BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13086, 27 January 1906, Page 7

BOXING.

The secretary of the Northern Boxing Association, (Mr. R. Keen an) has been advised by Mr. W. G. Atack, secretary of the New Zealand Association, that the Northern Association has been affiliated with the head body, and will, therefore, be the recognised governing body of boxing in' the Auckland district. As 1 had expected the council of the New Zealand Association decided that it would Ik 3 unwise to affiliate two clubs in one centre, and after consideration of the two applications submitted elected to recognise the Northern Association. This, I take it, means that when the Parliamentary recommendations have been gazetted and the governing council of seven members appointed tho only permit to hold boxing carnivals, in the Auckland centre will be that granted to the Northern Association, which body will be held responsible for the proper control of the sport in tho district. It is, therefore, to be hoped that the Auckland Club authorities will make the necessary arrangements for their members to throw in their, lot with the Northern Association, thus making one strong governing body, and adding to the strength of amateur boxing, as tho club possesses some capable exponents of the noble art among those figuring on tho membership roll. Now that the Now Zealand Council has settled the question as to which of the two Auckland Iwdies shall be recognised, I see no reason why the suggestion thrown oat by the committee of the Auckland Club some little time ago, that the champions of both clubs (Auckland and Northern) should meet to decide who should be regarded as provincial champions, should not be given effect to. Such a meeting would produeo decidedly interesting bouts in certain of the classes. For instance, the featherweights Sanderson (Northern) and Gault (Auckland) should provide a capital contest for provincial honours, and added interest might be lent to this section by arranging for the Wellington crack, Gosling, to come up and meet the winner. Such a series of contests would also place those governing the sport in Auckland in ia position to select the very best men to represent the centre at the next New Zealand championships, and unless the members of the Auckland Club come tinder tho banner of the Northern Association they will not, I . presume, ,be eligible to take part"in th*se contests should they so wish. Certainly the meeting of the cracks of the two clubs, together with other interesting bouts that might be arranged, should claim a strong measure of patronage, and provide Mr-he association with ample funds to send a strong team to the colonial contests next season.

J. Godfrey, winner of the feather-weight amateur championship of the United Kingdom of 19015-4, whose departure from England for the colony I announced some little time ago, has arrived, and is at present located in Gislxirne. Having heard that the Wellington Association contemplated inviting somo Australian boxers to tour New • Zealand, the Englishman communicated with that body a few days ago, intimating his willingness to place his services at the disposal of the Wellington Association. The association has pot, I understand, so far discussed the question of importing Australian boxers to the colony, but it is interesting to bear that Godfrey, who' enjoyed a big reputation as a boxer in the Old Country, intends to continue to take an active interest in the sport in which he has been such a prominent figure.