PUGILISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9015, 30 March 1888, Page 5

PUGILISM.

FIGHT BETWEEN LAING AND

MATTHEWS.

STOPPED BY THE POLICE.

The long-talked of glove-fight to a finish between Harry Laing, champion boxer of New Zealand, and Richard Matthews, for £50 and the championship of the colony, took place yesterday afternoon in the saddling paddock of the Otahuhu racecourse, but, as will be seen from our account, it did not come to an end, as it was stopped by the police.

There wore about a hundred spectators present, comprising several racing men, and a number of well-known citizens of standing. A popular medico was also in the crowd, but whether he was professionally engaged on behalf of either of the combatants, or merely attended as a spectator interested in pugilism and " the ring " we cannot state. The police were represented by Sergeants Pratt and Kiely, and four constables, with Detectives Tuohy and Herbert. They were, therefore, being in this strong force, masters of the situation. The ring was situated in front of the grandstand, and was 24 feet square, being securely enclosed by a double line of ropes. Chairs for each contestant were provided in the corners. Some little difficulty was experienced in obtaining a gentleman to act as timekeeper, but the services of Mr. John Dore were finally accepted by both parties. Mr. J. Wakefield officiated as referee, while Laing's seconds were J. Nicholson, and E. Sutherland, Matthews being attended by J. Martin. Shortly before the operations began, Sutherland emerged from the grand - stand rooms, bearing a set of perfectly new sixounce gloves. As he stepped out to the lawn he was met by Detective Tuohy and Sergeant Pratt, who after a brief examination stated that they would not allow these gloves to be used. They were too hard. A second set of eight-ounce gloves, such as are regularly used in gymnasium practice, were then produced. These were carefully squeezed and tried on by the policemen, and the sergeant intimated that the had no objection to the use of these. The men then took their stations in the ring, and Matthews, having won the toss for choice of gloves and position, took his stand with his back tc the sun. When the outer garments of the men were taken off, it was seen that Laing (who had been trained by Sutherland and Nicholson, of Wanganui) was in splendid condition, looking hard and springy all over. Matthews, who had been undergoing his preparation at Ellerslie under the care of J. Chaafe and J. Martin, looked big and strong, but presented a somewhat sleepy-looking appearance. Laing weighed l'2st 41b, while Matthews scaled list I lib. At ahout twenty minutes to four both men stepped into the centre of the ring and shook hands, their seconds saluting each other in like manner. The latter then left the ring, and the referee gave the signal to start. From the outset Laing showed himself to be far more active, and appeared more confident than his opponent, who exhibited a great amount of sluggishness in his movements both of hands and feet. After a brief interval of sparring for an opening, Laing led off, and got in a light blow with his left on Matthew's face, which he quickly followed up with a heavy one on the check. The whole round was a repetition of quick, hard blows by Laing, all of which he got home, while Matthews' returns were either short or very light, and his defence was poor. The round closed without Laing having been hit, while Matthews had received several severe blows on the neck and face.

In the second round, Laing again forced the fighting, and hit his opponent several hard mows, getting home with both his right and left hands in succession repeatedly. Matthews then got in the first strong hit he had made, by striking Laing on the body. Laing returned the compliment with a fierce blow on the body, and followed it up with a right-hander on the cheek. At this stage Sergeant Pratt held up his hand, and crying, laconically, "That's enough !" called upon the combatants to top. Matthews appeared somewhat '• blown," while his face exhibited blood from a scratch on the cheek, but Laing showed no signs of being any the worse for the encounter. At the call of the police the men left the ring promptly and quietly, Laing stating that the match would have to be finished on some other occasion. The spectators then hastened to the various breaks, traps, etc., by which they had driven to the ground, and made their way to town. In answer to an inquiry why the match had been stopped, one of the police officers made the remark, " Oh, it's no fight at all; one of the men can't fight." This opinion seemed pretty generally shared by those present, several expressing regret at the waste of 10s (the amount charged for admission) for so short and unsatisfactory a contest. A match is likely to be arranged between Mick Dooley, the Sydney pugilist, and Laing for a large sum, in consequence of a challenge thrown out by the latter. The date spoken of as the probable one on which the fight will come on is' the 25th May.