AMONG THE AUCKLAND AMATEURS.

NZ Truth, Issue 474, 18 July 1914, Page 4

AMONG THE AUCKLAND AMATEURS.

'■•'■^.^ Of THE NOBLE AE

.;'' ' The Northern Boxing Association m- ' „ kugrurated the Auckland Provincial - Amateur Championships at the AuckC; land Town Hall, on Monday evening j • J last, the finals being-contested on Tues- | :v , day evening. ' - There was a fair attendance on the ■ . opening night,, and generally speaking, ', ~. it was a;v?eljrbehayed audience of fans / "who " sat!, itight' from eight - till nearly /,'■ jnid-night, the "pubs being given a r cihance" just before 10 o'clock. The vj management was good, and appaitaxtly, / things ran "smoothly for air concerned. &■ ■ It, however/ cannot be said (for. the % femateurs" f generally,. ..' that , anything ■ -.' •'slick*' was discovered. There was '*] tittle sdentiflc or really cierver boxing, tout there was plenty of fun and this / perhaps is. what the "fan" at the "ama- / «dboor/s" looks for. ; - , Iproceedings opened with the'light'h 9;12%, and S. 4 ."WSalley, SiiEf, both of . Auckland. In ' rf ißT^e^ranc^lipoth^lads'- seemed evenly ' xaajtciiieSr- They got to it at once and ■* mixed it, the best punch by a right ••'■ «ross from Whalley. Nelson, however, more than held' his own m close quarters. Once or twiqe Nelson scored with / left hooks and all but caught Whalley . "with a smashing right. Whalley with ?- 4a. straight left scored, but Nelson everi--4 ed with a/isin4Jar punch; .If anything / iat all it i^halley's ' round. Early j In Qic sfecond^ rbuiid "vThalley s&red '■'■' -wiffl '■? a* right upper-cut and a couple /of lefts to the face, Nelson responding ■' -with right i^nd left to ribs and jaw. / TTniey showed a tendency to hug and ■were cautioned by Referee Burns for / fourth time. As the round pro- ■ fceeded, Whalley showed cleverness and •piled up points, badly fooling. Nelson. '■:-. JNelson scored with a straight left but V ,"Whalley came back; and, metaphorically speaking 1 , put it all over his opponent Whalley tried for a knock-otit ■with his right tout failed to connect. > Still he -was well ahead on points and •'•; as the gong clanged, poked a straight .. left to Nelson's nose. They mixed it / from the beginning of . the third round, Nelson becoming: desperate and try 1 - L : ing to finish it with his right, but ' Whalley was full r of fight and came v iftt him, Nelson gpUlng the worst of it '■:'■ .Whalley scored with a right and "left ,and put> m somp; .pretty i body blows,! completely outclassing his opponent' . The gong sounded with Whalley an. •osy winner. .;. . ; ' The first pair fax the feather-weight \ division .^ere. S. Blomfield, , 8.12% XMoTrinsvnie) and Gordon Brown, JB.ii3% (Auckland). • Blomfleld" -with a ■wild right landed- on* the side of the head and immediately gave an excel-., \ lent « oppprtunityi: of navinff his head knocked off' ;by* rushing : m, but Brown -• xntesed the '< opportunity of upper-cut- " Itingr and a' second or two later stopped $b right on tho eaK'. The boy , from the fcountry -was doing all the fighting . and put a lot of power beTiind his punches bat few of them landed which, However, was not due to Brown's Cleverness, tho Auckland boy being tebout as graceful' as an elephant ,on Jris , feet and 1^ seemed m, dange^ of txipping 1 himself j In the second round, •Bloinfleld just landed, with alright to )tho jaw and later'on, m a little mix-up,, fecored with right and left to neck and face.. He showed the possession of a decent left, bxtt did not »nse it- enough. :v33rown scpred\for about' the .first time ■with a dean stnjlight left, but later on, .Jio showed the possession of a good jright upper-cut ] -which ( landed twice. Blomfield came at him- with ja left to '^ho chin and had the city boy m ''Queer" street, the gong saving him. Brown was the aggressor at the opening of the third round and scored several. times, with the left, finishing by tanging tho right to the ribs and a similar punch to the jaw. He forced the pace and thie pair swopped punches m the. centre of the ring. Brown was , having, all tho better of this round and scored wi^h a left to the face and irlghtand left to the; body. They continued to punch with .what little strength they had, Brown using a right upper-cut. They fought to a standstill and at tho'. gong: Referee Burns patted; Brown . on the head as . tho winnerV a -decision which met with j the hearty /disapproval of the crowd, j Nevertheless, Brown, must have just j got there on points. JY McNicol, 10.0 (Taumarunui), had as an opponent W. SmiUi, 9.12 (Auckland), m the light-weight division. McNicol is a very clever boxer, and Smith was absolutely no match for