BOXING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 995, 1 April 1909, Page 10

BOXING.

Mr. Hugh D. Mclntosh has been interviewed in New York, where he arrived recently, and said : — “ If Jeffries can get into shape and will meet Johnson, I think I could arrange a contest in England or France. If not, I should take them to Australia.” Goahead Hughie has evidently no doubts as to being able to get the fight against all competitors.

The annual meeting of the Wellington Boxing Association takes place on Monday evening next.

The famous old-time pugilist Jem Mace, who has had a fifty years’ ring career, is now an applicant for the old age pension.

It is stated that the first question asked by the sailors on the Nimrod when they touched at Stewart Island on their return from Antarctics was: “ Who won the Burns-Johnson fight?”

The Manawatu Boxing Association’s tournament was held on Thursday last- In the Novice class Bason was awarded the verdict after an interesting set-to with Brown. Featherweights: L. Porter (Wellington) beat W. D. Shields (Palmerston), A. Treweek (Taihape) beat Maitland (Palmerston), Partridge beat S. Porter, both men coming from Wellington. Ban-tam-weights: J. Kutner (Wellington) v. A. Havill (Palmerston), a draw; F. Ellis (Rangotea) beat E. Watkins (Palmerston). Heavy-weights: J. Cole (Palmerston) defeated D. Mundy (Wellington) in four rounds. Welter weights: G. Devitt (Wellington) and G. Watchorn boxed a draw after six very interesting rounds. Mr. I. J. Fake refereed.

Having just completed a tour of Victoria, West Australia, and South Aus tralia, Tommy Burns, together with his sparring partners. Les. O’Donnell and Pat. O’Keefe, has commenced his trip through Queensland, his opening exhibition being given at the Brisbane Stadium on Saturday night last-

" Snowy” Sturgeon knocked out Fred. Booth at Toowoomba the other night in two rounds, the latter receiving a straight left which sent him down, whereupon his seconds threw in the towel.

An American writer says Jeffries was not pleased to hear that Langford and Johnson would surely meet, as Jeff thinks that in a stern contest Sam might win, and he (Jeffries) would rather meet Johnson, as being less dangerous than the other fellow, if he (Jeffries) fights at all.

Whilst recently on a visit to San Francisco, Mrs. Jeffries, on being asked whether the former champion really would enter the ring, replied: — “ Jim can do just as he thinks about fighting Johnson. I will not try to influence him either way. It’s up to Jim. If he wants to sail into Johnson and beat the life out of him, I want him to.”

The old middle-weight rivals, Arthur Cripps and Jim Griffen, will, in all probability, fight another contest at. Sydney during Easter week, Mr. Wm. Anderson having offered a good purse for a match to take place at Wonderland City at that period.

Mr. Hugh D- Mclntosh, Australia’s big fight promoter, while in London is reported to have made Jimmy Britt a tempting offer —said to well run into the thousands —to go back to Australia with him, where he has promised Britt three fights—one with Frank Thom, the champion light-weight. It is regarded as almost certain that Britt will accept the offer after he has got through his match with Johnny Summers.

NEW ZEALANDER FIGHTS A DRAW.

CONTEST GOES 20 ROUNDS. A crowded house watched a great fight at the Gaiety Athletic Club, Sydney, the other night (says the “ Referee”), Frank Fitzjohn (Sydney) and Billy Elliott (New Zealand) ex-bantam-weight champion of Australasia, were the principals. Such a fine couple of lads have rarely been matched. Both were well charged with pluck, and each showed the skill of the game as it is seldom seen nowadays.

Sid Sullivan, Harry Dawson, Pap Sullivan, and Jimmy Russell were behind Fitzjohn and Elliott’s wants had the attention of his trainer (Patsy Burke), Bob Bryant, and Ellis Mobbs.

In the opening round there was an eagerness on both sides to get to it that pleased the house immensely, and already the footwork and countering of the two clever boys placed them on good terms with the follower of the game who hungers for science as well as force and grit. The master weapon—the left —was much in evidence, and came from the shouldei' straight as a dart or cleanly hooked as the situation required. Fitz won the honours of the opening round. Elliott roughed a good deal in the second, and transgressed the Queens berry code once or twice by hanging on with one hand while he walloped the other home- Things went slightly Elliott’s way this time. Lefts full of power went to Fitzjohn’s credit in the second, till a rightcross to the jaw brought a serious expression about his face. Elliott was cautioned for holding and hitting, and he —little man that the boy is—acknowledged his fault by shaking hands with the other youngster.

The fourth was an even time, as full of fight as an egg is said to be full of meat. So equal were things throughout the fifth that one could only mark just the shadow of a lead to Fitz’s credit. And thus the engagement proceeded.

The sixth was the Sydneyite’s, also the seventh, but the eighth saw neither a bit better than the other, bu: Elliott bolted during the ninth —literally took the bit in his teeth and retired to be groomed with a good surplus in hand. Elliott was master in the tenth, th*. 1 eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, and the fourteenth, but never by more than a slight margin. In the fifteenth Fitzjohn forced his way to the front by a trifle, but was compelled to play second fiddle again in the next. The sixteenth saw Frank assert himself once more, and he never let the advantage slip again, excepting to a slight extent in the twentieth round.

There was certainly little to choose between the pair at the end, and no man could justly cavil at Jim Barron’.-; verdict—a draw.