BOXING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8808, 21 December 1906, Page 1

BOXING.

NOTES. (By a-ESTUS.) There i« no" doubt that a New Zealand representative will go to England to compete in the light-weight championship, afi already nearly a sufficient sum to oover expenses has been collected, and the competition promoted by the Northern Association (Auckland) for the purpose of raising additional funds should realise a handsome profit; seeing that it ie an Aucklander who has been selected to the honourable position of representing the colony. So far the Canterbury and South Canterbury Associations havo handed in to the New Zealand Coun-, cii about £40, while the WellingtonAssociation has donated £25 from its funds. It is anticipated that a number of patrons of the sport in Dunedin will contribute to the fund direct to the Council, the Otago Association not having made auy effort whatever in the direction of securing donations. Tho Aucklanders fully expect to more than make up the balance that will be required. Blewden, the selected regresentativo, will leave Auckland for. ydney on December 24, and will sail for England in the Oroya, which leaves Sydney on December 29. He will be accompanied by "Snowy" Baker, the Australasian middle-weight champion; but no word has been received as to i wnelher Dowridge, the clever QueensI land feather-weight, will be a member j of the team. The contest between Squires and 1 Smith for the heavy-weight championship of Australia took place at the Melbourne Cyclorama on December 3. It was of short duration, as will be seen from the following account in the "Australasian": — A 6 the gong sound-. Ed Squires assumed his usual tactics. He made no attempt to circle about Smith or to spar for an opening. He dashed at his adversary and hit him. This was not the same Squires who had fought Klin<£ on a slippery floor on Cup morning. His quickness and activity were marvellous. With Smith towering above him, Squires looked like a boy in comparison, and, in order to get past Smith's immense reach, it was necessary to take continuous risks. But Squires is the man to take risks. Continuously on the aggressive, he followed' Smith, round the ring, shooting in hite of marvellous speed and force at intervals. Some, of these landed on Smith's body, but affected him but little. There was no sign of weakoning or fear about Smith. He returned Squire's blows, and contrived to land the champion a very nasty straight left flush on the face. Before the orowd had time to cheer him Squires dashed in again and landed Smith a hot left jab on the ribs. Smith clinched. As they broke Squires came forward again with a neat half-arm blow on the jaw. As Smith dropped his head Squires sent in a tremendous right swing. It missed Smith, as Jie ducked, but the hollow of Squires's right arm took him on the neck, hooking him to the floor. The force of the same blow caused Squires to fall as well, but he quickly regained his feet, leaving Smith panting on the floor. As the seconds wero counted Smith endeavoured to rise, but fell back and was counted out. On being carried to his corner he sat still, with his head in liis hands, for fully five minutes. His seconds appealed, _on the ground of a foul, but tne fighting was palpably fair, and the match was accordingly won by Squares. Jem Bowker, who when bantam champion of England, defeated Frank Neil, the American, at the London National Sporting Club, in a match for the world's championship is, say." the London "Sportsman," seriously thinking of taking a trip to Australia. Bowker is out of the bantam class now, having put an considerable weight. The two big San Francisco ex-ama-teurs, Berger and Kaufmann, both of whom are regarded in lin© for the heavy-weight championship, met in a sultry contest which lasted ten rounds, and ended in the defeat of Berger. In his account of the contest, W. W. Naughton says: — "The two Westerners put up a clean, chivalrous battle. They fought liko men who had all the world at stake — with tho desperation of swimmers trying to reach the shore from a reef-battered ship. The affair was replete with lightning changes, each man appearing on the point of winning more than once. Their eagerness to put each other out of business gave tho bout an amateurish tinge at times, and the excitement of the thing no doubt robbed both of tliem of considerable of their strength as the contest wore on, and caused tho blows they landed to be as weak as water. Berger loomed up as the nattUw boxer of the two from the time their gloves first touched." Berger 's condition gave out in tho eighth round, and though hopelessly beaten and though Kaufmann _ showered all kinds of blows upon his rival, he lack«l the punch to put him out, Berger finally falling from exhaustion.