BOXING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15824, 24 July 1913, Page 10

BOXING.

(By Stbaight Left.)

CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES. July 30 and 31—New Zealand Championships (Timaru). September 22 and 23—Suggested dates Australasian Championships at Dunedin. Within a week the representatives of tho various associations in New Zealand will have assembled at Timaru, where the New Zealand championship tournament, opens on the 30th inst. So far as can be gathered, 60me very strong teams have been entered for the championships, there being 6omo good talent in all the classes with the exception of the middle-weight and heavyweight divisions. In the last-mentioned the quality is poor, Paul M'Quarrie, a former champion of New Zealand in this class, being the only man so far to show form worthy of a championship representative, lie recently annexed the Poverty 'Bay championship ill good style, and a good judge who saw him in action a year or two ago when at tho top of his form states that M'Quairie's prospects of winning tho heavy-weight title of New Zealand this year are exceedingly bright. It would have been \;erv interesting to have seen the Otago champion (Geo. Mathoweon) and M'Quarrie in opposition to each other next week. Last time they met Mathewson gained a points decision over the ex-champion, and on that occasion the local man clearly outboxed M'Quarrie, whose only hope of 'victory lay in his ability to put his opponent to sleep. In the fifth' round he came near to aceom-. plishing this, but tho blow he delivered was hardly a fair one, in that the men were breaking away from a clinch when M'Quarrie struck Mathcwson, and this was obviously a breach of tho "clean break" principle. Mathcwson i 6 a vastly-improved boxer, and had he not been temporarily put out of action lie- would have been found mixing things with the best talent offering. Geo. Davis, who competed at tho Otago championships as a middle-weight, has had his last match in this class, and if he continues as a boxer he must henceforth take ■on the heavy-weights. This should not prove a very great hardship for him, as ho ought, fit and well, to turn the scales at a few pounds over I2st, which is a. very handy weight indeed. He is p. clever boxer, and with ordinary luck will win contests ill tho heavy-weight division H. Withy will doubtless not venture to get below middle-weight again. It was not an easy task for him to get to the welterweight limit, and although he won when he last appeared as a. welter, he was by no means i-;cen at his best, He should box better as a middle-weight. Albert Parker, who supervises the training of J. Munro and H. Withy, and who has several pupils, invited a number of boxing enthusiasts to. his gymnasium on Friday • evening jast to witness'the various j aspirahts for boxing fame in action. Withv and Munro boxed three good rounds, although they did not hurt each other. Munro's form in private is not a bit differ- : cnt from his public efforts, He has a style peculiarly his own; but he can.hit, and Hithard, and in addition he does not tacl ability to take hard knocks. Quite a num ber of young novices were seen in thr ring, and the _ majority acquitted themselves most creditably. Their mentor has 4 nice way of handling these young fellows. He is careful and painstaking, and does net rush them with too many things at a time Ho has devoted a _ great deal of time to u study of the scientific side of boxing, and so far a 6 ring craft is concerned, there i is little about it that he does not understand, His ability in this connection mate • him invaluable as a second when men arc engaged in a contest. A 6 a trainer iittlo need be said for him, as the performances , put up by men in his charge are ample j testimony of his qualifications in this respect.

On Saturday evening last Dave Smith, the cx-Otigo boxer, met Lee O'Donnell in a return match for tho light heavy-weight championship of Australia. The contest took place at the Sydney Stadium, and Smith won in the sixteenth of a scheduled 20-round bout, After tho first battle tweon this pair it was predicted by many that O'Donnell would turn the tables on Smith if they met again. It would be interesting to know what these self-appointed prophets have to say now. Supporters of boxing in Sydney arc clamouring for a contest between Pat Bradley and Dave Smith. Bradley is the United States welter-weight who recently knocked out Jim Sullivan, ex-middle-weight champion of England. Bradley possesses a terrific punch, and his record shows quite a number of sensational victories. He ha*> knocked out every man who has opposed him in thering. While it is conceded that Bradley is a good man, it is scarcely probable that lie would fare very well against a man of Dave Smith's cleverness and hitting ability.

