AMATEUR'S TROUBLES.

NZ Truth, Issue 317, 22 July 1911, Page 8

AMATEUR'S TROUBLES.

Thus "An Amateur" t — ln last j week's "Truth" I noticed a letter by "Taihoa," who evidently knew what he was writing to be correct. I api an amateur boxer, and would like to go further and touch on a subject of greater importance than any yet mentioned. I refer to the question of knockouts. As a patfilul illustration I refer you to the recent Hamilton tournament, when out of fourteen bouts there were nine knock-outs. Why should this be so, and what is the reason ? Cannot a referee prevent a large number of these unpleasant endings to friendly competitions ? An amateur bout, if either be beaten— l mean "badly done" — should be stopped at once, and a plucky young fellow should not be humiliated by being knocked-out before an audience of a thovsand or

Winners at the recent Nelson tournament wore : — Bantam, C. Simmonds . (Nelson); feather, G. Henry (Nelson) ; light, Harris (Nelson;. Other winnei'S were Hunter, Hargreaves and Fisher, all of Nelson. The tournament was confined principally to representatives from Westport and Nelson. The Westport lads didn't carry off any of the honors. The probability is that the ftelsonites will return the visit to Westport. Things might pan out differently then. The discussion of the floor covering of the ring for the Canterbury championships has been under duscussion by the Christchurch Sports Club, the secretary to which believes that it is i]iiite m accordance with the Police Offences Act, but it is understood that the New Zealand Council is to table a motion at tho Conference of local Associations m Invercar-gill on July 25, rocommemVn.i>- that the under-covering o f iho lioor should he of thicker felt. Christchurch is not the only place whore injuries have been received by falling- orf the im-perfectly-protected boards.

! The "all-in" game m Australia isn't likely to become popular. The display the other day between the Japanese wrestler and. the pug. was j a frost, and the pug. was beaten. The latest m the line is a challenge from one Franisch, a wrestler, to Bill Lang, but as Bill asked for a £500 side bet, no business resulted. Jack Clarke, the Sydney lightweight, is desirous of crossing over to the Dominion if any Association is willing to Pay his expenses. Jack has a long career of victories, and .should bo capable of extending Tim Tracy, or any othT eligible lightweight. Jack's latest contest m ■Sydney was against one L.arry Koran. it middle-weight. It was v n °t thing while it lasted, and through the interference of Ihc police the battle was stopped and Foran got the decision. "Boxer-Major," a very capable l>"g. critic, m a Sydney Paper, declares that Foran should have been disqualified and the verdict .should have g<uie to Jack. It might pay some enterprising Association t o bring Clarke across to the Dominion.

I "Second" has not heard of Jim iSharjje of late. -As "The Oobar Chicken," or otherwise George Sterling, is back m New South Wales the identity of the mysterious heavy of Hawke's Bay might be now established. Chvistchurch is endeavoring to produce a "hope." Two of the entrants m the heavy- weight championship were over 15 stone. Of course, they are amateurs, but if a irnan is phenomenal it 'seems to be the practice to desert the amateur ranks for something better. Jack Smith writes from Waipukurau affirming the fact that he is to meet Barney Ireland at WaipaWa on August 2, and announces that he will be m fine fettle. The winner. Jack declares, is to be pitted against the victor m the Burns-Leckie disturbance at .Christchurch. Jack makes some uncomplimentary remarks about the Hastings sports who offered him a fiver to fight Ireland. The forthcoming Sullivan-Kelly go m Wellington should give the game a much-needed lift m the Capital City. Kelly is training m Wellington, and is being mentored by Hairy Sandow, who promises that the Australian will enter the ring fit to fight through all eternity and a little ■ longer. Kelly is himself sanguine of ' winning, and to win he will have to ;go some, as the "Siddy" boy is a clever, game artist. His go with "Dealer" Wells won't be forgotten m a hurry. As a preliminary, the Wellington bodj- should consider the advisability of putting on Frank Ellis and Albert Havill, both of whom are spoiling for fun.