BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 10

BOXING.

The indefatigable exertions of the committee formed to arrange the detail work of the forthcoming complimentary carnival in His Majesty's Theatre to raise funds to send a New Zealand representative to the English boxing championships have so far met with success . beyond. their most sanguine expectations. On all sides the association havo received offers of assistance from prominent citizens-. They have also been unremitting in their labours to have the whole arrangements for the 17th inst. as perfect as possible, in order to ensure satisfaction to themselves, as well as to entirely eliminate any cause for complaint from patrons. The programme will consist of four contests, and it is considered by many to bo the biggest attraction yet submitted to an Auckland public. Every lad engaged in the various weights is a capable and experienced boxer, and should furnish a keen and interesting competition. The biggest display of the evening will be the bout between Messrs. Blewden and Maloney. The latter is an old opponent of Blewden's. Soino twelve months ago they fought for the. light-weight championship of Auckland, and the verdict was awarded to Maloney. Subsequently they met again, and Blewden reversed the decision. Both lads have since last year much improved, are training hard, and they are determined to win the honour of being considered the best light-weight in Auckland. If Maloney wins he has claims for the trip to England if the council decide to send a man, and one can imagine what exertions will be put forth by both competitors to win the encounter and the title. It has been decided to place tickets on sale in town.

It may not be generally known that young Ward, who will compete against young Montague at-the forthcoming carnival in His Majesty's Theatre, secured second place in the New Zealand championships this year. Both lads arc training hard, aud the prospect of a keen and exciting bout is good. Considerable enthusiasm was created at the English Amateur Boxing Association meeting, held recently in London, when it was announced by the chairman that there was every possibility of both Australia and New Zealand being represented at the next English Boxing Championship Meeting for 1907. The event is already creating widespread interest at Home. This is a further instance of tho rapid growth of pure sport, and should, be a big incentive to. the New Zealand Council and its associations to make strenuous efforts to be represented at the English championships'. The Northern Boxing Association (Auckland) have already taken the cue, and have promoted a monster carnival, to be held in, His Majesty's Theatre on the 17th inst. for this purpose. Their efforts deserve support and appreciation.

The Auckland Boxing Association's carnival will be held on the 12fch inst., and another carnival, promoted by the Northern Boxing Association, is being held on the 17th inst., in order to raise funds to send a New Zealand boxer Home for the English championships. It seems unfortunate that some arrangement cannot bo come to by tho two clubs in order that the carnivals should not bo so close together. • Mr. Cohen, a Melbourne amateur boxer, is in town at the present time,' and negotiations are proceeding for an exhibition contest between him and H. McNeill, of this city. ..

Mr. Douglas, an English amateur champion, visiting the colony with the ; English cricketers, has been communicated with for the purpose of arranging an exhibition spar between himself and Mr. James (Godfrey, tho New Zealand champion. Tho English cricketers play here on December 17, the day of the carnival. It will be seen, therefore, that besides local attractions the committee of the x Northern Association are using every endeavour to make their programme as entertaining as possible. . Tim Traccy, of Wellington, who fought 15 rounds with Bob Turner, of Sydnev, for the professional light-weight championship of New Zealand at Christchurch the other dav, is reported to have put up a great battle against the Australian. It was considered one of the best exhibitions seen in, Christchurch. It was only in the last two rounds that Turner seemed to gain an advantage, for right up to this stage it was anyone's contest. Tho verdict was awarded to Turner after a fine tussle.

The protest entered by Sanderson against the decision given to Gault has been referred by the local representatives to the council. A ruling in the matter is expected shortlv, ,as the council sit at Christchurch soon. Sanderson is willing to meet Gault if the ruling be'against him, and the Northern Association is willing to put up another trophy for the contest. It only remains for Gault to express his willingness. The circular letter issued by Mr. F. Mendo'za, convening a' meeting of boxers in the Federal Hall on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of forming an association, met with a hearty response. Mr. F. Dyer was elected chairman. He explained the advantages of having an association. Among other things it was pointed out that much difficulty was experienced ' by the boxing clubs in arranging contests for competitions with individual competitors, and it was felt that by insisting that negotiations must pass through the committee of the association satisfaction to both boxers and clubs would result. The question of trophies could also bo more satisfactorily handled. The following committee, was appointed- — Messrs. Mendoza (president), Dyer. Halley, •I'ooley, Brinsdsri, Maloney. and Thompson (secretary). A general, meeting will be held on Monday. Considerable interest is being evinced in the forthcoming carnival to be held in the lederal Hall on Wednesday, the 12th inst., under the auspices of the Auckland Ama- . tour Boxing Club. It is probable that both Messrs. Gault and Sanderson will compete in the feather-weight competition, so that the public may see these champions' again in the ring. Messrs. Lewis and Hunter are probable entrants for the heavyweight competition, and with good material contributed by the newly-formed Auckland Boxing Association the programme should prove a good one. Competitors are reminded that entries close this evening for the various events. ' This will allow the full programme and all particulars to-be published on Monday. The story is told that not very long ago a Sydney heavy-weight, prior to going forth from his corner to give a foeman battle, turned, and said to his principal second: "Now, you know what a game 'un I am; don t see me cut to pieces." When file last mail left America O'Brien was in a flutter of delight because he had been offered a purse of 20,000d01. for a contest with Tommy Burns at Arcadia, near Los Angeles (saj's the Referee's American correspondent). He let it bo known that ho had cancelled an engagement with Squires, in Melbourne, in order to accept the Arcadian offer, but I have a suspicion that Jack would have found some excuse for staying on these shores anyhow. The Arcadian offer was no good. When asked to put up a certified cheque for the amount the promoters ran for cover. Jack said a lot of things about being induced to abandon a trip to Australia through a wild-cat offer. From Dr. Dobbs' "Health Notes" in C. B. Fry's Magazine: "The greatest fraud I ever saw as a fighter (and I have, seen thebest of my day) was the American, John L. Sullivan, who, by loin work centred'into bis arm muscles, managed a cruel upper-cut which was supposed to be very devastating. I ventured to tell him (and lie didn't like it) * that Sayers would have lashed up his right arm and thrashed him blind in an hour. But Sayers (like Nelson) did not know what- fear was. There arc others of that day who did. Sayers was born a little too early. It would have done one's heart good to have seen him stand up stripped to John L. Sullivan. No mere bully by weight ever frightened Savors. Indeed, ] don't know what could have frightened him."

A San Francisco cablegram, published in London Sporting Life, states that ".Jeffries will return to the ring, having been tempted by an offer guaranteeing £12,000 to the winner of a fight in his class." Johnson, the big American negro, who is claimed by his supporters to be the best heavy-weight in active service, .is out after the championship. He has been engaged in over 50 contests, and in only two has he known defeatonce by Joe Choynski and once by ' Marvin Hart. American papers report that Johnson has placed himself in the hands of Sam Fitzgerald, and is after the scalps of O'Brien, Berger and Co. T. Murphy, while anxious to help the Northern (Auckland) Boxing Association on by journeying across the Tasman to meet Jim Griffin, says he cannot see his way clear to tackling the task unless allowed £60 for expenses.—Referee.