CANTERBURY CHAMPIONSHIPS.

NZ Truth, Issue 474, 18 July 1914, Page 10

CANTERBURY CHAMPIONSHIPS.

easily superior to Thomas's m this spell and with the round half gone he swung to the jaw and sent his man down. Thomas's head striking the floor settled the k.o. question, more effectually than did ?<lcMinn's right. George Gunn (Timaru), 7.11%, beat G. Munt (Christchurch), 5.2. Munt had a big advantage, m height, reach and weight, but the little Timaruvian possessed a knowledge of scientific boxing which will make a name for him. Munt did the leading in' the' first round and Gunn contented himself with dodging things. In the second round the little fellow sought thr clinch frequently and each time rattled home short arm jolts which plain : ly shook the 'tar out of the bigger fe! . low. Gunn dodged punishment agai. m the last round and occasionally landed a heavy left to Munt's frontispiece. The bout ended m the Timarooster's favor. LIGHTWEIGHT. N. Vernall (Christchurch), 9.7, beat J. Dempsey (Christchurch), 9.9. Vernall did not fight nearly up to his usual form. The first round opened briskly, Dempsey sparring to settle matters with an uppercut which Vernall easily evaded. In the second spasm Vernall ripped m a short uppercut ■which grogged his opponent. Both men were pumped at the end of the round and right through the last altogether devoid of steam and sting. Vernall Won. E. Morris (Christchurch), 9.9%, beat C. W. Henderson (Kirwee), 9.11. "Truth" has mentioned on a previous occasion that the man -who told Henderson he could fight is a prevaricator. The comment was again justified m Hendersons' dust-up Morris. From the word "go" he was a target for Morris. His face was painted m the first half-round and from, then until the end of the round he never landed once. \. The mill was stopped early; m the chapter. ■ WELTERS. Jimmy Penrose (Christchurch), 10.8, beat. Roy Bradley (Christchurch),. 10.8. Penrose appeared m a somewhat flabby condition ,and was unusually shortwinded. The pair. mixed it from the start and Bradley drew first blood with a. stinging right to Penrose' s boko. Penrose took things calmly until .towards the end- of the round when he

A Tame Tournament. I The 1914 Canterbury Championships were shoved off at tho Theatre Royal last Monday and Tuesday nights before bumper houses. Tho various bouts on the first night were somewhat tame and science was conspicuous by its absence. The second night's boxIng provided something moro classy and exciting, a couple of the finals being exceptionally keenly contested." The officials were as follows: — Re : feroe and Announcer, Mr. T. E. Robson; 'Judges,- Messrs.. C. T. Aschman. and H. Marsh: Timekeepers, Messrs. A. J. Carlton and R. Bennett; Competitors' Stewards, Messrs. E. Nordon, W. G. Atack; Scales Stewards, Messrs. J. Grlorson and A. Kirk; Costume Steward, Mr. W. G. Atack; Ring Steward, Mr. R. Evans; Secretary, Mr. H. B. Gould. The results wore ns under: — j BANTAMS. W. McMinn (Coalgate), 8.0%. beat V. Thomas (Christchurch), 5.2) Thomas conceded a good deal m condition. Tho mill opened wildly and McMinn was the first to steady things with a trio of solid lefts to Thomas's dial. Thomas drove his man to the ropes and got home with two or three staggerora .to the chin. Ho led on points at the end of tho round and piled a few moro on at tho beginning of tho next by banging tellingly at McMinn's ribs and taking tho wind clean out of his sails. McMinn piled up his credit m tho last round. His rlngcraft was

