BOXING FINALS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 118, 20 May 1914, Page 11

BOXING FINALS

WELLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIPS OLIVER WINS THE FEATHERWEIGHT A GOOD EXHIBITION. The provincial amateur championships of the. Wellington Boxing Association were concluded in the Town Hall last evening, when the attendance was again not nearly so large as it should have been, considering that the proceeds are to be handed over to the Citizens' Oarnival Fund. The boxing, taken all round, provided a- much better display than did the opening night. The middle--weight final between Finnic and Krausch, which _ ended in favour of the former, was an interesting exposition, as also was the contest in the heavyweight division between Gerald and Glading, Gerald's knowledge of the game enabling him to achieve the honours. The ©vent of the evening, however, was the final in the feather weight championship, in which Oliver well maintained his reputation aa ati exponent of the scientifio side of tho art and was awarded the verdict over Stewaii, the winner of tho semi-final in the first half of the programme. The results of the bouts were :— FEATHER-WEIGHT. Semi-Final. E. Leary (Wellington), 9st, v. L. SteWart (Petone), 9st. — Stewart led, Lea.ry being content to wait until an opportunity presented itself. It came, and he sent out a straight right to Stewart's ribs. Stewart stopped several more before the gong sounded. The second round, was ushered in by some punishing body hits by Leary, who collided with hfs opponent and sent him down on one knee. Stewart frequently held his opponent and was two or three time* cautioned by the referee, the spectators near the ringside also making a demonstration against his tactics. " 1 can't help it, sir," he protested, during the lull that followed and with his gloves still resting on hi 3 opponent's shoulders. In-fighting followed the opening of the third round. Leary had his defence handy and eluded many of Stewart's direct hits, but several solid counter-hits by Leary got home. The contest so far left honours even, and another^ round was ordered. Both men were wary for a while, and then with a rat-tat on t Stewart's body Leary drove him to the ropes. Stewart got his revenge with a. strong upper-cut on to the chin, followed by some forceful swings on t<> both sides of the face and was adjudged the winner. Final. J. W. Oliver (Cross Creek), Bst 121b, v. L. Stewart (Petone), 9st.— Stewart took the initiative by sending one home, but there was no "punch" in it. Oliver side-stepped freely, Juncl generally to good effect. Taking advantage of some infighting he delivered a- fusillade of up-per-cuts on Stewart's lower ribs. Oliver shaped prettily throughout the second •round, handing out one from each glove just, ufter the opening and following up with some upper-cutting. He continued the attack with, a heavy left, and when Stewart endeavoured to make an opening punished him severely on the face. After the opening of the final round, Oliver 'kept out of the way for a time, but not sufficiently long enough to elude a nasty straight on tho face. t Stewart put a good deal of force into his hitting, but seemed to miscalculate his distance, with the result that his blows did not land- where it was intended they should. Seizing a chance during a few moments of in-fighting, Oliver got in a handy lower rib thrust, and Stewart had just time to reply "with Borne well-directod body blows when the gong ended tho bout. Oliver undoubtedly outclassed his opponent right through, and was warmly applauded when the decision was in his favour. , LIGHT-WEIGHT. J. Smith (Petone), 9st 12lb, v. H. M'Farlane (Wellington), lOst. — This contest -was confined to one bout. Both men shaped promisingly at the beginI ning, and the contest looked as though j it would, prove interesting. Smith soon I found bis way through his adversary's , defence, however, and sent home several well-delivered punches. M'Farlane replied weakly, and. a moment later, was the recipient of a couple of telling rights on the chtn. He went down heavily, and tried to rise at four, but failed, and took th« count, Smith being the Winner. J. Smith (Petone), 9st 12lb, v. H. Watson (Wellington), lost. — This was an exhibition bout. Smith was a head taller than his opponent, and had the longur reach. His thin arms swung round ' lika tentacles, but .-^hon he deemed it necessary he swung up an effective left on to Watson's face. The second ronnd did not differ very materially from the first, Wateon being placed at a disadvantage through having to roach upwards to find Smith's countenance. Smith opened the third round with a series of straight thrusts on Watson's nose, alternated with a tattoo on both sides of his face, in much tho same manner as a mother-cat pats her kittens. There was no guile throughout the whole bout, which was aji excellent exposition of good-natured boxing. WELTER -WEIGHT. W. M'Farlane (Wellington), IDst 41b, v. J. Hunter (Wellington), lOst 21b.— This was a special bout. The first round, which was also the last, closed with dramatic suddenness. Both men had been guarding and side-stepping to such effect that neither of them had handed out anything telling. Then Hunter caught M'Farlane napping, and swung a powerful cut on to his chin. M'Farlane went heavily to the floor; but when four had gone he rose staggeringly to his feet. Hunter, anxious to follow up the advantage he had gained, .pummelled M'Farlane's face forcibly, and put him momentarily out of action. The referee held up M'Farlane's' arm as an indication that he was the victor, Hunter being disqualified for standing •over him when he was down. The handshake at the finish between the two men was none the less hearty for what had occurred. MIDDLE-WEIGHT. - Final. B. Finnic (Wellington, list, v. A. Krausch (Wellington), list 31b. — Finnic got, in some slogging blows early in the proceedings, having the knack ot getting out of the way before the receipt was forthcoming. At times, however, he was a bit wild in his methods. In tho second round there was some clinching, and then Finnic sent home a straight right to Krausch's ribs. He tried to repeat the performance, but Krausch retreated too quickly. Krausch hemmed his man in on the ropes for a second or two, but immediately after the order to ' Break " Finnic swung a right well on to Krausch's ear, and sent him to the floor. The gong went and Jlrausch walked erratically to his corner, •In tho last round Finnic .undoubtedly had ( the upper hand, making free use of swings, both right and left, Krausch's reply being lurches at his adversary's body, which often failed to find their mark. Finnic was announced th'j winner. - HEAVY-WEIGHT. A. G. Glading (Petonp), 12st 41b, v. R. Gerald (Carterton), 13st.— -The 'heavy weights got very busy immediately, on

opening. Gerald, proving to be very nimble on his feet, drove home some direct thrusts, a.nd, by way of reply, Glading landed one just above the belt. Further direct blows were sent out by Gerald, but Glading just had time to respond with a body attack before the round ended. Gerald set the pace at the opening of the "second round, Glading not showing a tendency to rush things. A mighty right swing by Gerald missed its mark. Glading ducking beautifully. He then drove home some heavy blows on to the chest. Gerald swung a quick light and left. The former only hit the atmosphere, but the second fotfnd its billet. Glading then stopped several with his face, and, if anything, had the worse of the round. A rapid excliange of swings to the face opened the last round, Glading landing a, solid one on the point. The- round, however, was in Gerald's favour, and to him went the verdict.