BOXING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8736, 19 May 1914, Page 7

BOXING

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THE FIRST NIGHT’S CONTESTS. The Wellington Provincial Boxing Championships commenced in the Town. Hall last evening, before an audience which, even allowing for the wickedly bad weather, was disappointingly small. The contests were somewhat below tiio standard than usually obtains at championship meetings, there being two or three good bouts among a mediocre lot. Mr C. E. Bridge was the referee and Messrs H. D. Smith and J. E. Staples the j udgos. BANTAMS. B. Andrews (Wellington) 8.2, beat E. Thompson (Wellington) 8.2, after an extra round had been fought. The bout, which commenced promisingly, degenerated at times into a contest in holding on. Both competitors were repeatedly warned. Andrews appeared to have a slight advantage at tho end of the first round, but tho second and third were extremely even ’There wero some hot exchanges at close range, but little damage was done. The judges disagreed, and a fourth round was fought hotly, the referee deciding in favour of Andrews at the conclusion. FEATHERWEIGHT.

E. Leary (Wellington) v. G. Wilson (Wellington). Both wero announced at 9st. Wilson was the taller, but lacked the compact build of his antagonist. During the first round tho taller boy spent much time sending out sweeping lefts that went over Leary’s head. In tho second round, Wilson worked to better effect, and had Leary fighting hard. The latter slipped and went down, resting for nine, and almost immediately after wont down again—this time to Wilson’s loft. AVilson advanced to meet him as he rose, and Leary sent out a straight right, that, landing near Wilson’s chin, brought him up all standing. A moment later Wilson sent an effective one to Leary’s stomach, and the latter went down again. Towards the finish Leary made the fight a hit more even, and got his left home a few times with good effect. In the last round, Wilson found most of his blows doing nothing more than semaphore signalling, while Leary’s left rattled away insistently. Both were very tired at tho finish, and Leary was unable to take full advantage of the opportunities that were presented by Wilson’s frequent openings. Tho judges gave it to Leary, and the verdict pleased. Stewart (Petone) 9st v. Skin ley (■Wellington) 8.13. As far as it went, this affair was all in favour of Stewart, and Skinley went down twice in the first round. In tho second Stewart landed a smart right to the face, and followed it with a left. Skinley wont down again and cried content. It was tho only thing to do. Tho spectators applauded Stewart’s victory.

J. Oliver (Cross Creek) 8.12 beat D. Defoe (Wellington) 9st. Oliver was taller than his antagonist, and of slight build. He was very quick, and placed his blows shrewdly. He opened with a left, right and left to the face, all landing. Defoe retaliated with a right that-landed lightly, and paid for it in the storm of blows that Oliver returned. The second round was all in favour of Oliver, and was not particularly exciting, hut matters warmed up in the third round, and both made the pace willing, Oliver’s better judgment still holding him in good stead. His win was never in doubt. WELTER-WEIGHT.

J. Hunter (Wellington) 10.5 v. W. J. McFarlane (Wellington) 10.7. This was a well-matched pair, hut an otherwise good fight was marred at times by unnecessaiy holding. _ Hunter opened hostilities with a nice left to the face, and the two immediately slipped into a wrestling match. The fighting throughout the round was fairly even. Hunter doing the best work. In the opening stages of the second round, Hpnter landed freely with both hands, McFarlane occasionally getting home with a straight left. In the third round, both competitors showed tendencies to hold, McFarlane, who had been several times named, being the worst offender. The referee gave the bout to Hunter. MIDDLE-WEIGHT. B. Finney (Wellington) list. v. W. N. Weston (Wellington) 11.3. Finney’s greater height and reach proved a nuisance to the other man, and Finney lost no time in displaying the practical uses of the reach. He opened very industriously, raining a hail of blows at Weston that' the latter could not always stop. His left found Weston’s face- repeatedly, but there was little force in the blows. The second round was quieter, but it savy Finney still scoring and Weston’s head still bobbing to the inevitable left. The last round was lively, Weston attempting ineffectually to make up lostground. Both took a good' deal of punishment, but Finney’s blows were best directed, and he won rather easily. Kraush (Wellington) 11.3 v. H. Cahill (Wellington) 10.10. Cahill is a South Sea islander, whose length of hair, combined with his thin build and tallness amused the crowd almost as much as did tho pantomimic tight that followed. Kraush spent the first round hammering away at the face of his antagonist, whoso imperturbable smile was never disturbed. Cahill was tired before the first round had concluded. In the second, after acting as punching-ball to Kraush for some little time, Cahill ducked to avoid punishment, slipped, and amost rolled through tho ropes. Ho intimated when lie rose that he had had enough, and the fight went to Kraush. HEAVY-WEIGHT. The contest between W. Hume (Wellington) list 81b and J. Gladding (Pctonc) 12st 41b, reached a summary conclusion in the first round. Gladding was making tho fighting, when Hume went down. “Get up, you arc not hit,” said the referee. ‘‘What rot! hois,” declared Gladding. Hume did not immediately comply with the request of the referee, who accordingly declared Gladding tho winner. The decision mot with a mixed reception. The championships will ho concluded to-night, when the finals will he fought. DUNEDIN TOURNEY. Press Association. DUNEDIN. May 18. Tim. Otago Boxing Association opened its season to-night " ith a mixed

tournament before a large attendance. Results: — Bantams —A. Melville beat J. O'Shea, J. Lane beat C. Randall, A. Young beat T. Bruce. Feather-weights—D. McGregor beat B. King, W. Scott beat AV. Jones, C. Bailey heat F. Jones, M. Facoory beat J. F. Laing. AVelter-wcights—P. Torwie beat J. Mitchell, J. McLeod heat A. Edwards. Middle-weight—D. Boreliam boat C. McQuarrie. Light-weights—T. Gale beat D. Fox, R. Oxley beat H. King, AV. O’Neill beat E. Clearey.