BOXING.

NZ Truth, Issue 173, 10 October 1908, Page 3

BOXING.

(By "Ring-sider.")

Articles were signed m '^Inrth" ollice on Monday afternoon by W. J. Elliott and Jack Gosling m connection with the match arranged by the Wellington Boxing Association between the pair at the Opera House on November 24. The weiglit limit is fixed at 9.4, which means that Elliott wilL be conceding a good avoirdupois handicap on the night of the contest. By signing the articles Elliott lias nov/ lollowed m the wake of Gosling, Godfrey, Gnat Williams, Gault and others by turning .professional after .winning honors m the amateur arena. Elliott, however, has the finest record of the crowd, having m the space of a little over eighteen months' residence m the Dominion appropriated two New Zealand and two Australasian feather-weight championships, m addition to which he secured the trophy presented to the most scientific boxer at the Australasian tourneys. The Englishman is very clever m the ring, and his skill will doubtless largely comI pensate for the greater reach and weight

possessed by his adversary. The go between him and "The Goose" should be a clipping one.

Neither Gosling or Elliott wilt bo able to participate m any boxing contest between now and ' November 24, unless with the sanction of the Wellington Boxing Association. After the Gault episode at Hastings the Association is not taking any further chances m the matter of disabled contestants. One effect of the ;Bjjrns-McGibhon fiasco on. September Ist has-been the insertion of a clause m the articles signed. by Elliott and Gosling for theirmatch on .November 24th, which provides that if one or other "of the contestants does not box to the satisfaction of the referee, he. shall, m addition to forfeiting the sum allowed him for training expenses, also forfeit , any monies to which he may be entitled m the purse distribution. From this it will be>seen that the Association •is adopting every reasonable precaution to prevent it or patrons from being swindled as they were by McGibbon and his confederates a few weeks ago.

"Jewey" Smith, the boxer who was so easily beaten by Tommy Burns m Paris; met with another defeat a lew vteks ago, this time m. London, at the hands ot Herb. Synnot, who was so ,well known m Australia a few years ago. Ihc verdict was given to Synnot on points.

Writing of the rdiddle-weighs bout be- 1 .tween. R. Midwood, of Tasmania, and Archie Leclcie, of Wellington, at the recent Australasian Amateur Championship tourney m Brisbane, ''Cestus" ("Canterbury Times") says :-r"He (Midwood) met his most dangerous opponent m Leckie, the New Zealander, who put up a first-class battle. It was unfortunate these two met m the opening bout, for Midwood 3iad no trouble 1 afterwards and all interest went,out of the event after their meeting. xThe. bput v^as -. very.,Qlose and nobody would ; have been surprised if another Found had ibeen ordered. Lecskie did most of the , Jeading, and the remark .of an authority, i that -had it not been for the New Zealand- I ;er, there would have beeri no contest, just ; ;.about sums, up the- position. Still the-, ! bout was so e^en that the judges must have had some" difficulty m coming to a (decision, and Leckie proved himself a worthy representative of the Dominion." .An ex-champion m . the feather-weight class expressed the opinion after thefiual.. go between Elliott and Cantwell m Brisbane a few weeks back and before the. decision • was announced, that "Elliott, won from here to New Zealand." "Cestus" says that Elliott's display, while. distinctly pleasing^ lacked that brightness and dash he sometimes shows m. New Zealand, and the only explanation, forthcoming is that the climate and the travelling had effected him, as it certainly did others m the^am.

Jim Coffroth, the big American fight, promoter, who handled -the Brims-Squires affair at Colma, is. m set idus trcrttble, according to a Vancouver paper. As the. mail Was leaving -he was about to be arrested on a charge of "assault, with a . deadly weapon," the complainitnt bejng Battling" Nelson's manager, Charlie Dixon, who avers that, after the Gans-Nel-'.son fight, when the takings jvere being counted, Coffroth attacked him with a carving knife, inflicting several gashes • on his head ' and body of a very serious character. . Bob Rollo put m an appearance here last week. Bob says he couldn't get a good sparring partner m Palmerston North and he came to town for the needful. Tho ex-Australian reckons he is just.going to give Tim Tracy all he wants when threy come together m Palmerston North next week. Jack Coombe, who "is not unknown In local fistic circles, has just gained his ichief engineer's certificate which comes [from the Associated Board of Marine m London. For the past five rycars :Coombe has been m the engineering 'staff of the Atlantic Transport Company's boats plying between London and ports. comes from Greymouth that competitors down that way are anxious to f'participate m the local Association* tourriey- next month. Coalopdlis has soine , ifery decent amateur talent by all ac-/ counts. i The profit on the New Zealand ama-" Iteur championship meeting m Ohristchurch: last August was £119 5s Bd. The Christ^ church Sports Club ami the' , New Zealand- Boxing Council Svhaclf it equally beWeen them. ' It has been decided that the Burns"Jblmson contest shall be decided at the Sydney atadium, probably on Bpxiri'g Day. Jim Jeffries has been cabled to' askip-g-. him his ternis to come over * and referee the fight. Whew ! Tommy Burns is to show m Launceston, Ulverstone, Zeehan, and Hobart-^' .■^ball-punching, sparring, arid training ' %ork, supported by Mr Mclntoshi who ,■, Will deliver , lectures ; on the game. Tommy will, be paid air exes and five hundred \.quid for the trip. . Jitn JeSries is now tippiDg Ketchel to be world's" champion' within a year. Ket;>ch«l says.: "After I fight Bums I'll quit ■ f the riog for ever. It v .will be several 'months, however, before I get a chance and possibly' /by that sime the present holder of "the championship will have removed 'the dark horse' (meaning Jack Jdhnson, of course) from the field." \ As he was about to leave for America ■' for the second fight with Abe Attell, We t little Englishman, OWen Moran, was" pre- ■ sented with a handsome belt, subscribed for by his many admirers throughout Great Britain. The Rev. Everard Digby, of St. Michael's Mission, said it gave him the greatest pleasure ; m fact, he looked on it as an honor to 'ne present. He hoped that Morah would bring back the world's championship by teating Attell. (The match was a draw.) The reverend gentleman went on to say that he was once asked by a friend, "What about religion and sport 1" and Ms reply was, "If. religion interferes with your sport, then get a fresh religion." Mr J. M. Laing, who has, been an energetic worker on the local Association's Executive for the past eighteen months, will have charge of the Wellington boys who are going to • Palmerston North next week with the avowed intention of bringing back the Nathan Challenge Cup. Noting 'Bill Squires engagement to Eddie Geach as "manager" to the, flickergraph of Bill's third encounter with Burns, the "Sydney Sportsman" can't imagine Bill In such a role.. Dgßtotless, says the paper, ho will be just an "appearance" draw card. Had Mr Geaoh sent someone away with Bill to give, say, a six-round exhibition spar l:eforc the picture of the bi£ fight was turned on he would have made a ff.r bigger "hit."

The prices of admission to the BurnsJohnson battle will l>r. the sarao ns when the American and Bill Squires came together, viz., £5, £3, £2, and £1. The management anticipates a rush on the fiver seats.