A BOXING TOURNAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, 13 June 1933, Page 4

A BOXING TOURNAMENT.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Being a constant though humble supporter of tihe noble art of self-de-fence, I was last week attracted by an advertisement in £our columns of a boxing tournament to be held in the Dixon Street Hall on Saturday night last. To a devotee of the sport the advertisement was an alluring one, featuring the names of several prominent exponents of the game who had already attained some local fame in the fistic firmament. The star items were to be no less than two bouts of six rounds, by popular artists. Let me say in passing that one six-round bout on the programme is generally sufficient to ensure a good attendance. But on this occasion patrons were to be particularly ell catered for, and were offered e ptionally good value for their money. The price of admission was to be on the highest scale for entertainments of this nature, namely, 2s 3d, including amusement tax. This admission fee of 2s 3d deserves special mention, because it was the only part of the advertised programme which was carried out. As a boxing tournament it was crude in the extreme and not up-to the standard which might be witnessed by strolling into a city gymnasium any old night of the week. The contestants were badly matched in almost every case, and on occasion, when a, lad was produced with some knowledge of the game, he was pitted against the veriest tyro, who was quite unable to extend him. Neither of the six rounds bouts eventuated, nor was a single word of explanation offered on behalf of the promoters for the non-delivery of the goods. Instead, two uninteresting exhibition bouts were put on by local boxers. Anyhow exhibition ’bouts are not what the public pay to see. They want the genuine article, and exhibition bouts never would be missed if left out altogether. The fare which wes produced on Saturday night was, with one or two possible exceptions, far below the required standard. The mismanagement- was unpardonable and the breach of faith with the public most discourteous.—l am, etc., “STRAIGHT LEFT.’’