BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 288, 8 May 1914, Page 7

BOXING.

MIDDLE-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

Napi«r, May 5. At the Princess Theatre, Hastings, tonight, the Huwkc's Bay Amateur Boxing. Association presented a first-class programme to an audience that crowded the building in every part. The chief event was a professional •ontest for the middle-weight championfdiip of New Zealand, with an accompanying purse of £SO, the contestant being Barney Ireland, of Waipawa, and Denis Murphy, of Wellington. The pair had met before at New Plymouth, when Murphy fractured his hand in the fifth round, and Ireland was given the decision. Their weights were given as: Murphy, lOst 01b; Mand, list; and both started off warily. At the close of 'the first round Murphy got in a few smart lefts. Murphy's round. The second found Murphy trying to force matters, but Murphy held him off, and at close work the Waipawa man failed to do damage. An oven round. The third found both sparring cautiously, and no damage was done on either side. Ireland seemed to force the pace, but only clinches and in-fighting ensued. In the fourth round Ireland opened right out with a fierce attack, and administered some punishment in a hard rally. Murphy then stood off a bit. but Ireland got in a solid body blow at the finish, and easily gained the round. Murphy was ; boxing nearly and cleverely, but did not I seem strong enough for his heavier opponent.. In the fifth round Murphy scored a couple of good lefts', and followed these up with another. Murphy's round. The sixth round found Murphy still getting in with the straight left, and Ireland cither tiring of playing the fox. Murphy clearly out-pointed his opponent in this round. In the seventh the Wellington man continued to forge ahead. Ireland was tiring, and was now too slow to get in with his rushes, which were met by straight lefts and jabs; Murphy's round. The eighth round was slower, and Ireland made a better showing. He landed a few blows to the face, and again held his own. An even round. The ninth round found the Waipawa man once more aggressive, and there waa a good deal of in-fighting, in which the honors were «ten. An even round. At this stage Murphy appeared, like his opponent, to have tired, and the contest wore an even aßpect. In the tenth round Ireland attacked ficr«ely, but was met by a brilliant defence. Close in-fighting ensued, in which neither 1 could claim an advantage. Ireland's round. In the 11th round Ireland again led out, and had the best of the exchanges. Towards the close of the round Ireland got in some solid blows at close quarters that tontained a good deal of powder. Ireland's round.. TWO EVENTFUL ROUNDS. The twelfth round provided a sensation, for a low blow to the body caused Ireland to drop to the floor in evident pain. Many of the audience thought it a foul, but the referee, who had a «lear j view of the incident, evidently had no doubt that no unfair blow had been struck. Ireland took the count to nine, and then rose little the worse, and suci ceeded in stalling off the vigorous attack which the Wellingtonian immcdiI atelv set up. Murphy's round . Tiic 13th was the most sensational and exciting yet witnessed in I. Hastings. Ireland opened with a savage f attack, and, boring in, bombarded his opponent with a hurricane of blows. When the storm had spent itself, Murphy, with a well-timed effort, made his attack, and, with a clean swing to the head,, dropped Ireland! The Waipawa man took the count to six, and', on rising, Murpliy sent him down again. This time Ireland was up in a few seconds, and immediately got in a right-cross that sent Murphy to the lloor. The Wellingon man rose quickly, and, forcing the pace, bad Ircla*d in sore trouble. The Waipawa man only just lasted till the gong went. BOTH MEN CHEERED. In the 14th round Ireland again made a plucky effort, but Murphy met him with one straight o»c which almost ended the contest. From this to the close of the contest it was only a question as to whether Ireland might fluke & ksock-out or himself he the victim of a similar blow. He took a deal of punishment, but it should be mentioned that in the final round, Murpliy seemed disposed to spare his conquered opponI ent.

The verdict of the r(feree (Mr. Kees-. ing) in favor of Muri tiy met with no dissent, the crowd cheering both contestants, who had fought a clean and vigorous fight.