BOXING.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 June 1911, Page 2

BOXING.

THE WESTPORT TOURNAMENT. COOTE AND GRIFFEN MATCHED. At the conclusion of Saturday night’s professional bout, Griffen addressed the gathering. He stated he did not wish to dispute the referee’s decision, but he was untrained for the event and was willing to met Cootes for £SO and a side wager. He complained tiiat Cootes had refused to sign the articles as originally drawn up, stipulating to meet at a 10.4 limit or forfeit £lO. t . f Cootes, in reply, said it was Griffen s own fault if he were untrained. When he (Cootes) struck out the stipulation it was perfectly optional for Griffen to sign the articles or not, as he chose, and seeing that he signed them, he should not now complain. Mr Thompson, Secretary, to the Association, explained that Cootes, who was working in the backblocks had not the opportunity of checking his weight and so struck out the stipulation. Griffen frankly accepted the explanation. A return boxing match between W. Cootes and Jack Griffen is to take place at Westport for a purse of sixty sovs. The date is being left open in the meantime. The match will probably take jdace on the first suitable holiday or on the morning of Boxing Day. Under the articles, the men are required not to accept engagement against each other in the interval. SPECIAL BOUT. . “’Docker” White 9.0, Westport, v. Albert Havill 8.12, Palmerston North. Six three minute rounds. First round : Vigorous fighting, both using left and right freely to face and body. Second round; When half-way through the round White claimed n foul for a hit below the belt, but his claim was disallowed and he was counted out, the fight being awarded to Havill. Various opinions were given concerning what actually happened. Apparently Havill. in making a right rip, struck White’s hand or elbow, causing deflection of White’s blow to himself. The sudden ending of this fight was a keen disappointment to the onlookers.