THE BOXING RING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20244, 2 May 1929, Page 18

THE BOXING RING.

LITTLE LOCAL ACTIVITY.

FIXTURES IN THE SOUTH

There is little activity in local boxing circles at present and it "would appear that the sport will pass through a slack season during the nest few months, unless an Australian boxer seeks a match in NewZealand.

The energetic secretary of the Te Aroha 13oxing Association, Mr. C. H. Williams, was in the city this week and outlined his association's programme for the year. Three tournaments have been arranged, and one already has taken place, namely, the Broadfoot-Pocock match. The second will be the carnival next Wednesday, one of the biggest ever arranged in the Thames \ alley. Ihe star bout will be between G. Frear, the holder of the Auckland University College championship and the New Zealand University championship, and P. McCarthny, the* Auckland amateur heavyweight champion. This should prove a first-class bout, The pair last met at the Auckland amateur championships last year, when McCarthny won through the retirement of Frear at the end of the second round. Up to this it had been a fine fight, with little between the pair, Frear has the advantage in that ho has fought at the Easter university championships, but both are reported to be in first-class form.

To Aroha's third tourney is expected to be a professional fight, and the committee hopes to stage a championship bout with a purse of £l5O or £2OO. The forthcoming bout between Artie Hay, professional welter-weight champion of New Zealand, and Jack Paul, to be staged by the Otago association, will he for the welter-weight title. It was at first supposed that Paul would not have the necessary residential qualification, but the Boxing Council has apparently -waived the matter in view of the fact that Paul is a New Zealandcr.

Leslie Urquharfc, former amateur feather-weight champion of New Zealand, will meet Tommy Donovan on Saturday night at New Plymouth. This will, be Donovan's fifth professional fight. Urquhart narrowly defeated Donovan on points at the Dominion championships last year in a very rugged encounter and Donovan will bo anxious to avengo his defeat. Urquharfc recently claimed the vacant Dominion light-weight title. His claim is out of order, as he has not yet had a professional contest. . Wellington is staging an amateur tourney on May 20. The association has been adversely criticised for not arranging matches for its Olympic Games representatives, Morgan and Cleverley. Len Turner, the New Zealand amateur middle-weight champion, has broken a collarbone and is now having a forced rest.

Jim Broadfoot has issued a challenge to Parker v for his light-heavy-weight title. The Aucklonder lias already beaten him twice and if the challenge is accepted should nuke a strong bid for championship honours. In the course of his remarks nf, the annual meeting of the Northern Boxing Association, the president. Mr. E. A. Craig, gave a summary of all contests held in New Zealand for tho 12 months ending March 31. This summary shows the great support given by associations to the amateur side of the sport. In tho 1927 season there were 47 professional contests and 671 amateur bouts; in 1928 there were 30 professional fights and 1099 amateur contests.

Mr. George Henning raised the question of the building of a stadium in Auckland. Apparently it was thought the time was a little premature, as little discussion resulted. Boxers in Australia do not receive such large sums for their fights as has been made out. The Roberts-Smith fight showed a profit of £275 for the loser, Smith, and £75 for Roberts. £IOO of Smith's money was forfeit paid by Roberts for being over tho stipulated weight. He was six ounces over the limit of 9st. 31b.