BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 19951, 22 August 1928, Page 11

BOXING

NEW ZEALAHD AMATEURS JHAMPIONSHIPS OPEN OK THURSDAY fI'KOM OfK Own Repcutek.J AUCKLAND, August 21. The New Zealand amateur boxing ampionships, commencing on i’hursiy night, promises to bo one oi the st championship tournaments held r some years, and despite the fact at many of last year’s stars will be sent some good boxing may be looked r, especially in view of the wealth new materia! that- will be taking .rt. It is always difficult on the evo a championship mooting to sort out rely winners when one has not seen ,o respective contenders in action bowc, and it is possible only to make omo comment on the boxers from what arliculars one has at hand. The fly-weight division lias alracted live entries, and this is one ol le classes that may always bo looked i tor some line contests. Last year’s aarapion (N. Roebuck. Taranaki) is igain an entrant, and he is bound to ;e hard to dispose of the title he won it Invercargill last year. Roebuck is i clover, speedy type of boxer, with t good knowledge of in-fighting, being pry effective with short punches. Another representative in this division \ho competed last year is F. A. Rearicy (Auckland), who may bo depended .hi to make a good showing. Last >car Pcarcoy lost in the semi-final to S Rurton. then holder of the flyweight title, but Rcarcey showed that ho was smart on his feet and possessed of a quick left, though he lacked a really telling punch. Johnny Richmond represents Otago, and ho is going better just now than has been the case for some time past. He has a good left, and if ho reproduces his best form ho may win more than one bout, lie has shown very good form in traininif work-outs. The other entrants are M. Knopp (Wellington) and SGray (Wanganui), who competed last year. . The bantam-weights look_ a good class, and Otago’s star, J. Craik, will find it difficult to got through the first round of the tournament. Last year s champion, J. O’Sullivan, is not a competitor, but C. Brosnahan (Canterbury), who reached the semi-finals last year and who will bo representing Ashburton on this occasion, has a good left, but lacks variety, which proved his undoing when ho mot J- CVfeulnvau last rear. N. Roebuck (Taranaki) is also entered in this division, and he will certainly have to bo reckoned with. L. Knuckey (Hawke’s Bay) was in the feather-weight ranks last year, being technically outod by the Otago champion, W. G. Lcckie, but ho may do bettor in the bantam class, though lie is a rather open sort of fighter. Tho Napier Association has R. Hu tenin son, who last year was defeated by H Larsen (Wellington) after ly vigorous encounter. C. Hums (Wellington) was the lly-wcig'it contender last year, and he is certain to be well to tho fore among tho bantams. 1 • flames (Westport) is another good liov Hume, Roebuck, and Brosnahan look the best of the lot, hut E. Davis I Auckland) is reported to be a good boxer, and this division is one which looks very open T. W. Webber, who took u. G. Leckie's place at tho last minute, is Otago’s feather-weight contender,_ ami ho has been shaping well in training work-outs, and may tight a good deal better than many Dunedin fans expect. T. ('. Donovan (Taranaki), who beat W. G. Leckie hist year in the final, should again bo disputing tor possession in tho final, but it is difficult to sort out his opponent from the others,* who include G.* Thomas (Wellington), A. Seastrand (Hawke’s Bay), D. Richardson (Greymouth), C. Wright (Christchurch), J. Leslie (Auckland, who looks a rather awkward sort of an opponent), C. Hanson (To Aroha), G. Terris (Ashburton), and R. Roderick (Gisborne). ’ With a little luck in the draw Webber may win a light or two, and certainly he should prove a creditable substitute tor Leckie. Otago looks to have a big chance m tho light-weight championship, in which ft, Euleher will bo competing for the ton it a time. Fulcher was ruu-ncr-up to Ted Morgan (now tho Olympic champion) in 1925, and your reporter will not be surprised it the light-weight final is fought by Fulcher and A. .Jones (Auckland), should this pair not meet earlier in the tournament. Jones was runner-up to Morgan last year, but in form Fulcher should be capable ol boating the exSoutlilandcr, E. Probert (Hawke’s Bay) is another of whom there_ are good reports. Others in this division arc R. Wright and W. Dugan (Greymouth), A. Karim (Taranaki), R. Baird (Christchurch), C. MKinght (Frankton), A. Karton (Wanganui), E. Mercer (Patea), and Argyle (Ashburton). The welters include only two who competed at Invercargill last year, these being R. Stone (Wellington) and L. Adams (Southland, who beat Snowy Olsen in the Otago final), Stono beat Adams after a close contest last year, but’the latter \ ’’l have to bo reckoned with this week. Other entries in .this class include G. M’Donald (Mariawatu), L. Geo (Bay of Plenty), J. Forsyth (Auckland), J. Moynilum (Greymouth), and J. Ferguson (Hawke’s Bay). H. Davis (Otago) is expected b.y the manager (Mr Foster) and the trainer (Mr - .rris) to make a good allowing in tho middle-weight championship, none of those taking part having competed last year. They arc C. Waite (Wellington), R. Nichoi (Southland', C. Norton (North Otago), L. Turner (Marlborough), A. Thompson (Christchurch), W. Pitcher (AucHand), G. M'Don aid (Manawatu), H. Scawa (Patea), and Davis. The' light-heavy class has drawn tour entries, none of whom competed last year, and the heavy-weight division will be contested by tour men. A Campbell (North Otago), who won tho Otago heavy-weight championship, should make a bold bid tor honours, though P. M’Carbhy (Auckland) may keep him busy. G. Carlson (Wanganui) and D. Harper (Wellington) are other entrants. Campbell was runnerup last year, when ho was beaten by Leckie in tho final. , MACDONALD’S INJURY. Lachic Macdonald will not light for about two months. Tho gash above his eye, reopened in last night’s fight, was cut to tho bone, and ho had to ho operated on this morning. His stable companion, Charlie Purdy, is matched with Harry Casey at 10.2 at Palmerston North about tho middle of September.