BOXING RING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22435, 3 June 1936, Page 20

BOXING RING

POPULARITY OF THE SPORT MANY CHALLENGES ISSUED After experiencing a very lean period, caused partially through a series of misfortunes, the Auckland Boxing Association has at last been rewarded for its patience and perseverance. The attendances at its carnivals this season have been the largest, for many years. Evidence of the tremendous interest being taken in the sport by competitors, as well as the public, was afforded on Monday evening when the association's official announcer read telegrams from Marine Jock Ryan, of H.M.S. Dunedm Wattie Robertson, of Gisborne, and Jack McMahon, of Palmerston North, wishing to challenge the winner of that evening's bout. Frank Hutchings, of Eltham, also forwarded a telegram expressing a desire to meet Cyril 1 luto. Neville Mudgway, of Waihi, and Archie Hughesi, the ex-Australian, entered the ring to issue challenges to Pluto. Then followed the introduction olf Lance Painter, former ' amateur heavy-weight champion of the Dominion, who had turned professional and is willing to meet any heavy-weight in i\ew Zealand. Painter is a hard hitter who tftav go a long way in the sport. The amateur contests on Monday s programme were greatly enjoyed by the packed house. The Hastings Association sent up some youthful and small boxers to oppose the Auckland team, two of the visiting lads were only fifteen years of age, but they fought with the gameXiess of veteran:!. For this reason they had; the sympathy of the public, a section of which took exception to the decision in the opening match. However, it was quite the correct one. As usual in such contests the spectators grei>tly enjoyed the one-round teams' event. The lads from H.M.S. Philomel knew more about the finer points of boxing than the Mangere Maoris and won bv six matches to three. The laughter and cheering, which was <>ontinuou,s throughout this teams' match, reached a climax when in one bout a Maori seized hiß opponent with ft perfectly applied wrestling headlock ftna hurled him heavily to the mat.