BOXING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 929, 26 December 1907, Page 13

BOXING.

HEAVY-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD. “ Tommy” Burns, heavy-weight champion of the world met “ Gunner” Moir last week at the National Sporting Cluh, in a boxing match for the championship and a purse (says a cable). There were about 1000 spectators, and Burns was favourite in the betting. Moir was outclassed, and seemed nervous from the outset. The visiting champion toyed with him until half-way through the tenth round, knocking him down twice. At the finish, Moir was badly used up, but Burns . “ had not turned a hair.” In commenting on this, the “ Referee” says: Possibly Burns did “toy” with the English heavy-weight champion, but I don’t believe it. No man can afford to fool with another when there is so much at stake. As long as Moir stood up he had a chance — even if it only came through a fluke; •consequently I think it might be taken for granted that Burns won as quickly as he could —no matter what he may have appeared to be doing. Toying never takes place where a world’s championship, a big fat purse, and a large amount of betting are involved. The match was originally arranged »_• to take place on November 25 but Burns was injured in a railway accident, en route to New York, to take ship to England, and, though it was said at the time that he had only suffered slightly, the occurrence prompted him, upon hiis arrival in Loondon at the end of October, to ask for a week’s postponement. Our American correspondent refers to the accident in his letter published to day. London “ Sportsman” published the following regarding Burns: —“The newcomer is a thick-set man for his height. This will be understood when we say that he stands sft Bin, and scales in his clothes about 14st. Fit and well, he told the writer he should go about 12st 71b, which will give a pretty accurate idea o fhis proportions. Pleasant in his manners, well dressed, and well spoken, Burns strikes one as an interesting personality. He is 26 years of age. The latest arrival drinks not, neither doth he smoke, that is, he does not partake of intoxicating liquor. We all have to drink at times, but Burns imbibes very lightly. He never saw a fight until he was 20, and he began his boxing career by acting as substitute, and beating in five rounds a man who had staved off Yeung Peter Jackson for six. Burns was born at Hanover, On-

tario, and not at Preston, as some have stated. Consequently he is a British subject, and one of. us. Broadshouldered and with a good reach, Burns, all the same, does not strike one as a fighter. He-must be this, however, or he would never have accomplished the fine performances that stand to his' credit.”

The purse given by the National Sporting Club for the contest was £l3OO, with the stipulation (insisted upon by Burns) that the lot should go to the winner; but at latest dates Moir was contending that a loser’s portion should be provided. An allowance of £2OO had been made to the American for expenses.

“ Gunner” Moir visited Australia in company with Hackenschmidt as one of . his wrestling partners, and after engaging in two or three boxing contests in Sydney, returned to England to win the heavy-weight championship of that country by defeating Jack Palmer, whom some months later Jack (Twin) Sullivan, the second conqueror of Bill Squires, beat much quicker and easier than he accounted for the Australian c hampion. Another big match won in England by Moir was that against “ Tiger” Smith —a middle-weight. Moir is not by any means a high-class boxer. He is strong, plucky, and takes a great deal of punishment before it seriously affects him. In America the match was, from the first, looked upon as a good thing for Burns, and at this distance from both men there were few who thought much of Moir’s prospects.