BOXING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 57

BOXING.

BY STRAIGHT LEFT

Before these notes arc published the amateur Novice Tournament of the Otago Boxing Association will be a matter of past history in boxing circles, and comment on this fixture will be reserved for a future issue, when there will, no doubt, be ample material for criticism, which should be in the interest of amateur boxers as well as the association.

Last week reference was made to the manner in which professional boxing was catered for by some of the northern associations, and, tight on top of that reference, comes the information that the Wellington Boxing Association is in a critical condition financially, and a further bombshell from Auckland in the nature of a protest against the manner in which the local governing body of the sport is conducting boxing matters in its district. It will have been seen that, notwithstanding the fact that quite a number of tournaments were held in Wellington under the jurisdiction of the association during last season, the support received from the public was insufficient to cover the cost of these and the association's banking account had to bo drawn upon to meet the deficits to the extent of £162. Followers of the “noble art” will remember that many important professional contests were conducted by the association for which substantial monetary prizes had to be found, and the fact that the door receipts did not cover the cost of these fixtures goes to prove one of two things. Either the general public were not in accord with the association’s efforts to push ahead professional boxing, or they wore not satisfied with the manner in which those matches were arranged. To anyone who appreciates good, healthy sport, it would appear that, in putting forward such a largo number of professional matches, the association was unwittingly striking n blow at amateur sport, and thus was not carrying out the objects for which it was brought into existence. The Wellington Boxing Association should have known, and probably does know now, that amateur boxing is a sport that many people are in sympathy with, but when an association, wlioje function it is to promote contests among amateurs, commences to arrange professional bouts, in a particular class, it quickly loses the support of such people, and thus finds itself in the inglorious position of having to draw upon a reserve fund, which was built up long before there were the num-

her of professionals in the Dominion there arc to-day.

Boxing is a splendid pastime and one of the healthiest sports that any young man could indulge in. and the funds of a boxing association should be devoted towards placit on a footing that would niukc it appreciated by all. In this connection, the Otago Boxing Association is worthy of the highest commendation. It is true that professional contests have taken place in the city under the jurisdiction of this association, but it is doubtful whether any of them have covered the cost incurred in arranging them. It was duo thereto that the Otago Association last year decided to dispense with professional contests, and to do its utmost to cater for the amateurs, with the result that it now has a healthy banking account, and its membership is increasing rapidly and everything is going along most satisfactorily, and there are no discordant' notes sounded by anyone. If the Wellington and Auckland Associations had adopted similar lines, they would not have found themselves in the posiion they are in today. It is true that the Northern Boxing Association is fairly strong financially, but then, on the other hand, those responsible for its upkeep are demanding reform in the methods of managing the affairs of the institution. The amateurs in the northern city, according to a telegraphed report of a recent conference of boxers in Auckland, fee! that they have a grievance against the association on the grounds that the association's funds have been accumulated with their assistance, and now those funds wore being wasted in arranging professional contests which proved very ordinary indeed, and not of sufficient importance to claim the attention of the public. Reform is undoubtedly needed, if the pastime of boxing is to maintain its hold on the public, and the associations most directly concerned should see to it that they direct their energies in the channel which will moot public sympathy and support. The date of the fight between Carpenticr and Wells base been altered to June 1. WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, April 22. In moving liie adoption of the report and balance sheet, the chairman of the Wellington Boxing Association (Mr It. W. M'Villy) said lie did not do so with much pleasure. He thought the position they found themselves in after a very strenuous year was a matter for very sincere regret. In 1910 the credit balance was £519 17s; in 1913 it was £172 16s. lie was of the opinion that the association had put on too many matches during the year. Only one competition, the amateur tourney, showed a profit. Ho advised, the committee to go back to the old policy of four or five com petit ions annually. NOTICE TOURNAMENT. The Otago Boxing Association opened its season in His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday night, in the presence of a good attendance of the public, with a novice tournament. The President, in opening the tournament, ex-

pressed pleasure at the increased number of Jodies Who attended, as compared with the fixtures hold last season, and ho hoped that as the season advanced others would show their interest in the sport. It was gratify--1 ing to know that other associations were I following- the example of the Otago Association in endeavouring to promote good clean sport, and to confine it to amateurs as much as possible. They all wanted to encourage amateur boxing, and he honed that thenefforts would be appreciated. The following arc- the results: BANTAMS (Novice). G. Smith (Dunedin) 8.-1 beat V. Turner (Dunedin) 8.4. 11. V. Morris (Dunedin) 8.4 beat A. Melville (Dunedin) 8.3. T. Tracey (Dunedin) 8.4 beat E. Morgan (Dunedin) 8.4. The bout between Smith and Turner was very tame in the fii-st round, the contestants hitting into space for the greater part of the three minutes. The second encounter was more interesting, and Smith exhibited some good work. Turner got in a useful l uppercut in the final round, hut some telling left hooks by Smith enabled him to emerge a winner by a fair margin. Morris and Melville missed more often than they came into contact. In the last round Morris, by means of back-hand end swinging blows, scored the greater number of tho few points either of them earned, and was declared the winner. His opponent “bowed much better stylo, and at times got in some tolling blows. Morgan and Tracey provided a good interesting bout. Tracey was considerably tailor than his opponent, and in the first round he went to his corner with the points in his favour. The next round saw Morgan reduce the margin of the points against him, and Tracey was only slightly ahead when the gong sounded for corners. In the last round Morgan did most of the boxing and had the beet of the round. The referee’s decision was in favour of i Tracey. It had a mingled reception, but i was a correct one. Morgan was cheered as he left the ring. FEATHERWEIGHTS. Six-round Bout. G. Armstrong (Oamaru) 9st 31b beat P. Torric 9st. This was one of the best bouts of the evening. What gave the contest an addi--1 tiona! attraction was the fact that Torrio had lust week beaten Goodman, ex-feather-weight champion of Australasia, at Timaru. Armstrong, however, to describe the con- : t es t briefly, was the winner in five rounds out of the six. He scored point after point ; m the first round, and added to them in ! the second. In the third round the contest : was more even, but Armstrong kept his I load. Torric missed several openings, his j direction being very erratic. The fourth round taw matters mixed, with Armstrong ! doing the most telling work. His footwork ! enabled him to evade trouble on two or three occasions. The fifth round saw both men about equal so far as points were concerned, and Armstrong looked tired ns he went to his corner. The final round was tho only one in which Torrie made a good

