BOXING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16186, 24 July 1923, Page 5

BOXING.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR G.B.A. TOURNAMENT. A meeting of the Gisborne Boxing Association executive was held last evening to discuss the arrangements for the Poverty Bay amateur championship tournament and the heavyweight professional match, to take place next) week'. Mr. B. H. Aislabie presided. The secretary, Mr. Carr reported that Jim Flott, the Australia boxer matched with Tom Heeney for August 2, had left Sydney on Friday, and would arrive in Gisborne to-morrow. The. prospects for a successful tournament) were most encouraging. The entries for the amateur championships, which close on Thursday next, promised to be very good, and the interest in the big fight was keen. The committee appointed Mr. A. Baillie official announcer. The chairman said that a largo number of applications for membership had been received since the committee had last met, indicating a gratifying interecst in the doings of the association. The member’s tickets for the fortli(oming fights wcto now available at Mr. O. W. Muir’s, where the reserved seats could be booked. A proposal was put) forward by Mr. Aislabie on behalf of the Whakatane Association. A member of the association who was at present visiting Gisborne had suggested that several of the best of the local amateurs should take part in a tournament at Whakatane on August 14. All expenses of selocted lads would be! paid, and the committee of the Gisborne Association would make a selection from amateurs who left their names 'with the secretary. A letter was received from Harry Blackburn, who asked for a match before the Gisborne Association, preferably against Jack Graham, welterweight champion. The letter wsa received, ilia proposal being held over. THE BIG FIGHT, James Flett, the massive heavyweight lighter, will arrive by the Marama. in Auckland this afternoon. He will bo met at the steamer side by Mr. Charles Peoples, the well-known Auckland trainer and athlete, and a number of the representative sports of the northern city; and if time pennits, will bo motored 1 trough Auckland and, suburbs prior to his embarkation on the Araluira for Gisborne. Flett is known as one of the most scicntifc heavyweights in Australia, and a most punishing fighter. He was matched to fight Tom Heeney at Rockhampton, Queensland, but tire hot weather affected both men. Each suffered from an epidemic of boils, Flett having two on each arm, which had to he lanced just prior to the fight, and Tom Heeney had one on his neck. The fight went the full number of rounds, and Heeney gained the' decision on points, but the decision was not a popular one. Flett has come to Now Zealand to meet and boat Heeney, so as to enable Flett to fight Waddy for thy championship of Australia,