drove Bradley into a corner and was belaboring him with vicious lefts and rights when Referee Robson called Penrose off. The mill started again and Bradley was sent down" for six, the gong saving him. In the next round Penrose sent his man down for eight, on three occasions before Bradley caved In from sheer exhaustion. He is the pluckiest boy Chrlstchurch, has seen in 1 the ring for many a long day. j B. Toner (10.7%) beat C. Grey. (10.5). This was the comedy mill of the evening, both men being spare of condition and as awkward as young puppies. In the first round matters mixed wjllingly by both men and Toner's claret trickled merrily. Occasionally blows were landed — more by luck than good management — and towards 'the finish of the round the pair were knotted together like a pair, or parting lovers. About the middlo of the second round Gray, stooping down, spat out some false teeth, which wcro promptly collected by his second. Tho referee reckoned that Gray hud gone down without being hit and the mill was stopped. Toner was' declared tho winner, although if there were any points scored at all, they belonged to Gray. • J. Sloan (Chrlstchurch), 107, beat Billy Hayes (Christchurch), 10.3%. Hayes was m poor condition, whilst Sloan could not have been more "fit." Hayes put up an exceptionally clever display against big odds and. throughout the first two rounds, had his man m a quandary. The lighter man, however, was "all out" m the last round. Sloan's superior condition enabled him to walk into und severely trounce his j played out opponent. The fight was Sloan's. Jack Heatley (Ashburton) boxed a bye with Ted McMinn (Christchurch). Ileatley haw been out of tho limelight for about four years, but is anxious to como buck to the game. He Ih particularly desirous of a mill with Chisnall. and,' judging by his showing against McMinn. he should, with a few weeks' training, bo worth tho consideration of one of the Associations. Heatley lights at '.'.O. Ho brought Sharplln to light some time ago.

SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS. The middleweight semi-final saw Pat Manning: (Christen urch), 10.13, beat E. G. Norman (Christchurch), 10.12. Round one opened quietly, Manning; taking things easily, and connecting occasionally with lefts to the face, which lacked sting. Norman rotaliated vigorously, and made good showing until the middle of the second round, when Manning livened up and placed a couple of straight lefts to the chin, and hard rights to the body, sadly grogging Norman on the gong. The final round was all Mannings, although Norman was full , of grit arid retaliated gamely. * The final saw Manning beat Len Cade, 10.11. Manning opened warily, and, defeating Cade's lead for the jaw, landed a straight left to the face and a right to the, body, Cade evening the round up with a couple of telling halfarm jolts. Manning looked serious m tfie second round, -breaking down Cade's defence, and had him swinging wildly. Manning was easily master m the last- round, though Cade made a game showing. , Welter, semi-final— Toner beat Sloan. Sloan opened up apparently confident of wiping Tonor off the map without ceremony,, but Toner saw the round through without disaster. The second round saw both swinging wildly, until Toner suddenly sizzled with science, and repeatedly sent over telling lefts and rights into Sloan's dial. Sloan was groggy when' the .gong sounded. The last round saw a glorious dust-up, each pummelling the other unmercifully: Sloan was the

best boxer, but the strength and sting belonged to Toner. The decision m his favor was popular. Penrose beat E. McMinn. Penroso made a fight of it from the start, and McMinn was inclined to run from punishment. \vicMinn connected tellingly towards the end of the round, but was much behind at the gong. Early In the second round. Penroue whipped m a couple of uppercuts, which rattled McMinn. who smothered. Breaking from the smother. McMinn landed a couple of beauties to Penrose's dial, but the latter waded In, and then the fight was over as far ns McMinn was concerned. In the middle of tho last round, Penrose leathered McMinn un-

mercifully, and the referee stopped tho fight. The welter final found Toner Imdly rattled after his mill with Sloan, and tho doctor not allowing him to enter tho ring, Fonrose was declared the winner. Lightweight final— Vcrnull beat Morris, Morris walked all over Vcrnall curly In the first round, but Vernal I recovered, and, fighting with wild dash, evened up the points In the second half.

Morris *was v game, ■ but palpably out- ' classed. At the finish of the second round both wero pumped. In the third round, Vernall sent Morris down. Morris was counted out, but there was some dissention, and the referee set/ tthe boys going again. But it was a hopeless case for Morris. Featherweight congest — Charlie Chisnall, S.B, beat Len Grant, 8.13: These were the only contestants. Chisnall rushed Grant off his feet from the commencement, and outed him after 90 seconds. .'■.'. Bantam Final — W. McMinn beat G. Gunn. McMinn was rob strong for the game little Timaruvian, who put up a highly creditable showing against overwhelming odds. McMinn was the only -man m it, and, knowing this, he fought kindly.