BOXING

Otago Witness, Issue 3831, 16 August 1927, Page 53

BOXING

By

CROSS-COUNTER.

August 17, 18, and 19. —New Zealand amateur championships, at Invercargill.

TRAINING COLLEGE TOURNADIENT. The boxing at the Training College tournament between Christchurch and Dunedin provided some good contests, the Dunedin team being particularly strong. They took four bouts out of the five. Good form was shown by W. Spencer and A. Ferguson (Dunedin) and D. G. Grant (Christchurch), the last named showing much science.

W. Spencer (Dunedin), who beat J. Hamlin (Christchurch) in the bantamweight, showed that he knew his work. Hamlin made the fighting, but was wild. He went down for “eight” in the third round, and the referee stopped the fight. In the light-weight class, A. Ferguson (Dunedin) beat W. Gaudin (Christchurch). Ferguson began well and made every blow tell. Gaudin’s habit of dropping his guard cost him a lot of punishment. He showed that he could hit hard, but Ferguson’s deliberate fighting won him the bout.

The welter-weight bout, in which D. Brown (Dunedin) beat T. Kelly (Christchurch), was very willing, but there was much energy wasted. The pace was too much for both or them. Kelly was feeling the effect of Brown s face blows. Toward the end the fight was very even, but Brown gained the decision. lhe only class in which Christchurch won was the middle-weight, in which D. G. Grant beat L. Dlanson. This was the most scientific bout of the tourney. Both " atched each other, but Grant got home early with some fine blows to the face Dlanson swung wildly at times, but his opponent s footwork was equal to the occasion. Grant’s straight left was troubling Dlanson sorely when the gong sounded. °

The heavy-weight contest, in which A. Maicolm (Dunedin) beat W. Dlarsh (Christchurch), was short-lived. A wellplaced left dropped Dlarsh for “three ” and no sooner had he regained his feet than he went down again for the count.

NOTES. The Napier Association has every reason to be pleased with the result of the last turnout. About 1200 people attended toe contests, and the takings, gauged on t.e prices, were the largest for many years. Inc military authorities in Dunedin propose to hold a boxing tournament for cadets in Area XI A on September 7 and 8. lhe tournament wifi be on the same lines as that held last year. ihe co-operation of the Otago Boxiii" Association has been asked for, and °no* 'uoubt assistance will be readily given, as was done last year. Aloert Parker has been appointed trainer tor the Otago Boxing team at the New Zealand championships. The team will motor to Invercargill, leaving here tomorrow morning. . Napier expects to stage another double icature bill in September, when frc-di faces will please the fans. I am not at liberty to name the suggested contestants u lys i , Straight-Left,” in the Hawke’s Bay Herald), but ,t seems certain that Griffiths will be one of the four. Ike Kutner, who recently returned from Australia, bringing with him Darby O’Connor, was in negotiation with tho Otago Boxing Association with the object of arranging a contest between O'Connor and Tommy Griffiths in Dunedin. It transpires, however, that a contest between the pair has been offered by the Wellington Association, and has been accepted The fight will take place on the 24th inst. O'Connor is described as a really clever and stylish lad, who is sure to become popular with supporters of boxing in New Zealand.

I understand that the Hawke’s Bay .Association will follow Napier’s lead by staging two 10-round contests in October (say.s the boxing writer i n tho Hawke’s Bay Herald). An endeavour will be made to find opponents for Maddox and Griffiths. These two boys properly matched should be a good draw. Jimmy Carr, of Millerton, has written to the Otago Boxing Association making an application for a fight with either Johnny Leckie or Tommy Griffiths. Carr states that he has been training for some time preparatory to meeting Harry Gunn at Millerton, but the contest has been postponed till the latter’s hand gets thoroughly right. Out of 13 contests in the last four

years Carr has won seven, lost five, and drawn one. On two occasions ho was giving away more than a stone in weight. The writer expresses the opinion that he could beat either Leckie or Griffiths, or could at least satisfy the public desire for a good clean fight. _ Carr, who was born in Dunedin and received all his education here, is now 27 years of age. lie enlisted with tiie 10th Reinforcements for the Great War at the age of 16 years. He says that he is more anxious to secure the title than a purse. Referring to the recent bout between Duke Diaddox and Tommy Griffiths, “Straight Left,” writing in the Hawke s Bay Herald says:—“Maddox and Griffiths fought a good fight, which those present quite apreciated. Dladdox was a lot overweight and could not possibly have beer, as fit as he needed to be against one of Griffiths’s calibre. Maddox has apparently cured himself of the habit of turning his back on his opponent. He owes his defeat to lack of condition which was very noticeable towards the finish. This was not altogether unexpected as sickness kept him off work for quite some time. The points were very close. . and it was the use Griffiths made of his left which put the issue beyond doubt. Dladdox appeared too tired to get out ol reach or use a counter.” Hastings is sending forward a remit to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Association at Invercargill urging that all professional bouts be limited to 10 rounds. It also asks that purses bo limited to £l5O, with no expenses. The New Zealand Boxing Council is spending about £2OO in financing teams for the New Zealand championships at In vercargill (says the Wellington l ost). Applications have been received for five boys from Christchurch, three from Taranaki, four from Hawke’s Bay. two from Dlarlborough, and one from Temuka.

Tho following appreciation of Johnny Leckie appeared in the Hawke’s Bay Herald on Saturday: “Johnny is well on the way to make a name for himself, and if he meets Duke Dladdox, Duke will have quite a heap of trouble to look after. Leckie is, I think, the best boy in New Zealand, and he will not have to wait long to prove -’t.”

A special belt for competition at the New Zealand championships has been donated by Dlessrs Jamiesons through Dfr 1. A. Heath, of Napier (says “Straight Left ” in the Hawke’s Bay Herald). Tho belt has now gone forward to Wellington, □nd fiom there it will come to Dunedin and finally to Invercargill. This is the first beit for amateur boxing in New Zealand, and the winner should be a very proud boy. The Jamieson belt is for the most scientific boxer in the tournament, an ‘< not . for any Particular weight. Dlr G. A. Henry, of Invercargill, has been appointed referee for the New Zealand amateur championships at Invercargill next week. The judges will be: North Island Messrs E A. Craig (Auckland) and E Stewart (Wellington): South Island, Messrs S. J. Kilmartin (Dunedin) and A. South (Oaniaru). All have had considerable experience. The New Zealand Council will be represented by Dlessrs E. A. Dawson and G. Aldridge, and Dlr Earl Stewart has been asked to nominate candidates for the Olympic Games.

An American writer states that Billy Grime is sure to take the feather title oack to Australia with him, and that if Sammy Dlandel is all that he has to beat for the light-weight title, ho will take that back, too. Slattery was the best boxer seen at the Auckland tournament (says the Sun)) Ho is. exceptionally fast on both feet and combines this with a good left hand, good defence,- and a terrific right-hand punch. The paper considers that he should go near to winning his weight at the New Zealand championships.

A WIN FOR DELANEY. NEW’ YORK, August 11. Jack Delaney, a contender for ths’ heavy-weight title, won from Paolino Uzcundun on a foul in the seventh round of a scheduled 15-round bout, after the latter had been warned several times by the referee.HARMS v. LONG. SYDNEY, August 13. At the Stadium, 'Billy Harms beat Charlie Long on points in 15 hot rounds, both men showing great willingness to take punishment. Harms was downed three times.