BOXING FINALS.
« PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Excellent sport was provided in the Town Hall last night, where the semifinal and final heats in the provincial championship contests promoted by the Wellington Boxing Association were contested. His Excellency the Governor was present, attended Ly Captain Shannon, and the onlookers riii'b^red between 1400 and 1600. A noticeable feature of the contests, taken in the block, was the proof they gave that the general standard of boxing has been improved lo an nstonieliing extent during the five years that have passed since the association began to superintend and encourage the sport in Wellington. There were one or two bouts last night in which science was thrown over the ropes, but seven-ninths of the contests were characterised by clean and clever boxing that was instructive, lively, and exhilarating. All the officials of the association deserve credit for their services rendered to the art, but especially those who superintended the contests just completed. The stage managers were Messrs. J. L. Day and J. M. Laing, the official seconds I Messrs. T. Taylor and T. Sampson, the timekeepers Messrs. A. Laurenson and J. L. Ludwig, the referee Dr. Napier M'Lean, the treasurer 3lr. H. B. Platts, and the secretary Mr. W. Coffey. The managing committee comprises Messrs. R. W. iU-Villy (president), J. L. Day, E. Blundell, H D. Smith, A. Laurenson. T. Sampson, J. M. Laing, C. E. Bridge, T. H. Taylor, and T. Taylor, while the medical examiners were Drs. Herbert, Gilmer, and James. LIGHTWEIGHT. Two lightweights set the mills in motion — W. J. 'Smith, of Petone (9st 9£]b), and W. Davis, of Wellington (9st lUjlb). In the first round the shorter r>ian (Davis) got home good blows, and avoided the returns by clinching. Uccasionally he wrestled. Smith, however, retaliated with some useful ones towards the third minute, and the lound ended even. Davis, who opened round 2 with a straight right and swinging left on to his opponent's ear. ducked cleverly to a\oid punishment, but showed further disposition to wrestle. This made Smith follow suit too openly, and after he had been warned once he was disqualified for having forcibly throvn his opponent a second time. M'Farlane, who was to have contested the final bout, forfeited to Davis, on account of his hand being injured. So Davis was declared champion. BANTAM WEIGHTS. F. Wenand (Bst 3J,lb) met W. A. Iggulden (Bst o^lb). Both were Wellingtonians, and both boxed in lively feshion. Wenand's blows were inclined to be round-armed, but they were effective for the most part, though Iggulden cleverly parried some occasional uppercuts, and evened up points with telling deliveries from close quarters. His straight light was very effective in the next round, and again he eluded the upper cuts cleverly, chiefly by clean foot work. He sidestepped neatly on occasions as preliminaries to getting in some telling "jabs, though Wenand was forcing the pace at the n'nish, and making good points. Iggulden, none the less, performed with credit, but as Wenand had done most of the leading he gained the referee's award. Wenand and Langridge (Petone) contested the final heat. La-ngridge, though longer in the reach, failed to keep his opponent off, and he received a doublecheeked donation of left-right with only moment between them. Both contesants got blows home while in the centre of the ring. Langridge, however, was unable to cover himself up properly, and on the ropes he was sent haid down with a swing under the car. The gong went in time to save him. but he again left himself open in round 2, and received a similar blow, which unsettled him so much that the referee " turned him dojvn" and declared Wenand the champion. FEATHERWEIGHTS. W. Coward .i recent arrival from England, whose form on the opening night was distinctly above the average, took the ring last night to meet L. Porter, late of Blenheim, whose win from Heavy was very easily gained on Tuesday. Coward scaled Bst 13£lb ; Porter half a pound more. • Coward began the leading, and he showed a clever behind-back blow, which reached Porter's face, but the Blenheimite soon displayed effectively his mettle for attack combined with good resource. Nimble of foot and smart in ducking, he landed all over Coward's frontispiece, and once sent him to the boards for four seconds. Coward came up lively for the last round, and contested it vigorously. Both took and gave hard knocks, but Porter's leg work and ducking saved him repeatedly. " A very clean and clever bout," was