BOXING.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 24, 14 February 1920, Page 15

BOXING.

ATHLETICS.

Clabby-Tracey Contest. As was' anticipated Clabby easily succeeded in outpointing Tracey in the 15-round contest held at Hamilton for a purse of £400. There was never any doubt about the result, comparing Clabby's ring experience with Tracey's, who is a young and tough fighter, but no match for a man like Clabby. The contest went the full time, and several of the rounds proved interesting Another bout which was perhaps more evenly contested and interesting during the evening was L. Robinson (Gisborne) and F. Keenan (Auckland). Keenan weighed 9st. 31b. and Robinson Bst. 111b. The contest was fast and exciting throughout. The bout terminated in the 13th round, Keenan knocking Robinson out. Keenan boxed with coolness and judgment, and showed much cleverness in evading his opponent's rather well swings and upper cuts. Keenan is a promising lad, and the Northern Association could undoubtedly promote a successful carnival by matching him against a foeman worthy of his steel. Keenan appears to have cleaned up all the New Zealand youngsters worth talking about, and an Australian opponent might be. taken into consideration. • • * The annual conference of Boxing Associations was recently held in Wellington, when practically every part of the Dominion was represented. • • • A good deal of important work was done by the pugilistic fraternity foregathered to talk of matters appertaining to the welfare of the sport. The chairman (Mr. Aschman) emphasised the necessity of keeping down betting, and urged district representatives to energetically takeup this matter in the interests of the manly art. Truly there is an undesirable element creeping into the sport in New Zealand, and as the law here has it wisely safeguarded in many respects, it behoves the various associations to support the Council in its endeavour to keep the game clean. Another point that might be considered is the frequency of professional fighting, which seems to be spreading amongst certain associations. It is readily admitted that the expert exhibition draws the gate and provides the purse, but there has been great talk of discrimination in matching contestants lately, and such exhibitions are mostly onesided. Consequently the public are expected 1 to pay an excessive admission to witness an indifferent display. To match a clever and experienced ringster against an immature slogger is simply playing with the game and deceiving the public, who do tne paying. Periodically, well-matched professional Exhibitions can be justified under certain circumstances, but the arrangement of frequent contests shouM not be the aim or amateur associations. • • * Amongst schools and clubs the promotion of the art of self-defence affords a very fine field, and those controlling it should embrace ove.-y opportunity in its introduction. The claims of the amateur .-onte«=tant should also receive better con sideration, and trophies should Dβ provided worth fighting for. There would be then less complaint and more interest displayed

among the budding aspirants for fistic honours. x •• \ • At Gisborne, on the 12th and 13th instant, a local boxing tourney will be held, and it is anticipated that the gathering will be a great success. There are two professional contests down on the bill that should attract a great crowd. Tony Bartram will meet Jack Heeney in a 15-round contest for a purse of £25 a-side and expenses; also' Tommy Heeney will face W. Bartlett (Murchison) for a similar purse. Both pairs are doing excellent work, and it is very hard to determine who will secure the coveted victory. Besides these contests, a number of clever amatour bouts have been arranged. .. « • Fred Fulton, the American heavyweight boxer, knocked out Tom Cowley, the English heavyweight, in three rounds. The fight was billed for eight rounds, but with Fulton's terrific punch came the quietus in the third round. He also accounted for the negro heavyweight Lester Johnstone at Boston lately, in 8 rounds. •* . * According to advices to hand the French champion boxer, Carpentier. whe is matched against Dempsey for tho heavyweight championship cf the word... will arrive in the United States about the middle of February, and will probably engage in public exhibitions! of boxing. It is said that Carpentier owes a great deal of his wonderful success to the remarkable skill and sagacious judgment displayed by his second, Descbamps. It is not his knowledge of boxing that makes him a gieat second, but his masterly grip of human nature. He thinks with the rapidity of lightning, and despite the • tensity of the situation, is remarkably cool and collected. Deschamps has an hypnotic personality, and in the early years of association both he and Carpentier toured the villages of France as mesmerist and subject. The two men are part and parcel of each other when Carpentier takes the ring, and Deschamps instantly detects, the weakness of Carpentier's opponents, and having found it concentrates all Carpcntier's skill and punching power on the weak spot. The value of Deschamp's services to Carpentier during a fight is rated so high that some of the big fans of the fistic world reckon that if by some mischance Deschamps were unable to second Carpentier, the wagering against the Frenchman in the forthcoming big fight would lengthen by a point if not two. "'* * * A regrettable occurrence, calculated to do serious harm to professional boxing, took place recently in Melbourne. Georgie Mendies, the fly-weight champion of Australia, met Jimmy Mac Donald. Mendies, after winning five of the earlier rounds, slackened speed, and gave a poor exhibition in the sixth round. In the 7th, from a blow from McDonald, he went down and took the full count. The referee promptly announced '.'no fight," and the stake was withheld. Subsequently Mendies was examined after leaving the ring by a doctor, who failed to discover any evidence of an effective blow being struck. • * * Bombardier Wells, the English heavyweight, has again floated into the arena of notoriety by giving Harry Reeve his quietus in the 4th round. Wells afforded his admirers an excellent display, boxing splendidly throughout. • ■ • • Joe Stetcher, the present champion wrestler, defeated Caddock for the world's heavyweight championship. It was a great fight for supremacy, lasting 23 hours.

Though it may be considered that New Zealand has done more than passing well at the Australian championships, the success achieved might have been further added to hand the Auckland sprinter Davidson numbered one of the team. His performance of 9 4-ss. for the 100 yds at the New Zealand Championships fully justified his inclusion and I have no doubt that he would have shown up better than Lindsay,, who failed to reach his old form. It is regrettable that Davidson was not selected to compete with Australia's best, and the action of those responsible was a very shortsighted policy. New South Wales gained the shield with seven firsts and nine thirds. New Zealand took second place with four firsts, five, seconds, and three thirds. Victoria had four firsts, one second, and three thirds. The other States were nowhere. • ,- • * The King has contributed £100 to a fund which it is hoped will total £30,000, to ensure a worthy British representation at the Olympic games. • * * Many Aucklanders will recall the name of Alfred Shrubb, who visited New Zealand some years ago, and created a stir with sterling performances over distances. >• Apparently Shrubb is still some runner, as there is talk of a match with J. Price, the Marathon winner of 1910. A go between the veterans should prove interesting if not exciting. • m • A well attended meeting took place recently at Christchurch for the purpose of reviving athletics. It was decided to re-establish the old Canterbury Athletic Club. A motion of regret was carried at the action of the selectors in excluding Davidson, the sprinter, from the representative team in Australia. • * • At the Athletic Conference in Sydney it was decided that in future Australasian Championships Meetings will be held as follows: — 1922—South Australia. 1924—West Australia. 1926.—Tasmania. 1928.—Queensland. 1930.—New Zealand. 1932.—Victoria. 1934.—New South Wales. The 1921 championships were allotted to Victoria.