hinVbeing a. veritable "mug." In the second round Smith worked his arms like a threshing 1 machine, and where on earth lie g,ot the idea .that ho was m " tho Freddy Welsh class would be worth learning. Ho was a "joke" though he j could punch;*from all directions without landing. Twice' McNicol put him to tho. floor, but, it was really a push ;-.nd when next; McNicol went to the mat with Smith on top it was due to tho fact that Smith collared him low. What boxing thero was m the third round was shown by McNicol, who is really a Chriatohurch ; boy, and ho got tho decision /having, m the. last round smacked Smith half a dozen times on tho back of the neck and sending him %o tho floor. Light- weights again tilled the bill, the pair being .T. Green, D.3&, and F. Stanley, 9.12, both of Auckland. From tho gong they got to it, Stanley socking right and left to tho face, Green spelling for six seconds early m tho round. Ejtanlcy gave him no peace and banged a hard right to the nose, Green's, facoboing a red-hued picture. After a bit of a rally a right to tho jaw from Stanley sent Green down for woven, but up again, ho carried the , lighting to his moro stocklly built and heavier opponent, but Stanley hit him oft with a vicious right upper-cut. SUinloy'a round. After the spell, Greon recognised what was vory patent to

all. He was too* light and retired from the fray, Stanley winning the heat. The feather-weights "Casey" Russell, .8.11, and C. White, 8.12 (both of Auckland), were the next pair. On paper this promised to be one of the best "goes" of the evening. White early commenced to worry Russell with a straight- left, but "Casey" warmed up and evened matters with a left to • the face and body, varied with., a right jolt to the ribs. He scored with a very pretty left to the side of the head and also to the. body. White, however, | was jabt letting "Casey" .have it all' his own way and rushed the ex-Welling- ! ton feather to the floor, and while; the latter was rising, White brought his left up, whereupon there were cries of "f0u1.".. The round, ended with honors about, even. "Casey" m the second; round slammed ".a* left to the jaw and a second or twp afterwards stopped one himself on the same place. Both held and punched f or a while and were 'ordered to -'break. ...... There, was tod much of a disposition to clinch and hug, and m the ring "Casey" forgot to show his "gym" form. White has a long reach and this was all m his favor, forcing: v Casey" to come m on top of him. A quiet round with little m itV ,<"Gasey" started to worry his more lengthy* opponent m the third and at close, quarters, dealt out stoush to the face and ribs. He continued to worry White I ,' who was put oh the defensive. "Casey" several times sent m some stingers with both hands to the nose and then turned his attention to the ' rib,s ; where he scored. The decision, White wins, was not a popular one, though a correct one m writer's mind.' ■* , : s The light-weights, M. James, "9.8% (Onehunga)^ and J. Morrison, ?> 9.11 (liforrinsville), next occupied the ring. It was ladylike all through the -/first, the pair, tapping with James tapping the most effectively." When the second opened there were suspicions of a "ready" about the bout, until Morrison began to lash, whereupon James sent over a Milburn Saylor-like right to the' jaw which- hurt. James* piled s up points without inflicting .any unnecessary punishment. It was/ very noticeable that the Morrrasvilie wink was' in working' order. In the third ,the "fans" m the gods called on the authorities to "stop this fight" showing [their appreciation of if It dragged out its weary length for the, full 180 seconds, the decision going to James. \ The feather, J< Newso^,' 8.12 (Taumarunui), and .-Fogarty,* §.10 (Auckland), announced by "Majah" Plugge as new comers from the Cold Country,, were next. On the strength of his draw wittfßennetts at Hamilton," Newson: was regarded as a > likely ! boxer, as indeed he is, but Fogarty from the commencement rushed and bustled him almost off his feet, m fact did push Newson down for a tew seconds. The punching was the blows delivered by Newson being the cleverest Fogarty. is a slogger, if nothing else, and soon commenced to tiro, Newson then finding his weak points./ The first round ,was anybodys. . Freshened by the spell, Fogarty came again. Newson was ready for him and fought liim, landing a few body blows. Fogarty at ■ close . range scored!:, with/ a couple- of rights to, the, face, No^wsbn's nose showing signs of a visitation. 