The Boxing Contest.

The Boxing Championships for 1922 were held in the Town Hall, Auckland, on Monday, April 17th, under the auspices of The Northern Boxing Association, when a good attendance was assured, His Excellency the Governor General being an interested spectator.

Owing to the nonappearance of an opponent in the Bantamweight, Pringle again had no fight. This is the third time this has happened at the Easter Tournaments, Pringle being unopposed other than by aspirants after bantam honours at V.U.C.

The Feather-weight bouts were disappointing, there being much room for improvement by all the competitors. In the first bout Young (V.U.C.) 8st. 11 lbs., beat J. E. R. Patterson (O.U.) 8st. 10lbs. after a willing bout. The verdict was popular, Young's defence being his distinguishing feature. In the final bout Young beat S.F. Jenne (C.U.C.) 8st. 13lbs. mainly with his persistent left lead and better footwork. Young is a promising boxerand well deserved his win, his pluck and endurance standing him in good stead in several mix-ups.

In the Light-weights Canterbury had a champion in Farquharson. Farquharson's exhibition of boxing was one of the best of the evening. In the first round Farquharson (C.U.C.) lost. Easily outpointed Colwin (O.U.) 9st. 81bs., but in the finals there was little to pick between the winner and Lewis (V.U.C.) 9st. 13tbs, Lewis is a steady boxer and uses his hands efficiently, whilehis ability to take punishment is marked. But he again was outpointed by Far quharson, who, by means of quicker and cleaner hitting and a disconcerting right cross to the face and body, gradually wore his opponent down. The decision in favour of Farquharson was popular.

The Welterweight competitors appeared to be in better training than any of the other competitors. In the first bout Conningham (V.U.C) lost. 13lbs., who was in the pink of condition, defeated Maxwell (A.U.C.) lost. 5lbs., after a willing go. Conningham showed great improvement on last year, his style and speed both doing credit to his recent training. Maxwell was a beaten man from the first sound of the gong, but held gamely on till the" last round. In the second bout Jefcoate (OU) lost. 9lbs. comfortably defeated Crabbe (C.U.C.) lost 81bs. by his worrying tactics and disregard of punishment. In the finals was witnessed one of the most interesting fights of the evening. Although the decision went to Jefcoate, it was not a popular one with the publio, the punishment meted out to him by Conningham telling in the latter's favour throughout the bout. Time and again Conningham connected page 26 with a straight left to the jaw, but Jefooate's ability to take his gruelling saved him from an early defeat. With his persistent attacks and initiative in leading he began to worry Conningham, who undoubtedly showed a lack of resource in the last round. He, however, finished the fresher of the two, and, in the writer's opinion, was the undoubted winner of the bout.

The Middleweight contests were equally as interesting as the Welter's. In the first bout Fraser (V.U.C.) lost. 12tbs. proved too cool and clever with his hands for Macken (A.U.C.) lost. 12lbs. who threw in the towel in the second round Lawther (C.U.C.) list. 4tbs. fought a steady and determined bout against Lamb (O.U.) list. 4lbs., who was repeatedly foiled in his attempts at mixing it, his opponent's defence proving too good for him, and the pace too severe.

In the finals Lawther took the aggressive against Fraser, and from the start showed more resource. Fraser's footwork, as in his former bout, was very bad. He repeatedly tripped himself up and laid open his defence in his efforts to retain his balance. With a good left and a good defence when Fraser fought back, Lawther had the advantage after two even rounds, and with several quick lefts and rights to the face completely broke down Fraser's defence and won the verdict.

The Heavy-weights, from a boxing point of view, were disappointing; though from a spectacular point of view, McLean (A.U.C.) certainly proved entertaining. The way McLean, who is an exceptionally powerful hitter, knocked out both his opponents in the first round was a feature of the evening. Neither man was able to stand up to him for a minute, McLean himself being untouched.

In the first bout McRae (V.U.C.) 12 st. 2tbs., looked like getting the better of Craven (C.U.C.) 12st. 2Ibs. McRae set a lively pacefor a heavyweight and twice floored his opponent by a heavy right to the jaw in the first round. In the second round Craven showed more caution, and repeatedly slipped his left in behind McRae's too confident guard. By a continuous drive of his left to the face Craven quite turned the*tables on the first round, and after a lot of punishishment being taken by both men, secured the verdict by a narrow margin. Having knocked out Kirkland (O.U.) 12st. 2tbs., with a powerful left to the point followed by a right hook to the solar plexus, in a few seconds, McLean repeated the performance inside a minute, when Craven faced him in the finals.

During the evening two special bouts of four two minute rounds were fought by Auckland amateurs, when Halton (9st. lib.) defeated Keenan (8st. 91bs.), and Brien (9st. 41bs.) was awarded the decision over Ottoway (9st. 131bs.).

Mr. Frank Burns was referee, there being no other judges. Mr. J. E. Fagan was rounds man, and the timekeepers were Major P. B. Creenhough and Mr. A. H. Gyllies.