BOXING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 302, 7 May 1896, Page 3

BOXING.

Fitzsimmons and Maher met in the Madison Square Garden onefevening last month in an uneventful benefit boxing match. A crowd of 3,000 persons witnessed their “ go.” Their sparring match was a purely scientific contest, and no hard blows were struck. Fitzsimmons was given a hearty reception, and in response to the applause he said : — “ Ladies and Gentleman. —I thank you for your cordial reception. Mr Corbett seems very anxious for a match. He did not think enough of the championship to defend it, but tossed it over to P. Maher. By defeating Maher I won the championship. When I challenged Corbett several years ago, he told me to first whip Hall, Choynski, Creedon, O’Donnell, and Maher, and then he would talk to me I defeated four of these men, and now I sav to Corbett, ‘ Go and do the same.’ He certainly ought to be willing to take his own medicine.” A Yankee journal says there are no less than 1500 men in the United States who lay claim to be boxers, and the majority of them are tyros of the sport. American prize fighters having proproposed to cross into Mexico for a fight, the Mexican Secretary of State has announced tbat .it will be prevented by troops if necessary.

Sydneyites (says the Bulletin) who remember Bob Fitzsimmons’ faking at Foley’s old hall, can imagine the redheaded one slouching round Maher and hitting all out of distance until he got his man in position, and then like a flash out came his right on the “ spot.” Fitz said there were only two blows struck during the fight —when his right reached Maher’s jaw, and when the back of Maher’s head reached the stage.

Of all the men who have held the American championship but five were born in America. They were Tom Hyer, John C. Heenan, Johnny Dwyer, John L. Sullivan, and James J. Corbett. Six of the champions were born in Ireland, Yankee Sullivan, John Morrissey, Dominick Bradley, Joe Coburn, Mike McCool, and Paddy Ryan. Two came from England, Joe Goss and Tom Allen. Corbett and Fitzsimmons have evidently got the blind side of the American Pressmen (says the London Sportsman of March 13th). Cablegrams were received in London yesterday to the effect that the two had signed articles for a contest at the National Sporting Club, and all sorts of ridiculous conditions were said to have been agreed upon. A member of the Sportsman staff called upon Mr Fleming last evening, and the manager of the N.S.C. stated that he knew nothing whatever about the business. Said Mr Fleming : ” Corbett and Fitzsimmons will have to sign our articles before they box in the club, not their own, and they cannot accept a purse before we offer one. I am as much in the dark as others.”