BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 10

BOXING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The control of boxing championships is dealt with by the London correspondent of an Australian paper, who considers that Australia will have to bestir herself if she wishes to have any voice in deciding on what lines the championships shall be conducted. From a very influential quarter, he says, a move has been made to create an international council that , shall control these contests. The French sporting authorities lushed; the situation by forming a federation which really represented no° thing or nobody outside France. They have failed to achieve their object in gaining oommand of the boxing arena, but their action has stimulated English enthusiasts to take steps which may lead to the forma!tion of a real international body. It is proposed that Great Britain France, and the United States should unite in drawing jup rules and regulations to govern all [ championships. No one has given the j slightest thought to the part Australia has played and is at present taking in the arena. Though nearly every English boxer of any note is in the Commonwealth, the British promoters of this scheme are calmly ignoring Australia's right to be consulted. They are going on the assumption that 12,000 miles of sea make 12,000 reasons why Australia should be left out of account. It, therefore, behoves those who take an interest in boiing to do something which will dispel this false conception of the pre-eminence of England in the Eng-lish-psaking boxing world. "Luckily," says the writer, " it takes a long time for any movement of thu: sort to come to a head but it will not do for Australians to procrastinate if they want to take part in deciding how rii:,g championships are to be arranged and managed. I understand that this matter :s one of the reasons why 'Snowy' Baker is coming to England." An unfortunate hitch has arisen in connection with tbs world's middle-weight championship contest between Eddie McGoorty and Jeff. Smith, which Was fixed for March 14. Smith, who is only an list man, insists on McGoorty boxing as a middle-weight, w .iereas die latter wants to get on the scales at 2 p.m.—six hours before he enters th* ring. The fact that the decision of the Australian boxing conference in favour of ringside weighing was not adhered to by by McGoorty and Dave Smith, both of whom found it preferable to weigh before hind, and that McGoorty got his own way in the matter as regards his match with Bradley, is no reason why Jeff. Smith should not legitimately insist on McGoorty ranking weight under the accepted championship conditions. In America champions have in the past been able to make whatever weighing-time best suited themselves conditional on their giving others a change to win the title; but in Australia a standard has been fixed by a representative conference, and accepted by Australia's big promoter, Mr. R. L. Baker. An international federation may make this standard universal, and until America and Europe ' actually confirm or reject it it should be adhered to for Australian matches. In Europe, for that matter, ringside weighing is already the usual rale. Jeff. Smith was accepted as the world's champion in France, and Clabby won from McGoorty in America, so that if through McGoorty's attitude the coming match falls through the . championship question will, except for the elimination, of Dave Smith, be put back where it was a couple of months ago.