The Ring—News and Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 60, 8 September 1934, Page 22

The Ring—News and Notes

; IS '.TRAINING- OF WELLINGTON BOXEES FAULTY?

By "Aenea«."

• Is the best'being made in "Wellington of the material offering? The question comes to mind after watching the amateur boxing tournament in the Town Hall this week, and there is more than one factor which points to an answer in the negative. As has been - pointed out previously, Wellington is exceptionally well supplied with training schools, in'each of which there aro plenty of boys eager to advance in the sport, and the largo entries received for both the junior and senior tournaments revealed the n'umbers'who were prepared to show what they could do before the public. " Further, there is no lack of enthusi-' asm/among those who. have the boys in hand. The officials of the Wellington Boxing Association give up more of their time than is generally realised in 'visiting the gymnasiums in endeavours to unearth any talent that may'previously have escaped notice, and an actiyo interest is taken in all college and school 'tourneys. .-• In the gymnasiums the paid and honorary instructors aro energetic in endeavouring to impart to their pupils the principles and finer points of the game. Though the efforts of these men are appreciated, the fact remains that it was clearly revealed on Monday and Tuesday nights that many of the boys had not been schooled along the right: lines. It was the exception rather than the rule to see a boy whose performance was based on what are generally regarded as the first principles^ A straight left is to a boxer what the straight drive is to a cricketer; it is the foundation.of every move in attack or defence, yet how many of the Wellington boys showed a sound knowledge of its value? Swinging punches and hitting with an open glove were two of the main faults; and a straight, clean' hitter was, a distinct rarity. An attempt by one of the boys to ensure that his fists would bo kept closed by tying his gloves may have, been novel, bitt it did not reflect credit on his trainer, a man with more than local experience. The referee rightly ordered the gloves to be untied.

STILL MUCH AHEAD

I END OF WRESTLING SEASON .'-'*.. .. - -', Gus Sonnenburg, as has been stated,, completes his short season in Australia in time to'enable him to leave next Friday and arrive three;, days later in Auckland, where he. entersi the ring on. the day of his . arrival against Dean Detton. It is understood there are some heartburnings on the part of the other centres over the' success of the Auckland Association in getting in first for the Detton-Sonnenburg match. There is no doubt that the northern city is fortunate: in being able to book it ahead of tho others. His second match in New Zealand will be at Wellington on September 19, his opponent probably being Meyer, and the Meyer-Sbnnenburg match should not be inferior to-the Auckland fixture. The ex-world 'a champion will then *iove further south, working at Christchurch and Dunedin ■ within two or three days of his Wellington match. His programme, while not having been laid out for more than the first week, will no-doubt include a return tour of each of the-four centres, with changes of opponents. Despite the. apparent Ml in the wrestling season at'present, it is clear that there is a big programme still to be worked out before the season can be closed. Harry Mamos, it is understood, will be accompanying Sonnenburg, and will therefore make still another man to augment the- team now available. MOKE THAN TWO MONTHS TO GO. Dan Koloff left yesterday fo* Sydney, where he is expected to wrestle the samo men who opposed Sonnenburg in Sydney, Brisbane, and Newcastle. It is.expccted that he, too, will be able to rsumo in New Zealand by the middle of 'October. Thus, taking a cross-section view'of the possibilities, she can ' only l conclude that with Koloff, Sonnenburg, Mamps, Walker, art Browning, as well as the other four (Detton, Meyer, Bey, and Felice), working in the country, prospects regarding th* final stages of the, season aro rather brighter than most people have allowed. Tho men themselves do not appear fully to hllVe grasped the position, as most of them speak of the season as closing by force of circumstances at the end of October. It would appear* that if they are prepared to remain here so long as good •rawing"gates are available; the season ♦rill not. close uritil the end of November.

; To defeat such, a seasoned and difficult battler as Ted Morgan in his first professional fight was a great feat on the part of Don Stirling, who is being picked as a coming champion (says the Dunedin "Star"). He certainly carries a terrific punch in his right hand, and his straight left is a treat to watch. . Should this boy receive the encouragement he deserves there is no saying how far he may go.