NORTHERN BOXING ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1109, 13 July 1911, Page 11

NORTHERN BOXING ASSOCIATION.

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. FIRST NIGHT. The Northern Boxing Association held their provincial championships this week at His Majesty’s Theatre. On the opening night (Monday), there was a very fair attendance and for the most part the 'bouts were keenly contested. The Association introduced a new method of judging which gave complete satisfaction. Before each bout started, the two seconds drew three names, the first to be drawn was the referee and the next two the judges for that particular bout. Messrs. A. Plugge, T- P. Burke, A. Hamilton, T. Brown and F. Burns were the officials who acted as either referee or one of the judges throughout the tourney. A word of praise is due to Captain P. B. Greenhough, the new honorary secretary and treasurer of the Association, for the admirable manner in which he had attended to every detail in the arrangements for the championships, which left nothing to be desired by either contestant or patron. The bouts decided on the first night of the championships were the following:— BANTAM-WEIGriTS. R. Conway (7.10) and F. Lister (8.2) had a very keen encounter and were evenly matched. For the first two rounds Lister did most of the leading, but his hitting was blind, except when he got to close quarters, when he managed to send one or two blows home. In the third round, Conway brightened up and showed some ability with his right. Both boys fight hard,. but they both finished up fairly exhausted- No decision was given and another round was accordingly ordered. The round opened with each making a desperate attack on the other. Neither, however, had any steam behind their hitting and the round ended without damage to either- Conway was given the decision, which received a very mixed reception. L. Rathbone (8.2) was beaten on points by G. Brown (7.4), after a keen struggle. Brown, who is quite a bantam, was up against a lanky youth with a long reach, who had a good notion of boxing. Brown, however, w\is clever at smothering, dodged well, was very quick in attack, and was as game as a pebb’e. This won him a decision on points, which was popularly acclaimed. FEATHER-WEIGHTS. G. Sparrow (8-10%), met A. Wright (8. 12%). After some loose sparring the boys got down to hard hitting, without any show of science, and during the exchanges in the second round Sparrow landed several telling blows on Wright’s face. The latter went down and was counted out. A. Leslie (8.12) and R. Webb (8.12%), gave a poor display. Leslie did most of the leading but did not always come out of the mill too well. Leslie got the decision on points, but both boys want some elementary lessons in the fistic art, before again appearing in public. E. W. Chapman (8.13%), knocked A. Stack (8.11%) out in the second round- The winner is a boxer of promise and showed a capacity for hard hitting, while his defensive tactics were good. Stack showed a lot of grit, but was outclassed from the start F. Craig (8.13) and G. Whalley (8. 11%), put up a willing fight. In the opening round Whalley showed to best advantage. He was very quick on his feet and tricky, but the super-

ior height and longer reach of Craig told its tale. LIGHT-WEIGHTS. , . ; J. Burns (9.12) and L. Ross (9.11), afforded the ’best exhibition of the night. The bout opened with Ross sparring for an opening which he soon -got and waded in with some well'directed, hard blows. He is.a clean fighter with a pleasing style. Burns took his punishment well- The round ended In favour of Ross. The opening in the second round saw Ross again, makm & the pace but. Burns returned one or two heavy swings and floored his degressive adversary while nine, was counted. Burns followed up his advantage and the gong only just saved Ross. The last round was particularly strenuous, both boys fighting with a will; bull Ross got all the worst ot S. and went down twice Wore bein°- finally counted out. Both con Ss°tan“ received . a well-deserved ovation as they left the ring. B- England (912) went down to R. Craig (9.13) after the first rally, and p-nt a bad wrench. He, however, ros again and a -few- willing mills took place till Craig knocked England through the ropes and won. , ‘Tlneebone (9.12%) met a inr boxer in F. Warren (9.9%) ana tent out in the second round, bleedino - profusely. This contest was mark ld°by the vim with which both boxers started out. Kneebone’s arms went about like a windmill and some got home; but Warren used head and displayed a . good knowledge of t game; waiting his chances and then making the best of them. WELTER-WEIGHTS. F. Mendoza (10.5%). easily accounted for by Connelly (10.7). The former was tall and long, with little knowledge of the game, while his opponent was nuggety and jell set ip and possessed of. a pair of he knew how to use. Mendoza was knocked out in the second round. MIDDLE-WEIGHTS. H. Spear (11-3%) was too clever for W Douglas (10.12%) and got m Sock-out blow early in the second round. Spear is an aggessive fighter, with a taking style. He is at getting in on his opponent and then uses his fists effectively. Douglas is a hard hitter and plucky, but wants E. Patrick (11.0%) and A. Miller (1011) provided a vaudeville turn. From the start the two flew at one another like wild beasts, but withou doing any damage. Patrick, particularly jumped about like a kangaroo and hit out at all sorts of extraordinary ways, while Miller dodged and skipped about like a pup out for play. The audience were kept in fits of laughter and no one took the two seriously. At the end of three rounds the referee (T. Brown) ordered an encore, and the two performed their antics for two minutes, then Patrick was given the decision. HEAVY -WEIGHT S. A. Pooley (12.0), Australasian champion. was matched against W. Dwyer (13.7), from Rotorua. Pooley simply outclassed his opponent, and had no difficulty in dismissing him with a knock-out blow in the second round. Dwyer is a powerfully-made man, but, despite his stone and a-half advantage, could not make any showing against Pooley. He did not seem to know how to use his fists. Pooley, on the other hand, put tremendous power behind every hit he made.