BOXING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143672, 16 December 1911, Page 8

BOXING.

(By “Upper-Cut.’ 5 )

The Northern Boxing Association lie,a its last carnival 01 die season in majesty's Theatre, Auckland, recently. There ivas a very good attendance, about THGO being taken at the doors, but, ns tlic expenses were heavy, the association mil not reap inncli financial benefit from it, savs the Auckland Herald. The programme was an excellent one, but rather lengthy, although the audience did not object "to this. So far as the boxing itself was concerned, this was also very good and clean. The principal bout of the evening was a iu rounds /contest between the two well-known lightweights, T. Tracy, of 'Wellington, and A. Gamt, of Auckland, lor a purse of £l2O. Tracy's widgllt was given as list 121 b and GabJt's as 9st illb. 'Tracy, as usual, opened slowly, and at first tlireo exchanges were in favour of Gault, who played for the body with some success, and also landed a few good ones to the jaw and face. Tracy got in some lefts to the jaw, but there was not much sting in them. In the fourth round Tracy's defence improved, fils ducking, footwork and blocking causing Gault to miss frequently. But the Aucklander scored with a right and left, while Tracy sent a few leits to the jaw. In the fifth round Gault nearly knocked Tracy out with right and left to the jaw, but good work enabled the II eilington man to weather the storm. Near the end of the round Tracy just missed an opportunity to "knock out Gault. Tracy began to pull the points round, making good play with his left, with which he scored particularly well in the seventh round.. But in the eighth found round tho end came suddenly. Early iu the round a right hook sent Tracy to his knees. For a few moments he blocked, then he missed with tho left, and a right jolt to the jaw sent him to the boards. He took the count of nine, rose rather groggy, and came into a clinch. But as he was sent down again, rose gamely, and was clinching, with Gault looking to a sign from the referee and refraining from finishing his opponent, when the towel was thrown in from Tracy’s corner. As it was just on time, it was possible that had the towel not gone in Tracy might have pulled round well, for a few minutes later he appeared none the worse. As it was, Gault won. Mr. T. B. Burke was referee. . Interviewed after the contest, Tracy, who scarcely looked as if ho had pone through tho contest, said that Gault fought in very good spirit. “Gault,’" he added, “is a wonderfully-improved young fellow. lam very pleased to think that ho will follow in my footsteps. I am sorry that to-nght's contest did net carry with it tho lightweight championship of the Dominion, but I am prepared to meet Gault in a return battle—and give him a chance to gain the championship—-under the. auspices of the Northern Boxing Association, which 1 consider to be tho foremost boxing body in. New Zealand. Gault’s offensive tactics were splendid, and his recuperative powers were good. As "l have lost for the first time in Auckland, I am glad it was to to an Auckland boy. If he wins the ohanipionsliip, tho experience he has gained in fighting Australian boxers should help him to defend it. I am perfectly satisfied that the better man won.’ It is very probable that tho Northern Boxing Association will arrange a return match between Gault and Tracy, for the championship. This contest may be held in the Town Hall. At Brisbane on Saturday the M'l caBcster fight ended in the eighth round. T lie referee, anticipating police interference, declared M‘Ven die winner. The fight was one-sided throughout, and Hie. American had the advantage at all points. At Sydney the' same day Dave .Smith and Uabby fuugiu a drawn match, tho decision being arrived at after the spar had gone the full length or 20 rounds. An obituary notice in a lankco paper regarding the late Malacbi Slogan, America's noted lighter, saloon keeper, politician, and man round town, embodies the following: • As referee lie never gave an Iris.ilmaii tho worst of it, nor a Gorman tho best of it. tie counted slower lor an Irishman when down, and faster lor a German under the same conditions, than any referee that ever lived." A nice send otf truly. . Evidently "Ho Mor tins nil nisi bomim” has no place in the mind of the author of that testimonial. Langford says tho mere mention of sharks chills his blood, and snakes, with Him, are things to be given absolutely no chance. Thero’ll bo no sea bathing in Ins training, he states; the tub at the.house will always bo good enough for him; and wide, Hard i.nuis will bo given preference over hush tracks, no matter how alluring the latter may be.

A lot of nonsense is being talked, on both sides of the Pacific just now, about the brutality of boxing contests, mostlv hv. people who have never seen a glove 'fight. Mr. Tl. D. MTlltosh, tho lessee of tho Sydney Stadium, is taking up the cudgels on behalf of tlic sport. At a recent meeting he said that lie wished to take exception to the statements that had been made by some ministers of religion, notably one in Melbourne, who, although they admitted that they had never seen a boxing contest, decried the sport. They were lighting against the alleged brutality of the prize ring, which existed oilly in the imagination of diseased minds. An instance that boxing was not brutal was the LnngfordM'Voa fight in Paris. These men fought 20 rounds, neither of them was marked, and they were good friends a couple of days later. IVhon the championship of the world was lost hv the white race, Tommy Burns received as had a heating as ever n boxer was given, aud yet on the following dav he was able to motor about tho cit'v. If two strong men could contest 20 rounds, and not receive injury, it showed clearly that, boxing was not brutal and degrading. One clergyman had said that boxing brought together the lowest elements. That was an absolute lie. Up to the presentnothing had boon done to actively fight these gentlemen, but the time bad arrived when it was necessary to oomc into the open. The fight must he carried into the enemy’s camp.

Don’t all speak at once! Sam Langford would like to have one or more sparring partners (heavy-weights) during his stay in Sydney. Sam will pay well, and promise not to be too severe.

Those clever French boxers, Marcel Moreau am! Paul Til will reach Sydney shortly. Neither being able to speak English, they cabled Sam n week before sailing with tho ohToct of retaining his services as interpreter. Sam consented to do so with certain specified limits, and the two psrlez vons Francais boys flashed their thanks to Monsieur M'Vea next morning in such excessively polite language that Sam had been absolutely overwhelmed ever since. “Had a cable like that been sprung upon mo immediately bo-

foro I shaped up to Langford,” remarked Sam, “1 would have collapsed completely; but I’ll be ready for anything after that,” and the coloured Scot smiled that good-humourea smile which belongs wholly to him.