BOXING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2069, 21 December 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

BOXING.

Jack Griffin, the latest of that family to try his luck in the Australian ring was defeated by Bert Smith at the Sydney Gaiety on Saturday December 7. Griffin made a good showing but was knocked out in the third round. Jimmy Britt, ex-light-weiglit champion of America, has announced his retirement from the ring. Ho made fcliis declaration subsequent to being informed by the different fight promoters on the Pacific Coast that they could not see their way clear to put him on again after the way in which lie stopped in his recent battle with Joe iGans. FOR THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP. BURNS DEFEATS GUNNER MOIR TOYS -WITH THE ENGLISH HEAVY-WEIGHT. The following cablegram was published in Sydney last week: ■LONDON, Tuesday.—“ Tommy” Burns, lieavy-weight champion of the world, 'met “Gunner” -Moir yesterday, at the National Sporting Chib, in a- boxing match for tile championship and a purse. There were about 1000 spectators, and Burns was favorite in the betting. Moir was outclassed, and seemed nervous from the outset. Tho visiting champion toyed with him until half-way through the tenth round, knocking him down twice. At the finish, Moir was badly used up, but Burns “had not turned a hair.”

London “Sportsman” published the following regardin'; (Burns:—“The newcomer is a thick-set man for his height. This will ho understood when we sav that he stands 6ft Bin., and scales in his clothes about 14st. Fit and well, lie told the writer he should go about 12st 71b., which will give a pretty accurate idea of his proportions. Pleasant in his manners, well dressed, and well spoken, Burns strikes! one' as .an interesting personality. He is 2(> years of age. _ The latest arrival drinks hot, neither doth ho smoke, tint is, he does not take of intoxicating liquor. We all have to drink at times, but Burns imbibes very lightly. He never saw a fight until he'was 20,'and he began his boxing career by acting as substitute. and begting in five rounds a min who had staved off Peter Jackson for six. Burns was porn at Hanover, Ontario, and not at Preston as some have stated. Consequently lie is a British subject, and one of us. Broad shouldered and with a good roach, Burns, all the same, does not strike one as a fighter, Ho must he this, however, or he would never have accomplished the Sue performances that stand to his The purse given by tile National Sporting Club for the contest was £I3QO. \idth the stipulation (insisted upon'•by Burns) that the lot ulionld <r o to tht' winner; but at latest Jat>-s Slolr was contending that' a ' loser s portion should he provided. An allowance of £2OO had been made to the American for expenses. “Gunner” Moir visited Australia in company with Haclcensehinidt as one of his wrestling partners, and after engaging in two or three boxing contestsln Sydney, returned to England to win the heavy-weight championship of that country by defeating jack Palmer, whom some months later Jack (Twin) Sullivan, the second conqueror of Bill Squires, beat much quicker and easier th.ui he accounted for the Australian champion. Another big match won in Kngland bv Moil- was that 'agalut "Tiger’' Smith —a middle weight, iloir is not by anv means a high-class boxer. He is strong, plucky , and takes a great deal of punishment before it seriously affects him. In America the match was. from the first, looked upon as a good tiling for Burns, aiul at this •distance from both men there were few in Australia who thought niuchof Moir’s prospects.