BOXING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13990, 27 August 1909, Page 6

BOXING.

TEMUKA CLUB'S TOURNEY. The first annual competitions of the above Club was iieid 111 the Drill cihed, Tewuka, last, evening, and was rewarded' with, a very large attendance, it- is only a tew weeks ago since the Ciub was iouutied, anu it fapcuKs wei* for the energy of the committee and for tiie way tliat they cateie^i [u* the devotees oi the sport. 1& was a pity that more local taient was not. available for the novice events, as 1 c is evident from the very large number •chat took the platform on. t-lie Clutr'a opening night, that there is plenty oi the right stutf in the district. The principal feature that was anxiously awaited, namely, Fitzsimmons v. Gillespie contest, did not eventuate owing to the illness of the latter, who has been confined' to bed since Monday as the result of over-training. Watson, of Timarii, filled the gap, anc: the public were treated to a very fiiuexhibition ot" boxing. Not the leas; uninteresting was the contest between Stewart, the Timaru champion, ami .Judge, of Christchurch, who came with a big reputation, and a very clean exhibition was given to the .audience. The novices showed a fair amount 0: proficiency in their classes, Brac:iield, Bodsworth and Morrison being probably the more experienced. Taker* as a "whole, the sport was good,_ and the audience received the decisions without question. At the half-time ;; novelty item was given by two layabout ten years of age, named Cucnard and Mallet, who treated the audience to a contest a la Jim Jeffries and Jack Johnson, the latter pugilist showing the dusky colour of his race : the get-up was splendid, and both boys stepped into the ring like old pugilists; it is safe to say that the go was 'interesting as the size and age. of the boys wouid allow. The referee declare 4 the match a draw. The officials were: —President, Mr W. Jeffries; judges, Messrs A. GiKsou and R. Lee; referee, Mr It. Cook: timekeepers, Messrs J. Sim and A. Watson; hon. secretary, Mr W. Blyth. The following-are the results: — 9st Novices —Laurenson (Pleasant Point), 9st, Flynn, Bst 121b (Temuka). This was a willing go, Flynn forcing the fighting at the end of the fourth round. The judges ordered another round: and Flynn forced the fighting and won. Bracefield 9st, (Timaru), v. Howard, Bst 10lb, (Geraldine). They were scarcely a match, Bracefield's weight telling almost from the jump. Howard showed plenty of pluck, but was outclassed, and at the end of the second round threw in the towel. lOst Novices —Bodsworth 9st 101b, (Timaru), v. J. Morrison, 9st 101b (Geraldine). —The opening was hot, and both indulged in some hard ihtting. The second round saw Bodsworth go down three times in succession. In the next round the referee cautioned Bodsworth and he continued to push the fight. The next round was marked with some hard hitting, and the gong saved Bodsworth. The judges ordered another round and Morrison was declared the winner amidst enthusiasm. S. Fitzsimmons, lOst 121b. (Timaru) v. R. Watson, lOst 101b, (Timaru).— Six two minute rounds. This matclf

opened with good work on the part of both lads, Fitzsimmons placing a right on Watson's jaw that sent him down and the round ended slightly in favour of Fitzsimmons. In the se'cond round Watson forced the fighting. The third round was marked with a good deal of wild swinging on the part of both, Fiztsimmons having the better of it. Round four opened with Watson tiring and the pair indulged in rather too much clinching, Fitzsimmons' condition now began to tell, and he placed some good body blows, Watson taking his punishment well. The final round was never in doubt, Fitzsimmons getting two lefts in, in quick succession, followed bv some body blows, forced Watson on to the ropce, and won a popular match. Final of 9st Novice—Bracefield v. Flvnn. —In opening Bracefield placed a hot one on FlvnnTs iaw and he went down, being nearly counted out. Un rising the boys clinched and Flynn "N on on a foul. Final lOst Novice. —G. Morrison 9st 101b r. James Morrison 9st 101b—J he brothers opened briskly, and indulged ; n some clever footwork and spairinir. J.Morrison, who had sprained his right thumb in the bout with Bodsw orth, was somewhat handicapped, hut-never-theless put in some good head work. The referee at the end of the third round declared J. Morrison the win-

ner. George Judge Bst 81b (Cliristchurcli) v. C. Stewart- Bst 41b (Timaru)—six two-minute rounds. Judge was the taller and had a slight advantage. The first round saw good defence by both lads. In the second round , Stewart placed two rights on Judge's face, the latter responding with a quick succession of . body blows. Round four was marked by some close in-fighting, both using the right with telling effect, Judge's weight standing him in good stead. Round five was marked with some splendid work, Stewart probably getting the better. 111 the final round .Judge forced the fighting, but Stewart was declared the winner amidst prolonged applause. The referee awarded Mr W. "V\. Wade's gold medal to Bracefield for the best display in the novice class. This concluded a successful programme.