BOXING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2510, 25 May 1909, Page 2

BOXING.

ANOTHER FITZSIMMONS POSSIBLE.

“Uppercut” (Timaru) writing to “Amateur” of tho’ Sydney “Referee” says:—Just a lino to let you know how the game is going in Timaru—the home of boxing in New Zealand. We have some real good lads here. Prominent amongst them is Jim Hegarty (fea-ther-weight), whom good judges reckon would give Elliott a good go. Then we have young Sid Fitzsimmons (nephew of famous Bob), who bad his first go .here last month. .Ho was up against a lad named McCabe, from Christ church, a much older and more ex perionced lad. They fought six real good rounds, and Fitz was declared the winner at the end of the bout, after one of tho hardest goes seen here for a long time. It was Fitz’s first appearance in the ring, and good judges predict a great future for the lad. Young Fitz has a,ll the physical advantages to make a great fighter—height oft 11 in, weight about list, broad shoulders, and long roach, and age 17 next June. All that is required is a good teacher to bring him out, then I think we will have another world’s champion in this young blacksmith. His connections have decided not to let him have another go for twelve months as he is growing too fast

JEFFRIES V. JOHNSON

A London correspondent, writing under date March 12, says : —lt is stated that Jeffries is being sadly harassed in New York by a constant succession of challenges from the negro Johnson. The latter arrived at Vancouver, 8.C., on his return from Australia, a few days ago, and ever since landing has been hurling challenges by means of post and telegraph, and even special messengers. Jeffries has succeeded in reducing his weight sufficiently to undertake most lucrative music-hall engagements worth Gooo per week, but he is still much too fat for a fight to the finish with the black pugilist. Boy messengers bring Johnson’s challenges, couched in slighting terms, to Jeffries at all hours of the day and night, and Jeffries, if he is to retain the respect of American sportsmen, must either meet Johnson or allow judgment to go by default. Meanwhile the big negro is greatly worried because the hotelkeepers, despite his pugilistic laurels, persistently draw the “color line,” and refuse him admission. Johnson feels the discrimination very bitterly. Johnson’s feelings are shared by 10,000,000 other American citizens of African descent, who declare that he should also draw the color line, and refuse to meet white men desirous of wresting the championship from him. Eng’and has a new heavy-weight champion. Gunner Moir, who held Ire title for several years, was, on April 19 as reported bv cable, knocked out in the first round by lan Hague. The match, which was made on February 16, was for a purse of £9OO (winner £600), and £2OO a side, and pionsliip of England, and took place at the National Sporting Club, London. On December 15 of last year Hague defeated Ben Taylor .(whose friends once fondlv expected him to develop into a world heater) in two rounds, and referring to the winner a London correspondent wrote : —The last contest Ol 190 S at tlie National Sporting C.ub suggests that in the Yorkshire boxer Jan Blague, we have perhaps found somelike a champion heavy-weight. Hague is big enough for anything, tor, thoroughly trained, he goes 13st /lb, and be has a good reach and splendid capacity for taking punishment, v.inch has won for lnm the . title Don H a «uc. At present he is perhaps a trifle “green” in the matter of ring craft, but up to the present he lias clone all that he has been asked to do n a workmanlike manner, and mth a little more experience should make a name for himself. v