BOXING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6311, 11 September 1907, Page 7

BOXING

AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. SEVEN HEATS. Seven heats in the Australasian Boxing Championship contest were boxed at the Opera House last night. The audience filled all parts of the building with the exception of the. dress circle. His Excellency tho Governor was an interested spectator. THE OFFICIALS. Master of ceremonies, Mr R. W. McVilly; stage managers, Messrs ,J. L. Day* and J.- M. Laing; official seconds, Messrs T. Taylor and T. Sampson; clerks of scales, Messrs R. W. Annit and G. Cloak©; ringside supervisors, Messrs H. D. Smith and E. Hoiii-s; general supervisor, Mr E. Blundell; timekeepers, Messrs A. Laurenson and Ludwig; judges of contests, Messrs F. W. B. Grevilie and il. M. Rosenberg; referee. Dr Na-pier-McLean; hou. medical examiners, JDrs H. J. McLean and Izard. Dr Newman, on behalf of tho committee, said that the cream of New South Wales and Queensland talent had come over to New Zealand to take part iu the contests. The rules governing the championship matches determined that tho ring should be a 20ft one, and that there should be two judges. Tn case of disagreement by judges. Dr Napier-McLean, the referee, decided on the winner in each contest. On the whole, the boxing was of an uninteresting description. Three of the heats ended up within the minute, less than ouo round being boxed. All these heats were won on fouls, and tho audience, robbed, of sport by strict interpretation of the rules of the game, protested volubly. . Of tho seven heats boxed, the first on the list was HEAVY-WEIGHTS. This heat was between C. Hill, of New South Wales, whose weight is 11s 9Hb, and J. Lloyd, of Christchurch, who scaled 12st. Both men appeared to be in excellent fettle, and shaped well for an opening, j uniping to meet the enemy. Tho Christchurch man made repeated use of a sledgehammer left, and some heavy footwork was done. The men held and broke repeatedly in the brief bout, and the boxing of either was not of a high order. ' Hill has a partiality for a quick puMi with tho left and a right-hand following chop. After a mhiute’s brisk but not specially interesting work, the heat went to Hill, as Lloyd, in tho, opinion of the referee, held. The decision was ill-re-ceived.

BANTAMS. B. Cantwell, of Queensland (Bst l$lb), met J. Parker, of who scaled Bst Ulb. This was a theatrical bout, quick,” loud footwork, which' was too wide, being a leading feature. Both .went gamely to , battle like mosquitos. There were several hard left jabs from either side. It was a heat of extremely short duration, the usual hold being the reason of the quick dissolution, Parker being declared the winner. Eri Lusher, of New South Wales j the pet of the evening, and who scales Bst Jib, met Wellington’s bantam hero V. B. Tracey, who stripped at fist |lb. Traoey made the fighting from the start, and held his hands high. He indulges in . right and left-hand smacks consecutively, and has a powerful left. The stranger is like a piece of magnetised wire, and his body-blows are severe. He is a fighter all over, and’ he .stopped Tracey’s wicked jabs with skill and address. His footwork was the best thing seen in the evening; and his method of backing to get away from his opponent, while saving up something solid for him on another flank, is interesting. Lusher has a deft way of hitting his man three times in quick succession with the left, and,. although he did not stop Tracey’s clever left on some occasions he got to the third , round without being killed. One quick body-blow, with a following pataplaii bn the Wellingtonian’s nose disconcerted the excellent Tracey, who, however, got in very special work. . The audience hugged itself and enjoyed it hugely. It was high art. The last round consisted of many, tricks and much good work, and when the fight was given to the splendid little Lusher, the audience took the defeat of their champion in a sportsmanlike way. This is the first time Tracey has been defeated in jNew Zealand, although Dickenson defeated him in Sydney. Tracey had to waste BJlb in a fortnight to meet his opponent in his class. FEATHER-WEIGHTS.

F. Fitzjohn, of N.S.W. (Bst 3*lb) and W. Elliott, Timaru (Bst lOJlb). The opening, -which was quick and lively, was also pretty, both sparring with skill and address. The Welshman's style is good t> watch, and his smart countering of Hit opponent's swings interesting. Elliott has a deadly right-hand swing, and got it home on several occasions. The audience began to revel before the' firtv round finished, and at the second round the Welshman got both hands going right and left in a way that roused people to cheers. The fighting was f' and honest. In the third round both showed signs of fag, and New South Wales was putting up a great defence. The little Australian in the blue shirt was, in the fourth round, quicker than lightning, and there was a distinct feeling that he was winning on points. The other was putting weight into his work, however, and punishing the blue streak with some severity. Both boys were hard and game, and it was in very fact a satisfactory spectacle and a good exhibition of the art.' When Elliott was declared the winner there was distinct surprise from many-who had not anticipated such a decision, V. Roughsedge, Queensland (Bst ll|lb) v. A. Tresize, Ashburton (Bst 131 b). This .appeared to start with some earnestness, but appearances deceived. There was a good deal of gallery work, which did not effect much. Only at the fourth round did matters begin to assume an interesting hue, and when Tresize was declared the winner the decision appeared'popular. The contest was not lacking in comedy, and nobody was hurt. ' MIDDLE-WEIGHTS. C. Hill, of New South Wales, couldn't draw the weight to meet L. Fletcher, of Wellington, so A. J, Scanlon, of Queensland (lOst 12£lb) and J. McDermott, of Invercargill (list 3£U>) were the only starters in this class. Both were heavylegged and unconvincing, although it was the obvious intention of both to go in •for a knock-out. A war of giants, which lasted less than one minute. Two falls, some great heavy slashes, some ponderous movements, and - it was finished. Scanlon was given tho verdict, as his opponent held. This fight could easily haVc* developed into an interesting battle. TO-NIGHT'S PROGRAMME. Bantam Final—Lusher v Parker. Welter —Lane (N.S.W.) v. Nash (N.Z.). Light-weight—White (N.S.W.) v. Mayze (N.Z.). Feather-weight Final—Tresize (N.Z.) v. Elliott. ’ Middle-Weight Final—Scanlon (Q.) V. Fletcher (N.Z.),