BOXING

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11693, 4 December 1923, Page 8

BOXING

O’SULLIVAN AMD HEEHEY TO MEET AT PALMERSTON NORTH. Jim O’Sullivan (Auckland), ex-heavy-weight champion 'of. New Zealand, and. Tom Heeuey (Gisborne), the title holder.' are to meet at Palmerston North on Boxing Night, December 26th. according to advice received from Jtr Chß«€i riopies The article® have been eigned for a purse of .£2OO, on the vrinner-take-all basis, pars Mr Peoples. The loser will receive J 230 as expenses. This will be thetttird clash between Reenev and O’SnlTfvin. They first met at Auckland on the night of September 26th this year, when O’Sullivan went the full journey of 15 to he Greened the winner on points. Their next meeting took place at Gisborne on November 10th. This fight lasted only four and a half rounds. O’Sullivan being disqualified' in the fifth for allegedly going down-, withont being hit. The Aucklander' claimed that he had slipped, but fin re* feree decided against him. and Heeney was again the champion, despite the fact that he received a severe drubbing in the first few minutes of round five. A purse of £250 was involved in that eontest, Mr Charles Peoples having arranged that O’Sullivan would receive £9OB win. lose or draw—said to he the mostexceptional terms ever offered a New, Zealand boxer for a fight in the Domfn-» ion. In a letter to the Auckland. "Star V* boxing writer, Mr Peoples advised thgt Keeney was holding out for ths fat end of the purse, on the same terms as O’Sullivan obtained for the Gisborne fight. The telegram which arrived indicates that fluency has decided to take a chance, since the major portion of the purse is to go to the winner. "THE SFORT KILLED” BOXING IN AUCKLAND. CITY COUNCIL’S DECISION. It is the opinion of the secretary of the Northern Boxj.ig Association (Mr Rod . Carter) that, if the Auckland City Council persists in its decision not to 1«* the Town Hall for boxing contests, the sport, -so far as Auckland is concerned, will he killed. There are.no other haMs suitable for the staging of fights, since there is not the necessary seating accommodation in any of the theatres. Rentals, too, would be excessive, once the association bad to go bat in hand to a private company for the lease of premises. By reason of ths fact that the majority of contents are held during the winter months, it would be impossible to conduct tournaments successfully in an outdoors arena. Strong exception is taken by member* of the association to the suggestion that boxing has been banned in Auckland. Members consider that this is a slur aa the sport, and on the controlling officials. Boxing has not been banned in Auckland —the association has merely been refused the use of the Town Hall. Interviewed by a "Star” reporter, officials of the Northern Boxing Association stated that, in their opinion, Wednesday night’s gathering was conducted on the best possible lines. Everything found te be necessary to maintain order was done, and. so far as could be seen, there was no trouble -of any kind. Early in tha evening the official announcer commented favourably on the fact that there was an entire absence of smoking. The police were present, and, apart from some chest* ine and applanse. there was apparently nothing to complain of. "A big crowd of men at a boxing tournament cannot be expected to behave like little girls st a tea party,” waa the expressive comment of one member.