show, and he made tilings warm for his opponent. He repeatedly had Armstrong on the ropes, but the latter won the bout. Torrie gave a disappointing display, LIGHT-WEIGHT (Novice). A. H. Donnelly (Dunedin) 9.4 beat W. Sims (Dunedin) 9.6. R. Leckie (Dunedin) 9.6 beat J. Findley (Dunedin), 9.10. The bout between Donnelly and Sims was a mirth-provoking contest more than a boxing display. Neither competitor knew much about boxing, and their wild swings into space evoked roars of laughter from die audience. Donnelly was declared the winner. The next bout had not gone far when the referee stopped it, the reason being that it was an unequal contest, Leckie being far too clever and crafty for Findley. WELTER-WEIGHT (Novice). J. Potter (Dunedin) 10.5 beat G. M'Leod (Dunedin) 10.6. R. Torrie (Dunedin) 10.9 beat S. Oxley (Dunedin) 10.10. After a number of attempts Potter sue ceedcd in breaking his novice status by defeating M'Leod in an uninteresting contest lasting four rounds. They boxed the three allotted rounds, and the referee ordered another, which ended in favour of Potter. With more experience M'Leod should make a good boxer. Torrie had a rather easy win on points against Oxley. Ho showed more generalship, and although his opponent scored at times, the honours were always with Torrie, and the decision in his favour was well received. LIGHT-WEIGHT. Six-hound Bout. S. Easton (Invercargill) 9.10 beat W. Borebam (Dunedin) 9.10. This was the last bout witnessed during the evening. Boroham put up a game showing against Easton, who is champion of Southland, and although defeated he proved a “ foemnn worthy of his steel.” The Southlander won handsomely and punished Boreham, but the latter took it well and meted out a fair portion in return. THE TIMARU TOURNAMENT. The Timaru Boxing Association held its initial tournament for this soason on Wednesday evening in the presence of a crowded audience. The various bouts were well contested, and some very good boxing was witnessed. The bouts decided should be of especial interest to local boxers, as Dunedin was represented in strong force, for out of four contests scheduled live of the eight contestants hail from these parts. Following are the results: BANTAM WEIGHT. Stewart (Timaru) Bst 51b beat O’Farreil (Dunedin) Bst 31b. . The local man appeared to out-gencrai his opponent, his superiority in ringcrult over U Farrell being most marked. Stewart did not hurry matters in the first and second rounds, and appeared to be taking the measure of hie opponent. O’Farrell scored a number of points by his infighting tactics in the third round, but at no time did he appear to have a winning chance as far as a points victory was concerned. In the succeeding rounds Stewart was easily master of the situation and scored wtin both hands freely. WELTER WEIGHTS. Davis beat Withy. D. Boreham (Dunedin), who was to have opposed Withy (Dunedin), did not make the trip, and Davis, of this city, filled the breach. After a bout, which was full of interest, be scored a meritorious win in the final of a closely-contested six rounds. Honours were fairly even up to the end of the fifth round. Early in the last round both men were very aggressive, but Withy apparently lacked condition. LIGHT WEIGHTS. Shutts (Timaru) 9st 111 b beat Barry (Christchurch) 9st 31b. This was only a mediocre event, and one in which the Timaru representative towered head and shoulders over his opponent so far as ability wont. The towel came from Barry’s corner shortly after the commencement of the third round. FEATHER WEIGHTS., P. Lorry (Dunedin) Bst 13!b beat A. Goodman (Dunedin) Bst 10lb. There was very little done by either- ,of the contestants in the first round, but -Goodman had the best of matters at the finish. Goodman began quickly in the second and rushed Lorry to tire ropes, but the latter quickly recovered and used his left to some purpose on tiio ex-Australasian champion, who appeared to be troubled by this form of attack. When the gong sounded Lorry had a lead of a few points, 'i he pace in the third round was very fast, and at “corners,” after a number of hard exchanges, the honours for the round were even. The next round was not of a very exciting nature, veiy little damage being done by either of the boxers. In the fifth round there was some very smart work, from which Lorry emerged with a shade the better of the argument. In the concluding round Goodman made a gallant effort to avert defeat, but when the gong sounded Lorry led by a narrow margin, and thus won the bout. The decision met with a mixed reception, but to those who were in a position to judge it could not have been otherwise.