BOXING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 26, 28 June 1911, Page 9

BOXING.

BOXERS OF THE DOMINION. GREAT BATTLES RECALLED. The news contained in “The Referee” of recent date to the effect that a monster benefit had been tendered to Billy Murphy, ex-ehampion feather-weight boxer of the w-orld, and that the people of New Zealand intended to make the affair an annual one, recalls the fact that this is not the only instance when natives of the Dominion reached the world’s supremacy in boxing (says the “Globe”). Away back in the eighties Dick Matthews was the first man to try his luck in America. He succeeded in defeating almost everyone he met, and returned with the honour of being champion of the Pacific Slope. Bob Fitz.simmons, although born in Cornwall, Eng., arrived in New Zealand when he was but two years of age. and. as everyone knows, was champion heavy and middle-weight of the world, a record that no other man ever had or is likely again to enjoy. A WONDERFUL FIGHTER. Billy Murphy, champion feather-weight of the world, another remarkable boxer, whose weight was little more than bantam limit, yet carried a punch to silence not only feather-weights, but lights, middles, and heavies as well, as was demonstrated by outing Billy Jinnings, a good, game fighter, who in years after was champion middle-weight of Australia. Murphy fought a draw with Hy. Lang, one of the best heavy-weights New Zealand ever produced. Lang it was who put up such a good battle with Paddy Slavin, before the latter went to America to try his luck in the roped arena. The Maori put up ever

so much a letter battle with Slavin than did Jim Smith, the English champion, who. in spite of being assisted by many toughs at the ringside, never at any part of the battle had the ghost of a chance with the Australian, whereas Lang, on many an occasion, looked all over a winner. OTHER MEN OF MARK. Murphy also accounted for very many others whose poundage far exceeded that of the “Torpedo.” as he was called. Dan Creedon, the one-time great middleweight. was a native of New Zealand; also Tom Tracey, his foster brother, who, in his day. was regarded as one of the very cleverest boxers. Thon comes Jack Blackmore. Jim and Charley Griffin, the late Otto Crib, who, in his best-form, was the greatest and pluckiest natural tighter ■we ever produced. Not only in the boxing line has New Zealand been prolific in the production of champions, but also in almost every other branch of athletics, as is evidenced by the great deeds performed by her footballers oarsmen, and cvelists the world over.