BOXING NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 23 July 1930, Page 3

BOXING NOTES

REVIEW OF NELSON FORM COMMIiNT ON 'I'M!: iiOUTS (By "ttiugsidc") Willi a vie>v In assisting (he sport and helping Ihose who lake, part- ill it "liiugside" has contributed the follow big comments on the boxers who look pari in I lie hist Nelson boxing tournament.

The firsl bout between .Tint Fuiness, Slar Boxing Club. Blenheim, and Ted Fry. was perhaps the most classy bout of Ilia evening. It was willing, and both boys fought hard all the way in. a scientific manner. Fry tired at the .end of the rounds which enabled F'urness to draw ahead in points. Fry has a hard Iff 1. For his second fight Fry is the best boy I have seen for a long time. Last week- at Pictou, Fnrness, who has just turned 15, and is 0.3, took on an opponent of .19, weighing 8.11, who has so far been undefeated in, half a dozen fights, and gained a draw. Ninety per cent, of the spectators thought Furness won. Fry's performance against Furness was good. Hoskyn was 100 light for Cordell, and | it was hardily a fair match for him. I thought, at first Hoskyn would be stop-, ped early, but he has evidently bail a j fair hit of experience judging by the | way he evaded a k.o. Hoskyn is tool lightly built to give away much weight, j Strong fellows like, Howell can do it, but it is hard for one of Hoskyn's type. Cordell is the makings of a good fighter and his aggressive style is what the public demands. A buy in Blenheim named Jack Simmons would give him a great go. Simmons is a. slugger like Cordell, and he also likes the close quarter work. Simmons unfortunately is a bad traveller and may prefer a match in Blenheim. CordcH's left hand is good, his right being just ordinary. He possesses the right lighting spirit. Miller had a hard row to hoe against Simonsen who is improving all the time and is too good for ordinary boys. Simonsen would be a decided attraction now against a top notch Wellington featherweight, and would keep him busy. Simonsen is going to the New Zealand championships. Miller is game and tough, and will put on a good bout against boys of his own calibre. Champions are not made in a day. or a year. Newport and Flowers had styles_ that did not mix too well. Flowers is an awkward sort to fight. He, seems to be a spoiler, as several Blenheim boys have failed lo show up against him lately. Newport did not seem within miles of the form he showed in Motucka, but I am convinced that Flowcrs's style makes it difficult for an opponent to show up favourably against him. Thomas and Rush gave no one any chance of judging their merits. Rush was beaten in Picton last week by Bert Schimanski. The result was rather a surprise. The, Steele versus Howell bout I saw reported as a poor contest. I thought it a poor boxing exhibition, but as an carnest light I thought it a classic. They were "dinkuni'' triers, each eager to put the other away, and their very eagerness to do so rendered their efforts futile. Had either one pulled himself together and been content with a points decision he could have won. A bout like that may not please tho lovers of boxing, but it gives the crowd their bit of fun and excitement. That was the attitude the referee took up and that was the reason they were given plenty of latitude so far lis the letter of the rules was concrneel, and why the referee did not bother to count when they fell down, but just helped them up again and let them go. Many people did not realise that it was sheer exhaustion that made them fall down together so often. Griffin and Mellett are two boys who will need to learn to keep their gloves closed, especially their lefts. Mellett was ahead on points in the first two rounds when he stopped a right swing. When he went down again his im-rgln of points was gone and Griffin was awarded the decision. There is no judgment in letting a boy continue when his chances are gone and Jetting him get punished. There is always another day for him. The Benseiiiann v. Thomas bout was an unsatisfactory sort of fight. Unsatisfactory inasmuch as neither showed his Lest through undue caution. Thomas is older and stronger and did a fair bit of boxing in Blenheim a year or two ago. Bensemann lias the makings of a really gooil fighter. He is a good hitter, fast and clever on his feet, and can slog too when the opportunity mists. However lie has one bad fault. He makes his opponent miss by clover back moving, but instead of coming straight •in again and taking advantage of his opponent's miss, he stands still until his adversary has regained his balance. Even then Bensemann stands off until his opponent comes to him. With a referee who believes in aggression it is hard to win that way. When Bensemann learns to make his man miss, then hop in and land his opponent while, still oft his balance, then Jimmy is going to be fin altractive fighter.

.Adams was another boy who was overmatched, lie did not have a sporting chance really as he had to give away both height and weight. It is difficult to get I lie good matching when there are but a. few boxers to draw from, but the average spectator does not Jike to see a small man lighting a- big one. Interest is dead at once. Everyone is sympathetic towards the smaller man.

Bonnington seemed unduly elated at his win, but will find the going much harder with a set man his own weight.

Webster was the one man who impressed me. Immediately I saw his weight 1 went to the dressing room for my hat and coat expecting one round to see the end. No welter-weight in New Zealand can beat a .light-heavy of Turner's class. Webster, I*think, is the best boxer in the Nelson district, and 1 was glad to see Mr Cotter save, him from getting knocked about, lie is too good and game, for that. I think lie and Dasler, from Blenheim, would put up a wonderful fight. They are of one size and weigh!, and their styles would blend. Practically all the Blenheim people, present at Nelson think that Webster would be too good for Dasler, but I have a good opinion of the latter hoy and am confident that Dasler and Webster would put up a .spectacular | fight.

There is every prospeel of a big pro. light being pm',,n i u Blenheim on 12th August, tin-, night, of the .British Rugby team's visit. If so a team of amateurs

will be invited from Nelson and Mottleka. The ones thai appear most likelv to be invited are Webster, Cordell. Bensemann. Steele and Fry (if an opponent can be seemed). Their opponents would probably be Dasler. Simmons. Flowers and Percy Watson respectively. ' ADVICE TO" \10TIII<:i!S OF 'HIE' OOOD MOIINING CLUB

Members should "sniff up. gargle, or swallow Klupii/oI daily, and REFUSE to calch cold this winter. At firs! sign of a cold immediately have recourse to Flncrmil. Von will then speedily regain your ii.itihfcil, matutinal manner,