'If anything Fogarty had, the .advantage 'of the, round. The. final three minutes saw Fogarty again poke hi»» lef t to Newson's nose, and at close .quarters Newson had it slightly m his 'favor. There was little clean punching, all being rushing and bustling. Stoush of a punch for punch variety followed, Newson landing one or two clean blows to the face and getting the decision. The feather-weights, P. Morris, 8.10 (Auckland), and C; Nelson, 8.13 (Onohunga*, so managed it as to "give the pubs a chance" as the fight was all over m less, than half a/minute. Nelson walkings right in v ' and clouting Morris out, actually standing by and preventing tho defeated lad from toppling to the floor, a little act which shows how "brutal 1 * a boxer is. Two .middle-heights m H." Hook, 11.4 (Taumarunul)/and 11. Patrick, ll'O (Auckland), noxt appeared. Hook is bald, and "Fitzsimmonsesque", m oipperfranee. From the word go they made it ■willing. The "wfilte f hope" (Patrick) »s a Maori, and threatened annihilation on several occasions, but they fought at catch-as-catch-can rules, and hugged and shoved to their heart's delight and the delight of the "fans.',' During the spell, two Maoris had it out on their own m 4ne pods. The second was a scrleH of riots m the ring; they punched m all directions, somo landing and a lot more missing. Somo hurt and some didn't. Tho Maori's mouth and nosa showed Mood and he was fought to a. frazzle, In fact both were beaton to a frazzle. The third round defies description. It was all slosh but. little strength m tho slosh. They rarely missed the mark and towards tho finish of the round the "dago" scored with some clean punching to the face. Another round wna ordered, ut the expiration of -which, ■ Referee Burns gave tho decision Jo Hook. I The first pair of welters were W. Smith 10.7%, and W. Pinno, 10.6, both of Auckland. This went to the middle I of the second round, when Smith s«nt In a right swing: which luckily connected Pinno (topping to the floor. Herose again and stopped another, Again he roue and this time Smith made no mistake.. In tho welter class. A. Oriflln, 10.2%. and J. Grantham, 10.7%, met. It was all over m a quarter of a round, Griffin, by some unaccountable means fall - inp to tho floor and stopping there tlll^ the count was put over him. At this stage tho ever-green "Torpedo" Billy Murphy issued his imuul challenge to any "fodder" m thin world and tho next. Unfortunately, the present generation of "fans" knows not Billy. Tho middle-weight pair, W. Dickson, 1Q.12 (Taumarunui), and B. Spark, 10.13 (Auckland), next hopped through tho ropes. After a round and a half of very uninteresting- wrapping, Spark turned ll up. Norman Bennetts, S.lO <\h(> AuHtraliiHlau feather-weight champion), drew N. AndnrKon, SJ.IOVi (Northern Walron) ns hl.s opponent anil m thu «>jM«rfin»c mages tho Northern boxer .shaped vi-ry wi.'ll. particularly ut elo.xti <pinrt««r«, but. hl« offorl wan a Hhort-livrd ont', »» with i1k))1 :m«l left KwlnicM to the Jaw, llennetts punctu'd A»nl<-r«on ! allly, necosultaUnic Kmnk Hurnj* Htcppiug and putlinj? Uunucttn off, and declaring him th,<j winner. The middle- weigh In, fi. Monroe, ll.», ant! J." f'nrlnmn, 21.4, bolhN o£ AuckJlz aiaticlpuicd, '

Cadtnan soon took the measure of his opponent and dropped him fully half a dozen times before Referee Burns recjpgnised that Monroe was out of the hunt altogether, and ordered a cessation of hostilities; declaring Cadman the winner. The light-weights, E. Cooke, 9.12 (Taumarunui), and F. Craig, 9.8% (Auckland), were the next pair of gladiators. After a most uninteresting go, Craig got the decision. Then came P. W. Gloss, 11.0, and H. Lewis, 11.1%, middle-weights, both of Auckland, which resulted m a win for Lewis. . Other results of the evening, fought close on mid-night, were: C. White, defeated C. Nelson m the featherweight class; while. J. MeNicol won on a k.o. m the third round from A. J. Wilson, 9.12 (Christchurch). . THE SECOND NIGHT. Despite the wet \ and threatening weather, a large crowd rolled up to the Town Hall on Tuesday evening last, when the semi-finals and finals were contested. Again good order and. good management throughout. In view of the big programme, an early start at 7.30 was decided on. In order to qualify for the semi-final ',; lightweights, F. Stanley and Whalley met Expectations were for a willing go, as both are local lads and keen rivals. The men being of an unfriendly character, there were no beg pardons about thia go, both being out to win. They hit hard and often; Wtialley scoring with a straight left 1 and Stanley endeavoring to finish matters off with a series of wild vicious right swings. They started to fight the second round m earnest, . Whclley scoring with a straight and also cleverly avoiding Stanley's