BOXING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 2

BOXING.

CHRISTCHUBCH SPORTS CLUB. A PROFESSIONAL E3UT. DEVTTT BEATS IRELAND. Th Christchurch Sports Club provided a very attractive programme for its meeting in the King's Iheatre last night. The chief item was a fifteenround bout between B. Ireland, of Waipawa, and G. Devitt, of Auckland, for a purse of fifty sovereigns. There were also two featherweight contests, which came on first, and these were quite interesting, although the Vernali-ireland contest gave rise to a good deal of ringside comment. In the match betwen G. Curran. of Hawke's Bay, and J. Digby, of Ashburton, six rounds of three minutes each, there was too much infighting, but the bout was quite above the average. Curran, 9st 61b, was more aggressive throughout, and this fact coupled with a great faculty for ducking Digby's left leads, and better condition, won him a popular verdict. Digby scaled 9st. The six rounds between N. Vernal! and W. Ireland, who boxed at catchweight, wore very in and out. Ireland seemed to have superior ringcraffc and a heavier punch. At times he cavalierly allowed Vernall to hit him, and at other times he punched Vernall so severely that it looked as if he could have gone for a knockout. In th© sixth round Ireland's guard was bad, and Vernall knocked him down for nine seconds and sent him down again as the gong went. The decision went to Vernall. The big event of the evening opened warily. Ireland (list 31b) was the favourite, and seemed to have more strength than Devitt, who scaled a pound heavier. The Auckland man, however, fought wisely, depending on a fast, welT-direoted left. Ireland tried hard to land a right swing but Devitt managed to elude it. Ireland's biggest asset was a body blow in the in-Ughting, but Devitt won ou points.