THE RING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 27

THE RING.

There was a large attendance at Dentice's Gymnasium last week, to witness the eightround boxing contest between William AY. Welland, a pupil of Jack Welland, exchampion heavy weight of England, and William Dentico. The contest was an equal one so far as it went, but in tho second round Welland threw his opponent, and Mr Hill, who acred as referee, awarded tho match to Denticc on the grounds of a foul. Welland, a fine athletic-looking young fellow, was in poor condition, while his antagonist was as “ hard as nails.” There was little doubt about tho genuineness of the contest. Air Pettengell acted as timekeeper. Before the “ big event ” there were sets-to between Donovan and S. Carter, and P. Maroney and Adams, and in order to make up for tho disappointment to the audience of the early termination of the principal event, Donovan had a three-round spar with Dentico. During the evening it was arranged that S. Hill and Campbell, a coloured champion, should have an eight-round contest for a purse of ten sovereigns in about three weeks' time.

Our London correspondent writes, under date April 7 ;

There was a rare muster of Anglo-Colonial sporting men and Australian pugilistic talent at the National on Monday evening, when Tom Williams and Tom Tracey met a second lime to decide which was better than t’other. The pair were matched whilst Williams was in Egypt to box the best of t/venty rounds, at lost lib, for a purse of £5:00 found by Manager Fleming. But as the Australian lighting contingent have shown a disposition to cut their contests very short, the club had the programme for the evening strengthened by an exhibition bout between Pedlar Palmer and his brother Matt, a twenty round contest at 1 Ost between Owen Sweeney and George King, and an eight round contest between “Mysterious Billv ” Smith, of Boston, and Bill Husbands, at 10st Sib, for FIDO. In the ordinary course of events the members should have had a long night’s sport, but as it happened they neither got quantity nor quality. Pedlar and his brother gave a fine display until Matt, becoming rather more aggressive than his brother deemed necessary, received a vicious jal) on the jaw from the 7st champion, which brought about an abrupt termination. Then Sweeney and King “took the flurc,” and after a Donnybrook P’air scramble in the first round Sweeney knocked his opponent clean out before half the second round had expired. Next came Smith and Husbands. Both were in good trim, but the fight was not particularly brisk, nor was any special cleverness shown by the redoubtable “ Billy.” Husbands was naturally all caution, and for the first four rounds allowed the Boston boy to do all the work, and get a good lead on points. Then, taking heart of grace, the Knightsbridge boxer took the initiative, but though he fought better at each time of asking, the Yankee kept in front, and had won well when Mr Angle gave him the award. Then came the event of the evening. Williams and Tracey entered the ring, both looking tit and well. In height and reach there was little to choose between the pair, but Williams’ weight was returned at lost 31b, against Tracey’s lOst. '1 he latter bad in his corner Dan Croedou, Torn Denny and Tom Duggan, and Williams bad Tom Burrows and two other men in attendance. The betting was about (5 to 4 on Tracey, and his smiling face and confident demeanour might well have tempted one to accept a still shorter price about him. Williams, on tho other hand, looked a trifle anxious, but his military friends were always ready to take even money. When the word to commence was given both centered with alacrity. Tracey stood wide and fiddled about for an opening. Suddenly both men shot out the left, and a clinch ensued. Breaking away Williams tried again, but Tracey was out of distance in a twinkling, ami Williams almost lost bis balance. Two seconds later Tracey got home wilh the left on the body—a very light blow—and sprang back before Williams could counter. Having “ felt ” his man, Tracey at once started to fight. Weaving in he feinted for the body and Williams deceived, dropped his guard. In a moment Tracey planted a hot left on the head, and brought across the right. Down went Williams as if shot, his head hitting the staging with a dull thud. The collision with the boards was in itself enough to knock a man out, but I raccy’s blow had landed fairly on the point, and between the two Williams was completely deprived of his senses. In vain did Burrows implore him to “get up ’Tom, turn over Tom, ’ for Tom had n’t the power oi hearing left to him, let alone the ability to move. So he \\ as counted out and beaten when the round had lasted but M.Tsees. . Thus J ri.eey won his first engagement ill England in the shortest time on record, save that oetaineil bv M.'ixcy 1 laugh over Tommy Kelly at Hie Buffalo "Club, U.S.A., in February 1893. That affair lasted sx seconds, and the only blow delivered in the tight was Hie knock out.