GISBORNE BOXING ASSOCIATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13428, 10 July 1914, Page 5

GISBORNE BOXING ASSOCIATION.

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

There Avas only a moderate attendance at the Opera House last night, Avhen the j amateur championship tournament undei>. the auspices of the Gisborne Boxing Association Avas commenced. The heats;in the various amateur divisions were got oil, whilst the chief attraction r was a professional heavy-weight championship betAveen Viv. Lowe, of Gisborne, and Fred Williams, ot Tolaga Bay (ex-champion of the Dominion). This match consisted of a battle m 10 rounds, and Avas for a j purse of £iO, including expenses. The ! entries included several new faces m the local ring, but the exhibitions Avere qf a disappointing nature. The arrangements for the tournament Avere excellent. On this occasion the rows of seats around the ring were raised, a provision that Avas much appreciated by the patrons, as Avere also the improved conditions for the press. The enthusiastic secretary, Mr H. L. Humphreys, as usual performed his duties m a successful manner, and he was Avell supported by the tourna-' ment. Officials, Avho were: Stage manager, Mr R. T. Seymour; oiFlcial announcer, Mr H. L. Humphreys; ring steward, Mr T. Edwards; call stewards, Messrs Parker, Ensor, and Somervell; round steAvard, Mr T. EdAvards; timekeepers, Messrs Aislabie and Rees Jones; official seconds. Messrs J. Dixey and J. Martin. Mr W. O'Connor Avas again referee, and his decisions, Avith the exception of that m the big match, were favorably received. The patron, Mr W. L. Clayton, opened the tournament Avith a few remarks. He regretted that there was not a bigger t house, for ho felt satisfied they Avere I going to have some fine exhibitions. He | asked them not to smoke, and bespoke I an enjoyable evening. J FEATHER-WEIGHTS. The opening number Avas tlie first heat m the feather-weights between H. Dennett (8.10) and H. Benson (8.13). These contestants took the ring for the first time. They Avent at it from the "box on," Dennett doing tho leading at the start, but Benson landed a right blow ! to body Avhich had the effect of steadyj ing Dennett down. Benson assumed the [ aggressive, connecting frequently, ami : displaying a better knowledge of the art. During the second round, m a general l mix-up. Benson landed a right hook to jaw. which sent, his man dOAvn for five. Upon the fight, resuming Benson rushed m, jj'ut further punishment Avas > saved Dennett by his seconds throwing m the towel. * J. Harrison drew a bye. ' LIGHT-WEIGHTS. This section was introduced by J. Harrison (9.0) and F. Heency (9.13). The latter Avas taller of the tAvo. and had the advantage m reach. This was his first' appearance m the local ring. In tho opening round Harrison frequently rushed m, --but each time Heency was prepared a«« connected with right and left swings to head- During tbje second round Harrison succeeded m getting homo Avith three or four body blows, Avhilst Heeney retaliated Avith Woavs to head, and on one occasion connected Avith a telling right swing to jaw. In the next round Heeney beat his opponent's guard Avith straight lefts, but Harrison came on gamely and continued to rush m, occasionally scoring Avith body blOAvs. The last round Avas more livelj'. Harrison continued to force the pace, but Heeney used his straight left to much advantage, frequently connecting with his opponent's face, and the verdict m his favor Avas a popular one. Harrison proved that he could take a good deal of punishment. - The next heat m this section, between V. Frure (10.0) and S. Readyman (9.10). provided, m tAvo and a-half rounds, the most humorous exposition of "the noble art" yet Avitnessed m tho local ring. Readyman, one of the lanky kind, was a novice, and from the moment he rose to enter into the fray he had the audience convulsed with laughter, m Avhich Frure, an old stager, joined heartily. He quickly sized up his opponent, and treated him gently. Readyman's agility was unique, and his opponent joined m the general laughter. The novice appeared surprised when he received a hard Ijloav, and fighting "windmill" fashion he rarely touched Frure, Avho, with nimble ducking, Avas always out of reach as Readyman smote the. air and .spun round from the impetus of the action. Frure was evidently enjoying the joke, and he withheld from administering punishment. The roars of laughter increased as Frure, Avho had tripped over, laid down, smilingly taking the count to five, A\'bilsl the other man stood shaping up m the middle of .the ring, as though lie Avonld finish his man the moment he rose. HoAvevcr, Avhen Frure. got up and darted at Readyman the latter careered oft round the ropes. About half-way through the third round Frure delivered a right SAying to head with a little more sting iii it than his previous blows. This j) roved too much for the other man, and the towel soon fluttered into the ring. WELTER-WEIGHTS. The programme Avas changed slightly, and the first heat m the welter-Aveights Avas then Avitnessed betAveen R. Smith and J. Gilpin, both men scaling 10. G. Smith was. the aggressor m the opening round, connecting frequently with right swings to head, but there was not much weight m tho .blows. On one occasion Gilpin got home with a left to body. Some liA'ely interludes took place during the next round, both men giving and receiving punishment. The third round was very tame,* but during the last round Gilpin made things more, lively by deUverJng a succession of straight lefts to lace, Avhich Avere beginning to tell Avhen the gong InfeiTujVted the hostilities. Mr G'COnnoi's -verdict .Avent -m favor of Smith. ' J. Heeney .drew the byo. MIDDLE-WEIGHTS. The interval Avas folloAved by the first heat m the middle-weights between T. J. Long (ll.l) and J. Herbert (tL4), N. LeAVls drawing the bye. Herbert led off and got m two back-hand swings to head, but a couple of left hooks from Long steadied him up a bit. The men took turns /it, leading. Long if anything having the better of the argument. The first round finished up Avith Long landing a- straight right to head. Herbert fought gamely m the second round, but Long proved the more experienced 'fighter. Ho fought coolly, and repeatedly beat his opponent's guard with an assortment of bloAA's Avhich connected to head, making Herbert appear groggy. The third round opened Avith some lively in-fight-ing, and about half-way through Long got homo with a straight lert which shook his, man up, and the towel Avas thrown m from Herbert's corner. This was decidedly the best fight up to this stage. HEAVY-WEIGHTS. Last night's heat m the heavy-weights wsa between J. Nelson (12.4) and N. Le\v.is (ll:«), T. J. Long having the bye. Nelson \ya.s much the bigger man of the tAvo m .muscular appearance. The light opened quietly, Lewis dodging cleverly, and connecting once with a straight left. During the second round the big man rushed m. and Lewis with a hard right to face sent his man on to the ropes, where a clinch folloAved. .Lewis opened the third round Avith a straight right to face, and followed his man on. to. the ropes,, and proceeded to force him round the ring. Kelson rushed m, only to be met with a stinging upper-cut. , Nelson frequently attempted to connect, but Lewis proved too evasive. The round ended with Lewis mixiilg. matters m tho centre of the ring. Just before the spell ended Nelson threw m the towel., LeAvis' victory being-popu-larly received.