BOXING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 19, 10 May 1911, Page 8

BOXING.

Pavia Boxing Mad. Society in Paris ia boxing mad. Aa«ileneea are about half and half, men and women. Full dress and extremely decollete gowns art ahnoet as necessary aa at the opera. Some ten years ago “salons de boxe” were already quite the go. Young society “bueks” who were prond of their physical prowess, entered the padded square and took part in many “elegant” mills, in which the opponent half the time was at huge American negro. As the social hero rammed in a solar plexus or gave tho black a whizzing uppercut, his best girl, in the front row, near his corner, burst her gloves applauding. Since then there has been a slight change. The presence of the society chap in the ring isn’t necessary to give a battle the upper crust. "La Boxe” much more fashionable, it would seem, than is the gala night when Signorina Watehermaycallum sings at the opera. Any Friday night at the Cirque de Paris, when Sam MeVea, Joe Jeanette, Harry Lewis, or any of the pugs, white or black, are on. one will find more buzz-wagons and private carriages blocking the avenues of the neighbourhood than about the most favoured theatre in town. The list of those present includes the Baron So-and-So, the Duchess '“de Brie,” and all the rest of them, and by consulting the social register one will find that half the aristocracy were out.