Boxing.

This year is an important one in the annals of the Boxing Club, for it marks the first inter-Collegiate tourney since the Club was founded three years ago. It is true that the contest was, unfortunately, confined to Otago and Victoria, but with something definite to work for, Canterbury College should be able to raise sufficient enthusiasm to resuscitate their Boxing Club, defunct some two years since. Auckland never had such an institution, and we are unable to express any opinion as to the prospects of the sport with them, but it should not be a matter of extraordinary difficulty for them to get together a team.

As it was, the tournament, which was managed by the local Association, had to be supplemented by a professional contest. The large Town Hall was crowded with spectators, and perhaps the nervousness induced thereby was responsible for some of the performances not being up to standard. The following is a detailed account of the bouts :—

Light-weight. Stewart (10st.) v. Menzies (9st. 3½ lb.).

This did not turn out the easy victory we had expected. Although Menzies was boxing several pounds below his weight, he put up a game fight. The first round was fairly even, both being cautious; in the second, Stewart scored well, but did not show his old form, and two attempts to obtain a knock-out ended page 53 in failure. In the third round both contestants put a good deal of life into their work, and Menzies scored two or three times with his left. Nevertheless there was no doubt as to the verdict, which was in Stewart's favour.

9st. 7lb. Class. Boyle (9st. 4lb.) v. Partridge (9st. 4lb.).

In this bout Boyle had the advantage in both height and reach over the Otago man, but failed to make the fullest use of them against his more experienced opponent.

The first round was wasted in a lot of useless perambulation, and even when the parties did begin to mix it neither was as effective as he should have been. The second and third rounds were a vast improvement on the first, and as Partridge showed more enterprise he was awarded the victory.

Welter-weight. Stainton (10st. 3lb.) v. Barton (10st.4lb.)

Stainton cheerfully but rashly undertook to box a short notice and without any training, with the inevitable result that before the end of the third round he was suing for mercy. This was a pity, for in the first found he was suing for mercy. This was a pity, for in the first round he repeatedly non-plussed Barton, his ducking and dodging being most adroit.

Although he was visibly tiring during the second round, Stainton stiff led on points at its conclusion, but further he could not go, and in the third round was just a punching ball for Barton.

Heavy-weight. Brosnan (11st.) v. Cody (12st. 11lb.)

Cody has a great advantage in weigh over representative, and in consequence was tipped crowd as an easy winner. However, his superiority ended there, for he soon showed himself quite ignorant of the art of boxing.

In view of the punishment which Brosnan was able to inflict on him at will, Cody boxed very pluckily, and well deserved the applause of the onlookers.

Middle-weight. Dudson (11st. 3lb.) v. Childs (11st. 4lb.)

Dudson and Childs were a splendidly matched pair, and this was easily the best contest of the evening. Both made the pace hot from the commencement, each being quite willing to take the aggressive. Dudson was at his best in the first half of the second round, but Childs wore him down, and in the last round was dominant right through.

Although Dudson was beaten, his was the best boxing performance of the tournament, and he was warmly applauded for his determined effort. It was, by general consent, the best amateur contest seen in Wellington for a very long time.