BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 19658, 7 October 1922, Page 13 (Supplement)

BOXING

(By “Dreamland”) i Frank Padget will be unable because of business to fight Evan McQuarrie at Bluff to-night so Jack Lyall, of Invercargill, will take his place. The tournament arranged by the Southland Boxing Association to-night at the Drill Hall, Bluff, promises to make a highly interesting evening’s amusement, for those who are taking an -interest in the art. and their name is legion. Not only will it give good entertainment, but it will also give an indication of the merit of the Bluff novices who are competing. The boxers who will fight are not ail novices cither, for some of them have won good victories over clever opponents. The evening’s programme will include four six-round bouts, a four-rounder and a wrestling exhibition. The success of the tournament may safely be said to be assured, and now that such a marked revival of interest in boxing is indicated in all the .Southland centres it is to be expected that, the Associations will arrange for similar evenings in other towns. The boxing tournament to be held by the Southland Association in the Municipal theatre, Invercargill, on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 17 and 18. will be a great draw mainly because the contestants will be all novices at the game, and boxing enthusiasts as well as the general public will be able to form a fairly accurate opinion as to who are the most promising boys in the province. Entries have been coming in from all quarters, and the display wil be a representative one. TIPS FOR NOVICES. Jack Dempsey has been prevailed upon to give out, front the deep wells of his own vast experience, a set of half-a-dozcn tips to beginners. As the boxing game is reviving so strongly in Southland, despile the ill-considered decision of the New Zealand Council recently to change the control and make everybody equally subservient, to a far-distant overlord, it is worth while giving these hints of Dempsey’s out for the benefit of the enthusiastic novices' in the different Southland centres. 1. —Keep your guard up, always. 2. —The straight left is the winning punch. 3. —Take advantage of every inch of your height and don't crouch. 4. —Watch your footwork. 5. —Carry the fight to the other fellow. 6. —lf he is worth hitting at all he is worth hitting hard. Regarding the sixth item on the world champion’s advice card this is by no meant* the first, time that amateurs generally, and novices in particular, have been given the advice to let the other fellow know that he has been hit, and there is no lack of experienced old-timers who hold the view that far too many novices get into the habit of t ap-tapping, with the result that too often a clever and promising young boxer has been beaten time and time again, simply because he has not learned the knack of making his hits felt. There is in fact an increasing tendency for novices to spar all the time instead of boxing. Look at it from any angle at all. and this touching and lapping Is a tremendous waste of energy’, for if a boy’ is up against anybody worthy of his mettle at all, so much judgment, speed and real boxing ability is required to get past the other fellow’s guard that it seems a pity to leave no record of the success. Of course, some people do take boxing up just for the sake of exercise, or to remove unwanted fat, but they are not really taking the sport seriously, and it is not for them these remarks are intended. Rather are they meant for the young fellow who goes into the game to go his best, and to get the best pa->ible out of it. This is no appeal for slugging, sledgehammer tactics, but at the same time it must be remembered that, it is very, very easy to get into (he habit of just sparring, with no hitting at all. And then what a shock it will he to run across an opponent. ■ who knows how to hit, and be beaten by him just because you could not make an impression with your own too feeble fists. Coney Island is not always what O. Henry would have it —a place of joy. Dissatisfied over a referee’s decision in a 12rounds boxing contest, recently, the spectators began a battle royal among themselves, merely because they objected to the manner in which the decision was given. The ring was torn up during the struggle, and for nearly an hour the partisans fought in the hall. Reserves of police finally arrived, and quelled (lie disturbance, and a dozen men were sent, to the police station to have their injuries attended to. A prominent Sydney two-up school is reported to have arranged an elaborate set of safeguards in case of raid. A boxing ring has been erected in the middle of the room, and surrounded by seats. The real game of the evening is played behind these seats, but- three well-known second-rate pugilists are paid to be in attendance every’ night. These are dressed as for a fight, and the thud one is in the ring as referee*. Each fighter has his bucket of necessaries, and each has three men behind his corner to act as seconds. At the first, sign of police, the kip and the browns disappear into the floor, and an innocent boxing contest is in progress. Two strapping coloured heavyweights of unknown reputation in the ring had a battle in a preliminary bout in the Middle West, of the United States not long ago. One of them came in ail togged out, wearing a pair of long and very large shoe?. He took his place in his corner and sank back with his arms along the ropes. Came the bell and out he pranced. The first round was about even. Back to his comer went the big chap, but much to the amazement and delight of the crowd his second* used no towels on him, nor <Lid he drink deep gulps from the proverbial as well as traditional bottle. Instead, a big pail was set down before him. and he stuck his feet in the cold water. Ding' Ding! The old gong sounded. Shaking his feet ho the water flew’ in all directions, the big chap rushed at his foe. The latter, getting a drop ot two of water on his face, stuck up both hands to wipe it off, and smack-o! One terrific wallop caught him on the point, and down he went. The scrap was over. “And some fight,” said our friend, but he refused to verify any facts. So we let it go as it stands. Major T. J. Rogers, a member of the Australian Hockey Team, now in New Zealand, has been supervisor of physical training for the Commonwealth Military Forces. He is a native of Wellington, and was at ' one time learned of the Wellington Physical Training School. When at Home during the war he took part in the army boxing championships, getting into the final of the heavy-weights at Aidershot in 1919, and he won the army heavy weight championship at Winchester in U9lB. He has not indulged in the pastime since his return to 1 Australia.