BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 108, 10 May 1933, Page 4

BOXING

By

"THE MARQUIS.")

Although no announcement had been made at the time these notes were being penned, it is understood that the Wanganui Amateur Boxing Association have in view the holding of an amateur tournament with the object of giving some of the. promising talent an opportunity to reproduce in public the form developed in tho local schools. It appears certain that a considerable amount of support would be accorded such a tournament by district boxers, and if it were to be held on such a date as June 3 (tho King’s Birthday), no doubt the attendance of tho public would be found to justify the project.

At one stage early in the season it was thought that Roy Forward would be found running the school which T. Souter had under his care for many years However, not caring to reliquish his amateur status, Forward decided not to go on with the project. T. Souter still retains his interest in boxing to tho extent of training several pugilists, while M. Carroll has in training nearly enough to stage a sma'l tourney of his own. Some promising talent is reported to bo in evidence. ¥ * * •

“Aeneas” in the Evening Post has the following comment on the recent lightweight title bout:— Although it brightened up over the last half it must be said that taken all through the bout between Archie Hughes, of Auckland, and PcJ Oxley, of Pahiatua, for the New Zealan 1 lightweight championship in the Town Hall was disappointing. There was a decided lack of vim in the worn of the boys early in the bout, and when they did start to move there was not particularly much variety in their work. When one recalls some of the great lightweight battles which have been fought in the Town Hall in bygon. years, one regretfully is forced to the conclusion that the standard of boxing in this country is not what it was. It was not that the boxers did not try. Their efforts were earnest enough but, probably on account of the fac r . that they are now thoroughly familiar ■with each other’s styles and moves, they finessed more than they fought. Neither boy took any risks, although there were occasions when they opened up to exchange blows, but there was not much enterprise in this. Hu 's is as crafty and foxy as ever. In Iced, it was an excess of shrewdness ,that cost him his title. By making Oxley come in to him Hughes was able to score with light lofts to tho face and quick counter-punches generally. O< ey, however, was never far out of points in the early rounds when Hughes was content to sit back and just tie his man up. When Hughes did start to connect he showed up well, but the Pahiatua boy kept on coming, and his willingness to make it earned him his win narrow though it was. In any other but a championship bout it is probable that the judges would have called it a draw. In a spirit of kindness a physician treating Jim Corbett, former heavyweight fight champion, who died recently, told the big fellow he was suffering from heart disease, not cancer. As ho was an avid newspaper reader this deception was also carried through the Press. When the big fellow passed on, however, the newspapers of New York and the Press Associations frankly reported cancer as the cause and also revealed how cleverly the physician and friends of “Gentleman Jim” had kept from him the truth that he was suffering from an incurable disease.

Before a crowd of 10,000 at Rushcutter Bay Stadium on April 24, the Australian champion, Jimmy Kelso, outpointed Al Foreman, of England, in 15 rounds. The match was announced as for the lightweight championship of the British Empire, an honour which at one time was held by Foreman. Although not a spectacular encounter, the battle was firccely waged throughout (says the Sydney Morning Herald). Kelso displayed tho eagerness which has marked all his previous matches. Foreman at times hit with weight, but his tendency to clinch and hold his opponent’s wrist marred his attractiveness. The decision was most popular and was cheered by the crowd. Foreman held a slight margin on points in tho opening sessions, but as the rounds progressed, Kelso appeared stronger and punched at a greater pace. Foreman drove a couple of rights to the heart in the sixth term, but Kelso was conspicuous with a right swing, •and at close quarters placed uppercut* and left hooks. In the eighth Kelso’s hooks wore prominent, but a surprise was in store for him, and had he not been capable of withstanding punish ment the encounter might have ended in that session. Foreman stood back, and with a solid right jolt to the jaw floored Kelso for three seconds. The champion was not seriously inconvenienced, and showed a greater inclination to force matters.

Kelso had passed his opponent’s lead, and continued to punch Foreman off as the latter hold him to the ropes. In their excitement during the interval after the twelfth round, Kelso moved to tho centre and was joined by Foreman before the bell sounded for the thirteenth session. The referee intervened, and instructed the men to await the gong. Kelso was stronger over the concluding stage.*, but Foreman was still striving to end the contest by a knock-out when the final round concluded. Tho New Zealand Amateur ('ham pionships, which will be decided at Blenheim this year, will be held on September 7,8, 9. It is reported that negotiations have practically been completed to revive the annual Australasian Ajnateur championships. In all probability a New Zealand team will bo sent to Australia at the conclusion of tho Now Zealand championships this year. Hitherto tho practice in British boxing —a practice followed in the Dominions —has been for tho counting when a man is down to go to “nine” and then for “out” to be called when tho tenth second has expired. Foi some years past, however, the practice in America has been for the count to bo called “ten-out.” Tho British Boxing Board of Control has now issued instructions that time-keepers are to call to “ten,’’ and that, the referee i* then to declare the fallen man “nut.” Tho call of “out” would, of course, have to follow immediately upon tho count of “ton” as in America. It is nossiblo that this change caused the error that referee C. Douglas—a voungor brother of tho late J. W. ’’ T. Doudas—made in a recent fi<rht be tween Don McCorkindale and Larry Gains, in wihch tho referee, followin' 1 »ho old style, called “nine-out” when Gains was rising from the floor, before the timekeeper had called “ten.”