terrific swings. Stanley, with a couple of lefts to the jaw, rattled him, but, after a little mix-up, Whalley dropped Stanley with a right to the jaw for six. Whalley severely punished him after this. He twice dropped him, and there was no doubt about it being fight for goods. Whalley's round. In the third round, Stanley stopped a left with his nose,. and then fought foully and had to be cautioned. But_ Whalley was his master, and his straight left again dropped Stanley to his knees. The pair . were ■ quickly at it- again, and Whalley dropped Stanley' once more witn a straight left. Stanley came up for more and got it from Wnalley's right as the gong sounded, Whalley being declared the winner/ and then the sworn enemies shook dooks, Stanley recognising at last that Whalley was h's master. This scrap proved an appetiser for the fans/ who were. now m great glee. In order to qualify for the semifinals m the middleweights, S. A. McLiver met G. Hook. It was all over m less than half a round. Hook smashing a couple of terrific rights to the jaw, and McLiver being knocked out. Bantams, semi-finals — S*. Brahatn, 7.7%, v. R. Conwayi" 8.0. This proved a spirited three-round go, being bright and' fast, with, flashes of cleverness. Braaam got the decision, which was very popular. H. Gilchrist, 7.13%, v. W. Hayward, 8.1%, met next. This bout was responsible for a really clever exposition of boxing between the pair. Gilchristfs strength stood him m good stead, and towards the close of the third round, a right swing to the jaw sent Hayward out. It must .be said for the" loser that he is as game as the proverbial bull, and, witn a little, more ring experience,, he is bound to ( be heard of. He lias the cleverness, but lacks the strength. The final saw S. Braham meet H. Gilchrist, This was a clever, tricky little bout, Gilchrist finishing the winner, but with :lttle to spare. Owing to the* defection of G. Brown and G. White, the pair left m the feather final were J. Newson and N. Bennetts; v They started at "close quarters, and f-Bennetts smashed his right to the face. .Generally they fought at close quarters, Newson giving as much as he got. Inthe second and third round he moro than held his own, and- the decision m his favor was t.ie most popular of the night. Lightweight, semlrflnal— J. McNichol v. M. James. This proved one of the cleverest bouts of -the evening, James eventually getting the verdict. They were followed by S. Whalley and R Craig. ThiiT was 1 ' another clever bout, proving the efficacy of the straight left po-^ossed by Craig, who got the docislion. In the final, M. James and F. Craig met. James won pretty well all tho way, thus winning the championship for the Jecond time. r ' Welters, semi-final— -L. Shaw, 10.2, v; J.lGrantham, 10.5, both^of Auckland. This was a fairly attractive' go, both showing the possession of good, straight lofts, Grpntham having tho advantage of a longer reach. It was an even go till tho third round, when Granthuin piled up points by using his straight left; Shaw vainly endeavoring to swing a right which, had it landed, would have put him into the final. Grantham got the decision. ■ The next pair wero W. Smith, 10.9. and f. Kelland, 10.5% (Taumarunui). This go was all over m the second round. A. couple of straight lefts to the noso (one of them a pearler), followed by v right swing, sent Smith out for keeps. Grantlunn and Kelland met m the final,. and, after, a somewhat gory go, Kellaml got the verdict. Middleweight, semi-final— J. Cadman mot \V. DlcUson. After three fairly good, solid rounds, m which Dlckson proved himself a surprises packet, another round was ordered, which Dickson won, though the referee said otherwise. It was the one bud decision or the tourney. The next pair wero P. Closs and G. Hook. After three rounds of half comedy lighting, another round was ordered. Closs won m a wild round. Middleweight final— J. Caaman v. Clqsb. In a willing go, Closs won. Heavies, Bcml-flnal — J. McHugh, 12.12 (Auckland), and J. Macßell, 12.4 (Waltakcrei). (MeHugh is a local John Hop.) This bout could hardly bo described as boxing— it was a rough-up or dust-up. There was little clean punching. McHugh simply bored m and roughed it on tho ropes with Macßoll. and whatever was m it was McHugh's, and he got the decision. Tho next pair were C. Savory, 14.2, and J. Modrick, 13.1. Thin, too, was a most unsatisfactory bout, In fact, disappointing for heavyweights. After three very dull rounds, Savory got tho decision. Thl* also proved to bo tho final, an McHugh injured his wrist In his bout with MucUcll, and was compelled to withdraw, Savoury, therefore, winning the champlonßhlp.