THE BOXING RING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19415, 25 August 1926, Page 16

THE BOXING RING.

'AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE GATHERING AT NAPIER. AUCKLAND TEAM'S PROSPECTS. The New Zealand amateur boxing chair-. pioDship tournament at Napier will open to-morrow evening and will conclude < n Saturday evening. The Auckland team, accompanied by the manager, Mr. F. Burns, left for Napier on Monday. Discussing the prospects of the team, Mr. Burns said the majority of the members had very little experience outside the gymnasium. They, were all good triers, anxious, to improve and . tournament experience was just what they required. Ths most experienced member of the team, ,F. Taylor, would take a lot of stopping in the bantam-weight division,, added the manager. The New Zealand Boxing Association has voted £l6O to be expended on the championship tournament. The money will be devoted to assisting the weakev associations' representatives. Such action is altogether commendable. It is highly desirable that every facility should be afforded toward bringing together the best amateur talent from all parts of the Dominion, and some of the smaller associations have little opportunity of acquiring the funds necessary to finance a team to attend the championships. Tlio possibility of New Zealand amateur boxers being chosen to represent thi* Dominion at the next Olympic Gamts should invest the championship tournament at Napier with special interest. Mr Earle Stewart, the Wellington referee, will attend the meeting to report on competitors showing exceptional ability with a view to having them tested as Olympic candidates Cambridge Attraction. The newly-formed Cambridge Boxing Association is inaugurating its activities on good littes. For Ihe initial tournament on Mouday the principal attraction will be a contest between C. Purdy and the Hamilton welter-weight, N. McKnigh' The meeting, between this pair should provide plenty of oxcitement if McKnigtit displays his best form against such an elusive opponent. The Hamilton boxer possesses a powerful punch and is always willing to carry the battle to his opponent. In addition to the chief event there will be a number of bouts between prominent amateurs. " r Purdy is being kept busy with ring engagements. He is matched with W. Chambera for September 11, the contest to take place in Christchurch. The result of this match will be awaited with considerable interest. When the pair met a couple of months ago in Auckland, Referee R. Meale awarded the verdict to Chambers, much to the consternation of Purdy's supporters who contended that the Aucklander had easily outpointed his opponent. The contest at Christchurch will give Purdty the opportunity of justify, ing the contentions of liis admirers. His recent victory', oyer such -an accomplished opponent as ,E. Baxter indicates that Purdy is maintaining his' form satisfactorily. ■ •: . '. Trowern and Purdy Matched. Reg. Troweiin's injured hand has mended satisfactorily and he is again in training. He will meet Purdy at Invercargill on September 29. j The Northern Boxing Association is endeavouring, to arrange a contest between Artie Hay and the Filipino boxer Jamito for September 29. The third member of the French team of boxers in Australia to get, into action was the middle-weight, Marcel Thuru, who met the coloured American middleweight, Jim Williams, at the Sydney Stadium on Saturday, According to the cabled report Williams had an easy victory, the referee stopping the contest in the fourth round. Ifl choosing Williams as the 'Frenchman's first opponent the promoters were giving the European visitor a severe test. Williams has demonstrated that he is one of the best middleweights in the game and is certainly the best in Australia at present: If pitted against a' boxer of Tommy Uren's type Thuru may give a much better account of himself. ■ Tho English feather-weight, Teddy Murton, created something of a sensation in his first contest in Australia by applying the knock-out to-the American, Midget Kilburn, in the third,round. "Murton outboxed his opponent from the start. There is now talk of a match being made between Murton and Grime} the Australian feather-weight champion. ROAD CYCLING RACES. TWO IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. Two road cycling races which should find warm favour with the cyclists of the province, if not. with riders throughout the Dominion, will be held on October 2. For amateurs- the course will be from Mercer to Auckland, while the professionals will race from Hamilton to Auckland, both events finishing at the Show Grounds. The races are being instituted by the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club and-the Manukau Cycling Glub and will be conducted on similar lines to those governing the Timaru-to-Christchurch road race. . . . RUGBY FOOTBALLERS. PLAYERS IN OTHER CENTRES. The retirement of W. A. Ford, the Canterbury and ex-All Black footballer, is announced to take place as from the end of the season. Ford has shown by his play this season that he is still the headiest player among the backs in Canterbury, and he has been the backbone of the Merrivale Club team for many seasons. •'Jockey/' as he is popularly known, will thus retire with honours still thick upon him. He was an All Black in 1921, 1922 and 1923. Stevenson, the All Black fullback, is suffering from an injury to his knee, and was unable to take' the field for Otago against Southland recently. It is s'.ated that Stevenson has not made a complete recovery from the injury lie received in the All Blacks' match against Wellington, prior to the. team's departure for. Svdnoy. G. Alley, the All Black forward, who intends undergoing a theological course prior to entering the ministry, has notified the Southland selectors that he will not be available for that, province. Alley is now residing in Christchurch, and was Kiven a place in 'one of the teams for the representative trials, but the-question of his eligibility to play for Canterbury this, season has been questioned. "Son" White, the All Black forward of the famous 1924 team, had, it was understood, retired from the game, but a Southern writer states he is playing Rugby again in Southland. His form is said to be as good as ever it was. Brown, the Taranaki All Black, says he will not play Rugby again this season. His health was not Rood while on tho Australian tour, find he intended to undergo an operation for the removal of his tonsils. ' It is reported. that A. E. Cooke, who is to be married shortly, will not travel South with the Hawke's Bay team next month. In fact, it is stated that ho contemplates retiring from the game. Another well-known player who has announced his retirement is A. Kirkpatrick, the All Black and Hawke's Bay forward, who was a member of the New Zealand team which toured Australia last monthSaturday's Ranfurly Shield match between Hawke's Bay and -Auckland marked his final appearance, and at the close of the game a football autograph by the players in that match was presented to him. Kirkpatrick is to be married shortly.