the referees report after he had given the palm to Porter. The crowd appreciated the setto greatly, and applauded the contestantb with vigour. eorter'b brother Sam (Bst llJjlb) contested the next bout, his opponent being Cairns, of "Wellington (9st). Cairns's boxing betokened an "all-in" trust in his good right hand, but as it was reallygood he was well enough served. His display caused hearty applause. In round two his ducking was good enough to nonplus Porter, who ought to have "gono out" to a full force ruing under the ear. Hif condition stood to him, however, and instead of collapsing, he smote Cairns hard on the ribs. Porter got some strong jabs on to Cairns early in the last round, and after that the pair went in and "mixed it" in lively style. Cairns repeatedly *s\\ ung heavily on to Porter's ear and face, but failed to reach the "point." Porter" s display was really good all through, but Cairus's undoubtedly was better, and the referee's decision lo that effect was loudly approved) Both c-ontcFtanls were honouiod with hearty applause. L. Porter and Cairns put up a fast, clean, and clever struggle- in the final | Smart footwork by Porter foiled Cairns' i efforts to make the boxing of a clotc-in natur?, though he was successful wit'i .some of his swings. Porter's nice footwork again, served him veil. 'Both boxers j displayed clever all-round tactics in the. middle round, but Porter thowed most initiative. In the- last round the ex-chang-es were Jively, but Porter got in tho most telling strokes, and once he s>ent Cairns down for a couple of seconds. After the championship had been given, to Porter by the referee, that official announced that Cairns had contested the threo rounds while his hand was damaged. WELTER-WEIGHT. 0. Tancred (Pelono), weighing lOafc 4j,lb, met 0. J. Pany (Wellington), lOst 51b. in the final event of the welterweight division. Parry began in his usual aggressive style, and his opponent stopped three strong swings in a painful manner, but afterwards he made a defence out of attack, and once got a. fin© blow hard on to Parry's jaw, which steadied that ruther considerably. Parry sent home a long-aim drive immediately iround two was opened ; but after this Ttincred went in for close quarter work, and there were two vigorous and unscientific sets-to in the corne/s ; all hard blows, and no attempts at defence. The third round was more scientific, and less vigorous. Parry had the best of the early stages, but Tancred worked him on to the ropes near the end, and pummelled him haul The referee wus unable to give a decision until an, extra
round had been contested. In this selto Tancred had much the better of the tussle, Parry's stamina having failed him. He struck back in determined fashion, but Tancred hud him worn down and done for in two minutes, and at this stage the referee stopped the contest, and gave Tancred the championship. HEAVY-WEIGHTS. The final heat of this division was boxed between Rudd, of Wellington (list 111b). and a Poverty Bay man named Williams (12st 21b), whose inches and weight were better than his condition. In the first round ho covered himself up skilfully ; and Rudd, whose best friends may .consider him scientific, was unable to break through his defence. The Poverty Bay man sent in some telling uppercuts. He repeated them in the next round, and tlien Rudd rushed him to the ropes and hit him hard on the gloves several times. Back to the middle of the ring they came, and hero Rudd got home two strong blows, which disconcerted his opponent. On the ropes once more, Rudd broke through Williams's guard, and sent him down with a strong short>arm blow of his right. He rose at the fifth second, and was sent down again. Eight seconds had been counted when the gong went. Williams was done» for •when round three began, and as soon as he was floored once more his seconds threw up the towel. SPECIAL PRIZES. Jggulden, who was awarded 'Mr. Nelson's prize for brilliaxu^y, well deserved the award. A special prize was given to Cairns in recognition of his plucky action in contesting the final heat while his hand was badly injured. The judging in regard to these prizes was done by Dr. M'Lean and Messrs. F. B. Groville and H. 'Rosenberg.
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Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 10 June 1909, Page 3
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1,482BOXING FINALS. Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 10 June 1909, Page 3
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