BLEWDEN, THE BOXER.

NZ Truth, Issue 99, 11 May 1907, Page 6

BLEWDEN, THE BOXER.

His Opinion of Englishmen.

'A few days prior to A. J. Blewden, thc liew Zealand an^ateur pug, meeting Spiller m the English Amateur Championship, m whifch he was defeated, ./the New Zealanifer wrote as follows to Mr. Keenan., 4 late secretary of the Northern Boxing Association, Auckland : — .' -* "The members 'Of the, 1 .Association here arc- as miserable a crowd as , I have met. They • have not^e ven given me decent . treatment, : and* even tried to debar .', me from taking part m the Championships, but Tom Sullivan' very quick.y turned the tables on them and fixed the matter' up. I have got- to thank Tom Spllivan for a lot, I can tell you. .The sports of Auckland- are miles- •' ahead of the crowd who: control the gprie here. Just think coming thirteen thousand miles to take* part m their cham-pionships,-and they do nof extend to me the ordinary courtesies Of life. They seem to resent, riiy taking part m the : Championships, but the only thing that worries- me is that I will not be -fit for the tournafjient. I would give . anything to (jarry this championship off^as a .set back to the crowd who are against me. / I was thinking- about staying here ■ a year, working at my' trade, of course, and V having another £o ' for tbe Championships, but I airi afraid I will never .box for this crowd a■gain. They ' are 'unworthy of the name of snorts. Give me the men of the colonies every time. Good men who saw me box Arnold, the professional, m a trial, reokon I am good enough *for . the best of local talent. There are neiverai. from the Continent- m the Championships, a-' bout fourteen iri all,. 50 it riiay prove a very stubjborp contest. Well, if lam beaten, I am beaten on my merits, that; is, if the .referee does not beat hie' like the New .Zealanders were beaten inj Wales. I had made great improvement all round, especially m. my footwork, ■■■ and as my foot 'is aigairist me I. will have to go m for the hurricane style, and take ' my chances, and if I am beaten you , will know that I have done my .best, and could/ do no more. - „-.: