BOXING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143788, 11 May 1912, Page 8

BOXING.

(By “Upper Cut.”) Tho secretary of the New Plymouth Boxing Association has received word from Captain F, H. Lumpen in regard to the proposal to hold the < boxing competitions in connection with the Xlth Kcgiment at the same time that the Taranaki championships are hold. Captain Lampen states that it is out cf the question to hold their contests this month, as so many of his men will i e in camp, but that if the tournament ;s held in Juno, he thought that by joining forces, they might make a good show, but that he would like to kuow the date of the proposed tournament before deciding on his course of action.

I understand that there was no intention of holding the championship tournament till June anyway, so there is no reason why the military bouts cannot be made to fit in the arrangements for the championship meetinn, which promises to be a very successful one this year. Last year’s meeting provided some splendid sport, and this year’s meeting promises to be even better than last year’s. It is likely that one or two wrestling matches will be put on this year, which will provide a variety of entertainment which should add to the popularity of. the tournament. Local boxers have been in active training for some time, and some good talent will bo available. The boxers down the coast, who put up such splendid- exhibitions last year, are also getting into form, and several trial bouts have taken place. Altogether the prospects for a successful meeting this year seem particularly bright.

A cablegram just received in Sydney states that a Now York syndicate is trying to get Mr. H. D. M Tntosh to act as manager for them. Interviewed, Mr. MTntosh said, though news to the public, the contents of the cablegram were not so to him. Tho oversea wires and the mail had for some time been channels of correspondence in connection with the matter. If what he asked and wanted were allowed, the syndicate could consider him engaged. It was a launch out that his mind had been set upon for a long time. Mr. MTntosh states that he has cabled his English agent to take np the lease of a new building in London, which the Stadium proprietor’s Old Country representative says has a seating capacity of 8000. In reporting tho fight between Flynn and Jimmy Barry, which took place at the Stadium on Saturday, the “Amature” says:—M ere it possible to depend upon Dan (“Porky”) Flynn and Jimmy Barry to' supply nightly throughout the year the same amount of power ns that expended uselessly by them at the Stadium on Saturday last, or something approximating thereto, and it could ho harnessed, tho management of Sydney’s huge athletic arena would need to look no further than that pair for sufficient force to run all their electric lighting and then have a spare bit for other purposes. Awful seeming smites crashed through vacancy, and at such speed that they almost burnt the atmosphere, and, strangely enough, the blows which missed appeared to be tho most deadly. Several of them meant or looked it,, certain annihilation had they made contact. Tho punches which did conect were not too severe in their effect, though sonic undoubtedly hurt. Barry was by far the greatest contributor to the condition of things referred to; he fought bard and determinedly; and, always high-strung, threatened things every moment, but the better boxer beat him, which was as it should have been, for boxing is an art guaranteed to pull the more skilful man through, piovidod he is not giving away too much in physique and strength, attributes which were perhaps as near equal as could be with Flynn and Barry. Happenings all through were exciting enough, but as a rule there was an absence of effect which to some extent might be put down to the fact that both men wore well seasoned and toughened by experience. In the early part of the contest Barry did not do so well as on the previous occasion, a few weeks ago, of his meeting the same man, but the latter half saw him battling away like a fury, and there were rounds when it looked as if his chance of success was better than good, but he tired a lot towards the finish, and small wonder, for Nature had been very heavily drawn upon. Flynn won well on points. Arthur Scott’s management of tlie bout left no room for complaint, and his verdict was loudly applauded. Barry is a game fellow, and a fighter every inch, but Flynn has it on him hi science.

Tommy Burns, the ex-champion, seems to be in earnest in his attempt to “come back.” On his return to Canada last month he found that another “white hope” hud arisen in a small Canadian town. Tommy is matched to fight Sam Langford in either August or September, at Langdon, and he has now made arrangements to meet this new man, Bill Rickards by name, prior to his match with Langford, for a purse of £IOOO.

It is likely that Jack Lester and Bi'l Lang may sign for their third match, to take place where Lang has his home —in Melbourne. Mr. MTntosh, while down south last week, busied himself in the .direction of bringing tho pair together again, and was, he says, successful, in so far as Lang consented to face the American onco more. Their last meeting resulted favourably for Lester, who won on points, and as Lester has meanwhile lost none of his fighting instinct or strength, and is perhaps a little more skilful than when he first reached Australia, the match, if it be definitely fixed, should turn out a thumping good one. I nee the coined adjective “thumping” advisedly.