IN THE RING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 233, 14 September 1934, Page 15

IN THE RING

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS Next Week’s Big Fixture ENTRIES PROVE EXCELLENT (By “Ringsider.”) With 90 entries for the New Zealand amateur boxing championships to take place in Hastings next week, the H.8.8.A. should ba well satisfied. From a glance * through the list it ia clear that the various associations have narrowed down their teams to a select few—the policy of quality, rather than quantity, having been adopted. Considering the fact that many of the associations are having a very Jena time of things just at present it is a matter of congratulation te those who control the sport in the Dominion thug ways and means were found for over 20 associations to be represented at thia national meeting. Matters in connection with th? con* duet of the three-day tournament are now well in hand and officials are par* ticujarly gratified with the support that is forthcoming from the townspeople, whose interest is now fully aroused. The opening of the box plan occasioned a rush for bookings and there has been a steady stream of applications for seats since then, especially, it should be noted, for season bookings. 1935 Amateur Championships. Next season the championships arw to be held in the South Island and there is a rush for the fixture on the part of the southern associations. The annual conference at Hastings next Thursday will be called upon to deal with applications from Christchurch, Timaru and Greymonth. The first mentioned appears to stand the best chances of securing the allocation. Australia v. New Zealand. The Australian amateur championships will be decided next Wednesday (the opening night of the New Zealand championships at Hastings) and the personnel of the touring team to take part in the Australasian championships at Invereargill in October,'should bo available the following day. Moat probably the team wilt comprise several Queenslanders and at least one New South Welshman and one Victorian. The New Zealand team to meet ths Australians will not be announced until after the championships next week. Mr. W. McCluskey, secretary of the Amateur Wrestling and Boxing Union of Australia, has been selected to manage the team of Australian amateur boxers to visit New Zealand next month. Mr. McCluskey, who is a New Zealander by birth, will be accorded hospitable treatment right through the two islands. He gave the New Zealand boxers a great time up in Queensland last October and the treatment received at his hands is sure to be right royally reciprocated. Chance for Len Knuekey. The retirement of George Wright, holder of the bantamweight title, open* up an avenue whereby the Hastings bantam, Len Knuekey, may again essay a bid for the title. Knuekey, perhaps, has the best record, of any fighter ia his division to-day for he has only been beaten twice in nine fights. He actually scored a points win over Wright nnd but for being only a matter of ounces overweight, he would have collected the title on that fight.

Others in the field are Hurne and Taylor, each with a victory over ths Australian, Dal Costa, and Billy McKay, whom Knuekey meets at Gisborne this evening. Palmer Outclasses Nicol.

The amateur heavyweight champion, Ambrose Palmer, brought his New Zealand campaign to a close when he de? feated Ray Nicol, New Zealand's dual champion, over 10 rounds at Invercargill. Over 2000 witnessed the fight and, according to a southern writer, it was probably the most enthusiastic audience ever assembled at a ringside in Southland.

The fight had a real international flavour, and in outpointing the New Zealander, Palmer enhanced his reputation as the greatest heavyweight of the two countries. Palmer gave a brilliant display of hard two-handed fighting and, as was generally expected, he never left the issue in doubt. The only remarkable feature of the bout was that his punching did not have greater effect on Nicol, and it was a tribute to the ruggedness of the New Zealander that he was able to go the distance. Nicol was gameness personified and, while he was responsible for a lot of mauling due to his persietenecy in crowding in and rushing the Australian to the ropes, he adopted' the only tactics that would enable him to carry through. On defence he gave his finest display, and in the early rounds in particular he was brilliant in evasion.

The third round was Nichol’s best one and he appeared to shade the Australian on points, but at every other stage Palmer looked a certain winner. Both men were dazzling on their feet, but Palmer carried too mnnv guns in the matter of ringcraft and nil round punching ability. Boxlng Fixtures.

To-night—Len Knuekey v. Billy McKay, at Gisborne. Sept 15- Dal Costa v. Clarrie Rayner at Dunedin. Sept 19. 20 and 21—New Zealand amateur championships, at Hastings Sept. 22- Joe Franklin v Clarrie Rayner (liahtweight title) at Blenheitp. Sept 21— Frank Taylor v. Cyril Hurne, at Wellington.

Sept 29—George Singleton v. Ray Nicol (heavyweight title), at Dunedin

Oct. 10 and 11—Australia v New Zealand, amateur Test match, at Invercargill Oct. 15 Australian amateurs v. Wellington. Oct. l‘-‘— Australian amateurs v. Auckland.