THE RING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 42, 16 May 1891, Page 5

THE RING.

Owing to an extremely wet and unpleasant evening the attendance at the Zealandia Rink to witness the glove fight between Nicholson and Collins, fixed for Monday night, proved so small that it was decided to postpone the match until Wednesday. To amuse those spectators who had braved the elements, a couple of boxing bouts were given. The brothers Paltridge boxed three rounds and a final, showing very fair form, but of course playing light. Next two lads, Burtenshaw and Donovan —the latter a chip of the old Barney block —boxed a couple of rounds with great vigour and no little skill.. The young Barneyblock stuck manfully to his taller and heavier antagonist, and both elicited frequent bursts of applause for clever hitting and stopping Dick Sandall is schooling another young bantam, who will have a gentle turn-up some day with Barney’s chick. The postponed match came off in due course on Wednesday evening, in the presence of a much better attendance, although hardly sufficient to recoup Mr. Winch for his generosity in providing a purse Two preliminary boxing bouts amused the spectators while the combatants in the great event of the evening were preparing for the fray. The brothers Paltridge gave a neat display, boxing three rounds very similar to those given on Monday evening, but on this occasion the elder asserted his superiority more palpably. Next young Barney Bantam was announced, his opponent being a taller but slighter boy yclept Hunter. In him Barney met his match, and after three merry rounds the contest appeared pretty even, though if anything in favour of Hunter for choice. Both boys shewed no little quickness in hitting, but Barney discounts his powers by too many round-handers. Dick Sandall, before introducing the real warriors, announced that Saxon was prepared to make a match with the winner for £5 a-side. Immediately after this Nicholson and his dark antagonist entered the arena. Mr. Sandall was appointed referee, and Mr. Churchward —who has had some experience in a similar capacity at the famous Pelican Club —acted as time-keeper. Frank Burns looked after Nicholson, and Sidney Barnes tended Collins. On stepping into the ring a

marked contrast in developement was noticeable between the two men. Nicholson seemed in good fettle, but certainly looked pounds heavier than gst 21b, at which weight he was supposed to fight. Collins looked lithe and muscular about the arms and chest, but appeared to fall away below, and his understandings were decidedly of the pipe-shank order. His fighting weight is usually gst, but unless we are mistaken he scarcely reached that weight by some pounds. THE FIGHT. ist round. —Both men seemed cautious, and a long time was spent in sparring for an opening. At length Collins led off and got in a facer. Some quick exchanges followed, of which Collins got all the best, and Nicholson seemed a bit staggered, and a gentle streak of claret flowed from his nose. Rallying well, he speedily turned the tables, getting in a heavy right and left on Collins’ jaw and forehead, under which the latter went down near the ropes. Collins was up like a shot, but after some quick exchanges again went down under a heavy visitation from Nich.’s right. He rose at once, but was again felled, and again with monotonous rapidity. After two more knockdown blows time was called, and the round ended all in Nicholson’s favour. 2nd round. —Collins responded gaily to the call, but looked rather blown and discomfited after the frequent heavy visitations received in the last round. However, he pluckily went for the forlorn hope of getting in a severe knockout blow, but his clever and weightier opponent again asserted his superiority, knocking ,him clean off his pins no less than three times in succession. The end came speedily, for Nicholson got in a very severe right and left, which laid out Collins on the floor. He failed to respond to the call of time, and Sandall awarded the fight to Nicholson. We cannot speak highly of the display of science. It was a mere hard-punching match, of which the heavier and better conditioned man of course got the better. But the match was genuine, and those lively two rounds were worth a dozen tame sparring slints.

Sam Matthews’ California Club in Castle-reagh-street was the scene of some capital fighting on Saturday night says “ Upper Out,” and gruel was served out hot and strong in several of the bouts set down for rehearsal on the evening’s programme. The principal biz. for the evening was the knock out between Maxwell and Burke, two heavy-weight boys from amongst the York-street draymen. Party feeling ran strong, and as the two entered the ring a howl of satisfaction went up on all sides. Our Yankee cousin, Joe Choynski, did duty as referee. Directly “ time ” was cried the pair set to and made a rush at each other, which, would have knocked spots out of the fame of Maloney’s renowned Fenian cat. Fierceness shone out from the eyes of both, and the first round was a regular ringer. Away they went, pummelling each other in red-hot style, and the fight was made exceedingly warm and fast. Too fast, indeed, it seemed, for on several occasions Referee Joe found it necessary to interfere and seperate them. Round No. 2 saw things equally as warm as in the first, and it was evident that each were bent on making one of them see more stars than have ever come within the meteorological observation of Mr. Ellery. First one and then the other came in for a good old knock down, and the lOsec. grace allowed was never taken advantage of by either party, the motto and family crest of each of the boxers appearantly being “ Up, boys, and at him.” After a really rosy time the third round came on, and in this Burke landed his opponent such a beautiful right bn point of the jaw that he was completely knocked out. “Tick, tick,” went Diamond’s clock, but, after lOsec. had been counted out, Maxwell failed to respond, and Burke was therefore declared the winner.

The horses in training belonging to M. Lupin, one of the oldest sportsmen in France, were sold lately in Paris. There were twenty-three lots, and the average price realised was over £BOO. The highest priced one was Philadelphie, a chestnut filly by Xantrailes from Pensacola, for which M. Ephrussi gave £1.860. Several lots were purchased for America.