BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 8

BOXING.

The forthcoming boxing 'carnival, to be held in the Royal Albert Hall on Monday evening-, under' the auspices of the Auckland Boxing Club, promises to be most successful. The chief attraction will be the 9st 71b professional championship of New Zealand, between James Godfrey and A. Goult. It is considered that these two men will give the finest exhibition of boxing yet witnessed in this city. Godfrey is acknowledged to be the most finished boxer in the colony, whilst Goult, who has only been 18 months before the public, has shown. by the way ho has finished off most, of his opponents that ho must have a power of strength in his blows. The amateur events promise to furnish some good contests. Of our new arrivals, the following will be competing, viz.:Metcalf, McClannen, .Tacitson, and Mclvenzie, of Waihi. Metcalf has won several amateur events in South Africa, Jackson hails from New South Wales, and' MfClannen, who has recently arrived from Sydney, is thought very highly of in that city as an amateur. "McKenzie is from Waihi, and is also spoken well of by the enthusiasts in the mining town. Amongst the local men is Crane, who was selected by the Northern body to go to Wellington to compete on the 28th of .this .month, but declined. He is looked on as the coming ,9st champion. Hunter has improved considerably of late, and will put up a good fight. J. Henderson, in his last contest at the club's carnival, showed great promise. Edwards, the other entry, is also highly spoken of. ' With such capable exponents as these competing, the carnival should prove most interesting, both from a competitor's and spectator's point of view. The full programme appears in to-day's issue. Commenting on the English championships, " Cestus" writes as follows, 'in the Sportsman: The boxing,' if no bettor than usual, was always interesting. It would have been more, so had the visitors shown a bolder front. Poor as the' form of our amateurs is considered ' to be, it was good enough last week to bring about the early downfall of the best that could be sent from abroad, a proof that wo are, after all, not so bad as some would have us. There was nothing of the "All Black" business at the Alexandra Palace; neither did the visitors worry our men as did the Springboks at football. Our professionals may be behind the times at certain weights, but the amateur boxer can apparently still hold his own in the ring with all-comers, which may be put down as a good and reassuring sign. The New Zealander Blewden was so highly thought of in the colonies that a good, if not successful, display was anticipated. 11l the ring, however, Blewden was very disappointing. Anyone could see the young visitor was not at his best as regards condition, and, though game enough, lie lacked the style and polish of an experienced boxer. Like Reginald Baker, the Australian, Blewden was the victim of misfortune, and no doubt the accident which compelled him to abate his training had a good deal to do with the moderate form ho displayed. A later cable, dated London, May 12, reads as follows:—"Bill Squires, the Australian boxing champion, is matched to box Tommy Burns, the heavy-weight champion of the world, 45 rounds on the 13th." The • information will be received with much satisfaction by athletio Australia (says the j Sydney Referee). It is not clear from tho ( cable when the contest is to take place— whether it was fought on the 13th inst., or is to be fought next month— further ] confusion is caused by the fact that a recent cable gave tho date as, May 30. As , Jeffries had decided upon leaving On June | 10 for an extended holiday in, Europe, it , looked as if' Squires' visit to the United ; States would prove something in the nature of a wild-goose chase, but now there is great likelihood of it resulting handsomely profitable, as the monetary reward is sure < to bo great for the winner, especially if ( Burns has covered the £1000 Squires lodged . at the San Francisco Examiner office when 1 issuing his challenge to all Americans. 11