BOXING.

NZ Truth, 4 January 1908, Page 3

BOXING.

— , — , i » „i . THE ASSOCIATION'S LIBERALITY. More About an Inefficient Referee. | A Cock-a-Doodle-Doo About Green. Naturally enough, when Tommy Hanley returned \to Sydney from. New Zealand, he I6st no time m confirming "Truth's" criticisms *of Dr. Napier McLean's decision m his .fight with Godfrey. Whether Hanley hailed from Sydney or from Hong Kong,.- "Truth" would have said what it did at the time, and once' again it repeats that such dubious decisions will militate against any importation of crack Australian pugs to the Dominion. The decisions m the T urn erTracy and Hanley-Godfrey contests will certainly not inspire great confidence m Dr. Napier McLean's referceing, and if the next visiting pug objects to the doctor, it will not be surprising, and certainly the objection will be justifiable. Whether it will be heeded is quite another matter. "Truth" would hardly have referred to the matter again*; seeing that the bi fling season is off just- now. were it not that the Wellington , correspondent of a Sydney paper allegedly pu'bQ'ished m the interests of sport, has had a little to say on what he is pleased to call "THOSE SMALL-MINDED CRITICS," who abused Dr. McLean , over his decision m the Hanley-Godfrey go. The whole effusion is a puff for the local Association, and it is worth re-pub-lishing just to show, if nothing else, the desperarteoiess of a causp that was rendered wretched by an -inefficient referee's deplorable blunders. Here is what the Sydney "Referee" says :— / "The generosity of the , Wellington. Boxing Association to boxers who have fought under its auspices is bearing fruit m the shape of heavy batches of letters from "j).ugs" of all sorts and sizes asking for matches. The most desirable of the applications so far is one from "Ted" Green,: . who wants to be matched with either Godfrey or Gosling. As it is now the close sea.son for boxers m New Zealand, not.'iiK 1 : can be done .nbout it at pr..*ent, but; no doubt if Green is of tlifi same miui'd when operations are started again the Association will see that he is accommodated. "Green's letter is a crushing rcplv to these "■sni.all-minded critics who. when the Verdict was given against Hanley m his recent contests, with Godfrey/ abused the referee and dpclared that no other /Sydney boxer would ever step into a'Wellington ring again. And other Australian boxer's of repute are also anxious to cross

the Tasman Sea, which goes' to show that they are not quite soft enough to swallow the twaddle about one o! the fairest and most capable referees m the Dominion, and, perhaps, m Australia." '•Truth" knows very well from what source these lubrucations spring, and knowing what it does, and the writer being the chief small-minded critic indicated, it would be amusing if "Truth" stated the source, but ittw}on'.t. ; Now, Teddy) <Ti'ee,nv m hij class, is a world's champion if he is. .anything at -all, and a match with._/ Godfrey or Gosling here m Wellington would be to him what a working gallop is to* a racehorse. That he should want to coin c Across* the Tasman to pick up the plums the '. .Wellington Association would give, him is not unnatural. That Godfrey or Gosling could not fully extend him will be admitted by any v m New Zealand who have seen Balmain's "bosker" bantam m action. That he would fight and win under the ridiculous rules of the Association, and WITH; SUCH A' REFEREE as Dr., Napier Mfc Lean is problem-.: atical. - "Anyhow, on this . matter" "Truth" is certain > Green would have* a word to say. I't'is'Dot'denied that the Wellington Boxing. Association have been liberal; to boxers." Indeed, its generosity, has been proclaimed from the-house-tops, and Australian pugs are not m thehabit of getting the thickest end of the purse if they go under. Now', as far as all this -bunkum about .abusing one of the fairest and most capable teferees m- the Dominion, and perhaps m Australia, is concerned, '"Truth" has got to learn that it abusedthe referee at all. It simply expressed the opinion that his dccii sions m 'the Turner-Tracy and Hcni ley-Godfrey goes were- doubtful, and if. those decisions had been given m. Sydney or m Melbourne, or America/ Dr. Napier McLean would have had' the roughest passage of his life. Hehas had no experience worth men— i tionUng* He .never separated such men as George 'Johns, Jack Blackmore, Ted Nelson, Bill McCall, Bill .Squires, Scanlan, Smith, Peter Felix, and the mmdred-and-one pugs just "now. floating round the Commonwealth. 'If Dr. Napier McLean can bly any stretch of the imagination be held as one of the most capable referees m New JZealand and sAtistralia, it seems as if ,' like the desert flower, he t is bom to blush unseen. Now, it mught toe claimed as the Association's generosity that both Turner and j , Hanley, apart from the losing end of ' the purse, got a sort of bonus from the Association. Why ? Was it insended to stifle their squeals ? Both ] Turner and Hanley- were dissatisfied and disgusted with the referee',s . dei cisiohs, and threatened to ' make lniown their ! displeasure across the Tasman. . The Association, m the name of generosity, GREASED THE PUGS' PALMS, but there is no getting away from the fact that it was more to appease their natural indignation and allround disgustedness. To put the Association, right m the eyes oJ pugs likely to foe enticed here, "it was necessary that someone should >be abased, and that Dr. McLean, an honorable and well-m/eaning gentleman, there can toe no doubt, should be buttered up to the skies. Consequently when "Truth." voiced its opinion that the referee had blundered and bungled, it was but natural that there should be some idle tripe printed about small-minded critics, who, unfortunately for the referee and the Boxing Association, happen. to bo very much m the right. "Truth" hopes that Green will cross the Tasman, but it is afraid all the same that he will not enter the ring under old conditions. It can be taken from this small-minded critic that before Green dons a glove he will first have a thorough understanding on lots of things. (By Upper-Cut). There is a chance of "Battling" Nelspn being seen round these parts about the middle of the year. This piece of news is conveyed m a letter sent by a 'Frisco resident to a brother m Wellington. The friends of McG'ib'bon, who figured mi a harmless boxing bout with T. Tracy at the Opera House' tourney a few weeks ago, are willing to match their man against any light-weight m New Zealand. McGibbon's exposition at the Opera House was scarcely "likely to win him many admirers m fistic circles. Mac is now attached to the perman&nt staff of Capt. Hugo's flame-quenchers. Stated that Sid Sullivan, the clever little Sydney boxer, is not averse "to crossing the Tasman to put up his "dooks" with the vanquisher of Tommy Hanley. I hear that the Wellington Association has first claim on Godfrey's services next season. A, Mar ton sport tells me that there ib a smart feather-weight boxer up m his district. He has donned the gloves against several good heavier men than himself, and walloped each one easily. He hails from Sydney, which, of course, explains; why he has up-ended the Maorilanders. There is good reason "to believo that both A. Tresize, formerly of Christchurch, and J. Lanej who was one; of the N.S.W. team taking part m the Australasian ■ Amateur Boxing championships m this city a few months back, will don the gloves when the local competitions are under way next season. The pair are now located m Wellington, and should be a very welcome acquisition to the boxing ranks. Tresize'^ capabilities m the hempen ring have been tested on several occasions m this breezy city, while Lane's hurricane and sensational encounter with Nash, of Christchurch, m the welter weight division at the Australasian tourney is not Hkelv to be effeced from the memories of those who were fortunate enough to witness it.