GODFREY TOO GOOD FOR GOSLING.

NZ Truth, Issue 110, 27 July 1907, Page 3

GODFREY TOO GOOD FOR GOSLING.

Tresize Triumps Over GoiiW. Some Slashing and Scientific Battles. •A: more well-conducted boxing audience never crowded around the ring-side than did that which was contained within His Majesty's Theatre, Courtenay-place on Wednesday evening, whea, under tlie' auspices of the Boxing Association, and'in the presence of the Governor and staff, and a large number of well-known and popular citizens and sports, J. . Godfrey, of Auckland, amateur feather-weight champion of England, 1903, and New 'Zealand amateur feather-weight champion 1906, and J. Gosling, of Wellington, amateur bantam-weight champion of. 1902, and Wellington amateur featherweight champion 1905, met for a purse put up by the Wellington Boxing Association. In addition to the professional bout, there was a special amateur competition, which was won by A. Tresize, pf Ashburton, who, m defeating Gould, of Timaru, has justified his claim to champion, inasmuch as recently at Christchurch, the same pair put up a dign-dong battle, the referee heing unable to separate them.

Dr.. Napier-McLean officiated as referee. Generally speaking, he was entirely satisfactory m his decisions, though with many tlie opinion prevailed, that m giving Gould the verdict over Sanderson m the amateur* bouts, the referee was m error. On this point, however, it can be said that Gould started ofl very well, and m tne first couple of rounds piled up plenty of points though be subsequently had to bear the brunt of Sanderson's .'cnslautfh'.. his straight left, which he uses effectively, being brought into action. This was the opening bout. Geld v/ci'rlied Pst 13** ft, while E. P-ar.d r-on, f'O Anc:'" v-ri^hed Ost 2£l_), It was a ding-dong bat-

tie from the sound of the gong. Short m statue, with a weighty, right swing, Gould made the pace hot, and Sanderson, who has a great length of arm, failed to use the left with advantage. .He fouled the Timaruite m the first round, but the latter did not claim the verdict, and so the six rounds were fought. Sanderson came to light m the third round, and his lefts played sad havoc with the Timaruite's nose, it being like an under-done steak at the conclusion. Confident of winning, Sanderson was surprised at the verdict.

W.. Crawford, Ohau, 9st 2*lb, and A. Tresize, of Ashburton, Bs~t 13-pb, were the next contestants. It was Tresize's fight from thefirst round. Crawford was too cart-horsey, sluggish and slow to mix it with his more lithe opponent, * and though m the third round he rattled the Prohibition district chap with a right swing to the neck, the Ohauite never had a look m. "Tresize" said the referee at the end of the sixth round, and no one doubted it.

This cleared the way for the fight of the evening. The Englishman was the first to put m an appearance, and splendid and strong did the young fellow appear. With him was Harry Wilson and Grey. Gosling next hopped through the ropes, attended by Peter McColl and Tim Tracy, who at this juncture shook "dooks" with Bob Turner, who arrived from Sydney that day. The meeting and hand-shaking of the pair evoked applause, wh.ich both acknowledged with a familiar nod. Gosling, thanks to Peter McColl, was m tip-top nick, and bore evidence of having undergone a hard training. The go was limited to fifteen rounds, and after the* referee had introduced the pair, and given them each a few admonitory wprds of breaking clear, arid the advice that either could punch with two hands clear, the lads got going. The Englishman at once showed how clever and nimble he was, and rushed m eagerly to meet a left from Gosling, which landed lightly on the chin, a dose lie repeated immediately afterwards. Gosling's left again tapped Godfrey on the face, and the Englishman's baulking tactics disconcerted the Wellingtonian considerably, and his left found Gosling's wind and chin, a la Kid ..McCoy, though the local lad, with a couple of shortrights, with plenty of vim m them, found Godfrey's ribs- unguarded.' In the second round, Godfrey warmed to his work. His clever -'footwork enabled him to twice get within striking distance of his opponent,' and two lefts m the face were recorded m his favor. Gosling, cleverly feinting;, fooled Godfrey, and a right hard on the face, sent' the Auckland representative away to the middle of the arena. For the next few rounds Gosling led off. He possesses a good left hook, and seemed waiting for the Englishman tp open accounts with his right. Thera were some very hot rallies, m which Gosling got the worst of it. In the third round, Godfrey swung a right on to Gosling's neck> which turned the Wellingtonian around. Several times he swung a right, but Gosling's left hook was missing. He is too slow. He has a good right, but kept it m reserve too much, and when he did commence to use it, he had lost, and nothing but aj knock-out could gain him the verdict. Godfrey's activity, his cat-like agility, and his smirking countenance proved very disconcerting to Gosling. He, however, used his left, to great advantage, and the Englishman was not wanting m that respect. Higi lefts were vicious, his rights carried sudden death with them. In the sixth and seventh rounds Godfrey led off with his left. He kept piling up points all the time, and his clever head-work evoked great applause. Round seven marked some very hot exchanges, and a short, snappy left on Godfrey's chin toppled him to the carpet, but he was on his feet m an instant ; but Gosling kept at him, j and with a left hook and a right jab [found the Englishman's face. In round 8, Gosling had muoh the best of it. Godfrey seemed to be tiring; but "foe quickly livened up, and at the end of round 10, he was much fresher than Gosling, who had . forced the fight. Ira round 10 the Englishman was very I busy ; a right from him to the face j made Gosling reel. Once he effected a merciless upper-out on the face. and a hot rally was m progress when corners sounded. From henceforth, though Gosling led off .m each round; Godfrey kept on piling up points, and m the twelfth round, the 1 referee warn-* led him against hitting too low. lii [tlie 13th round, realising that his only hope was to make the pace very warm, GosHng rushed m, and some hot exchanges followed. . Here the Englishman's cleverness asserted . itself. His 'clever footwork and his ."nutrstalling," enabled- him to escape the onslaught. Both fouth every inch, of the way. Godfrey is a ring general, his tactics being worthy of a veteran. He is far too clever m all the departments . of the game, and the verdict "Godfrgy- * the 'winner" was echoed by allv-^lt was a game and clever coatesl:.. Gosling put up the fight of his life, and had he used his right from the commencement instead of keeping it for a fluke punch, a different tale might have been told. Gosling, though -defeated, was by no means disgraced. ' He met a cleverer opponent, and he probably recognises it./

Tresize and Gould next decided supremacy for the amateur bouts, and after six founds of solid fighting Tresize was declared the winner., f