BOXING

Patea Mail, Volume XLVI, 3 September 1923, Page 3

BOXING

SUCCESSFUL AMATEUR TOURNAMENT. INTERESTING CONTESTS The experiment of staging an allamateur programme before local boxing enthusiasts was given a try-out at the Wanganui Drill Hall last Saturday night by the Wanganui Boxing Association. This tourney was the first of the now year, and its successful inauguration was a happy augury for the future. There was a fairly, large attendance. The surprise of the night was when E. Mercer, of Patea, defeated R. Forward, the well-known Wanganui feather weight, the latter retiring at the end of the second round, after receiving a lot of punishment. Mr Tim Tracey, of Wellington, was in his right position as the third man in the ring. A. Karten (Wanganui) 9.5 v F. Mcaser (Patea) 9.3.—This was a neat exhibition, but minus the vigour of the proceeding contests. The Patea lad missed with the majority of his leads, and what scoring hits were recorded were mostly in favour of Karten. The last round saw Mcaser connect with two straight lefts and a right cross, to ■which Karten replied with a .short arm left. Karten earned the judge's verdict. M. Watson (Patea) 10.10 v W. Gray (Wanganui) 9.ll.—Round one was quiet, and it was not until the second that the visitor sent across his right nicely. A change took place in the third session, when both went for each other simultaneously, with the result that Gray produced an elusive defence and skipped out of trouble. The last round was the liveliest of the lot. Gray secured the devision, but there was not much between the pair. R. Forward (Wanganui) 8.5 v E. J. Mrcer (Patea) 9.l.—Mercer made the pace very warm and surprised everyone by the way he apparently scored at will with left anqd right, connecting frequently. In the second round, Forward went down to a right hook, and at the cud of the round he was groggy. The towel then came in from Forward's corner.