Three young Invercargillites (says ''Onlooker," in the Times),, now residing In London, recently paid a visit to Highgate Cemetery in order to have ,a look at'the grave of that great fighter, Tom Sayere. A specimen of ivy from the last resting place of Sayeis came along by the last English mail, and now finds a place with the writer's sporting curios. Johnny Summers has settled down in Auckland in readiness for his match with Hock Keys. A Sydney writer 6ays that Summers is to receive £150, win or lose, and expenses, which is surely the record sum so far tendered a professional boxer in Maoriland. The Northern Boxing Association can scarcely bo said to be working in tho best interests of the snort by catering too lavishly for professional pugilists.

Luther M'Carty, it is stated, left an estate valued at £15,C00. This is the amount alleged to have been mentioned hy a Chicago legal firm which handled M'Oarty's financial affairs. Other reports say that the value of the estate was only £3000. Members of the Otagp Boxing Association paid an official visit to J. Patterson's boxing school at Cavcreham on Morjday night, where a special programme was put on for their benefit. The Otago bantam champion, G. Smith, was pivon a try-out against a handy feather-weight, and 1 he showed a great deal of improvement on the form displayed when ho defeated O'Farrell in tho final for tho bantam title. Smith attacks well, but ho is weak on defence. He appears to have a disposition to invito a blow in order that be may return it. Ho will find before long that a good defence is equally as essential for the equipment of ti boxer as anything else in tho game. The star bout was that between J. Finnerty, ex-light-weight champion, and A. Goodman. Finnerty has-been good enough to act as Goodman's starring partner ever sinco the latter's selection to represent thfc province at Timaru, and the effect upon Goodman is mosf marked. He is fitter now than ever he has been, and tho Way he tore at Finnerty was a treat to witness. He got something to ponder over on several occasions; but he took what came his way, and landed some hot blows on his heavier and taller opponent. During the three rounds that tho "try out" lasted it was full of interest, and Goodman proved conclusively that i'e is at the top of his form. He will keep tho northern cracks busy should he succeed m meeting the best of them, and, barring accidents, lie should be in the' filiate. There are ttvo brothers named Tyson, in J. Patterson's sohool. who are excellent types of manhood. One is a heavy-weight and the other a middle-weight. Both are showing a good deal of promise nt the boxing, and 6bouid bo seen in action before long. If they go on the right way they should be Otago's champions before many seasons are over their heads. They are quito young men, and with the best of their career as athletes before them. ' A fine exhibition of hand-spring work and various other physical exorcises was given by Mr Mathews on Monday night at Cavcrshnni, and these were greatly appreciated by the large crowd present at Patterson's school. The follt)n" ; ng entries were received on Saturday evening last for the New Zealand Championships, to beheld next week at Timaru:—Bantam—Davis (Gisborne). B. Poync (Auckland.). W. Cooper (Christ-

church), G. Smith {Otago), J. O'Neill (Westport), 0, Stewart (Timaru), Brice (Welling ton). Feather-weight—lreland (Gisbomej, N. Bennetts (Auckland), N. Ycrnall (Christ church), A. Goodman (Otagoj, J. Collini (Timaru!, H. B. Owen (Invercargill), l f . Kerr (Wellington, and Digby (Ashburton). Light-weight—N. James (Auckland), U. Thomas (Wanganui), J. Penrose vChristchurch), J. Munro lOtago), W. Shutt (Timaru), W. T. Neylon (Inyereargilli, Hunter (Wellington). Midtile-woight—Catc (Gisbornc), J. Cadinan (Auckland), T. Manning (Christchurch), H. "Withy (Otago), A. Clai'ko tTitnaru), A. C. Cooper (Invercargill), Dalzoll (Wellington). Welter—S. Mitchc-ll (Auckland), A. J. Ilavill (Wanga. nui), W. 15. M'Minn (Christchurch), W. Senior (Wcstport), A. Wood (Invercargill), Murphy (Wellington).