THE ELLIOTT-GOSLING CONTEST.

NZ Truth, Issue 180, 28 November 1908, Page 3

THE ELLIOTT-GOSLING CONTEST.

A Rattling Good Go.

Elliott Wins on Points.

The Opera House on Tuesday evening last was well filled, the occasion being the Wellington Boxing Association's '. iourth tourney of the season. The chief item o£ the programme was, of course, the .El-liott-Gosling professional bout of ttrteen rounds, which was won by lilliott on points after the 15 rounds had been negociated.

In addition, however, to the professional go, there were amateur contests m various classes, the results being : Heavyweight, P. Hale, list. 12£1 B (Well:u.ston) and V. Baker, list. 81b (Petone). laker was ver/ disappointing, though m the third round he livened up somewhat, but as Hale\ had piled up a heap- of points and nev?.r gave the Petoneite a look-in, the referee (Dr. Napier-McLean) experienced no difficulty m giving the Wellingtonian the verdict.

m the feather-weight bout, L. Porter, 9st. 4fIB, who hails from Blenheim, met F. W. Kerr, 9st. l-Jlb (Wellington). Both gave a clever exhibition T Porter undoubtedly having the best of it. He severely punished Kerr, and at the termination o£ the three. rounds the. referee called .Kerr as the winner, a decision that was the signal for a demonstration of disapproval, angry, and even insulting epithets being hurled at the referee, who smiled his acknowledgements, though. Ms position was not an enviable one Indeed, the decision \yas a wretched one... Porter scored freely, he was more clever than Kerr, and individuals at the. ring-side as well versed m the laws governing boxing as the referee, were unanimous m voting the decision a rotten one.

In the bantam-weight- lash, I. Kutner, Bst. (Wellington), and L.. Steivart, Bst. s|.lb (Petone) came together, and though the Petoneite made it willing from tne gong, the yiddisher's coolness, his shiftiness and science enabled him to get out of danger every time, and he earned the referee's verdict.

Next, however, m importance to tne star turn, was the 6-round amateur bout between A. Leckie, lOst. lOfflb, 1 " and "Gus" Devitt, lOst. Btb (both of Wellington). The pair put up a slashing fight, but Leckie cannot be said as having been at his best, his showing on this occasion being inferior 1 to his last display m the Opera House. Devitt, however, has improved outf of sight and>; is.rthe .material out of which a champion is made. ' The pair went the limit, Devitt leading throughout, though at periods there were some hot rallies at close quarters. ,'i'Jie referee's decision, "Devitt,/" was loudly applauded.

It was not' till 9.45 that the principals of $he evening hopped through the ropes', both being favorably received. Elliott's weight ' was given at Bst 7 Jib, while that "6f Gosling was announced at 9st 31b. Gosling had an advantage m weight and height,' and was m superb condition. Elliott looked pasty, if anything, but once m action he soon showed that his preparation, had been a thorough one. After -a flash-Mfcht photo tyad been takeh, the pair set to. "(ioose" crouched more than usual, and Elliott, on the contrary, was as straight as a telegraph pole, shifty on his feet, and lightninglike with his, mits. H He was the first to get 1 thoroughly going, and m less than a round it was evident that, barring a knock-out, the little fellow would win. He possesses a never-enciing variety of punches.- His left hooks being of tbe ric;ht sort, while he can swing a m.ht that carries a with it. Indeed, it is not top much to say that Gosling from the beginning of Round 1 to the end of Round 15 was never m the hunt. He was guessing half the time where Elliott would next punch him, and that left seldom failed to connect. Never did Elliott fail to add a point. He ducked and dodeed m a manner reminiscent of Griffo. He was as quick as a cat on his pins, and simply worried his bigger and . hard-hitting opponent. A detailed account is really unnecessary, because it would simply be describing how Elliott punched, ducked, avoided, while . oose" oh the other hand, could not be credited with a dozen clean punches. Gosling was up against a clever, game lad. whose delene«e was invulnerable, and who gave the prettiest exposition of the game witnessed m Wellington for some time. past.

Elliott got the decision, and no doubt existed as to who the winner was. It is not at all improbable that Elliott will next month be matched with Godfrey, the champion feather-weight of the Dominion, to box m Wellington. Such a contest ought to prove a big drawing card.