Boxing to a Finish.
THE FINISH-SMOKE. The glove contest arranged between R. Matthews and Newtown took place in the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, and ended (as all these contests held in Gisborne have previously done) most unsatisfactorily to those who paid for the privilege of witnessing a fair and square contest. It was apparent at the outset to many who had previously seen Matthews don the gloves, either that he had lost much of his strength and science, or was not “ on the job,” to put it mil ler ; others again are of opinion that a good fight would have taken place if it had not been bung'ed by the referee who stopped the fight without sufficient reason, so far as could be seen from the audience. Previous to the match time was filled in by a couple of Natives and the Weston brothers, who “ pasted ” one another in a fairly genuine manner; the younger Weston especially, seemed intent on knocking his big brother out and caused a deal of fun to the spectators. The match of the evening began a few minutes after nine; Newton was in perfect form and formed a striking contrast to Matthews, who appeared the very reverse. Five rounds were fought as follows :— First round. -Both men appeared as though anxious to get warm and put in the three minutes dancing round one another in a style the audience quickly showed their disapproval of; while some fairly laughed, thinking they were in for a pantomime. When time was callea neither man had struck a blow. Second round.—Both men seemed to think it about time to begin in earnest and rushed at one another and dealt some heavy blows. In this round Matthews got early on Newton’s ribs and knocked him clean under the ropes ; he returned quickly to the charge however, and shortly after landed Matthews under the chin and fairly lifted him off his feet and stretched him full length on the floor. Third round.—Shortly after commencing Newton got in lightly on Matthews “ supper ” and Dick sat down; but as the audience groaned a little he got up quickly and then commenced on Newton in earnest and drove him all round the stage.' After a minute’s fighting however, Mai thews’ wind troubled him, and Newton’s condition standing to him he punished Matthews considerably, having all the best of the round.-
Fourth ronnd.—Both sparred cautiously Matthews acting on the defensive and appearing a bit distressed! Newton cunningly showed an opening and Matthews lunged at him, but by a clever duck he escaped it and quickly rising under Matthews’ arm he succeeded in drawing blood from Matthews’ cheek and again laying him out. Matthews rose quickly and shortly after, Newton stumbling slightly, allowed Matthews to get in and knock him over, Although there was little force in the blow/ * Fifth round. —Newton at once rushed at Matthews and fought him on the ropes in tbe corner. Matthews seemed dazed and called cut to Newton to let him off the rope ; at this juncture the seconds and referee rushed up and tried iff separate the men and in the melee Matthews succeeded in getting out behind Newton and forcing him on the ropes and struck at him fiercely regardless of the referee’s calls of stand off. Time was now up but no notice was taken, and the men dosed and wrestled all round the stage. The exoitemement now became intense and from the wild and restless spirit into which the audience had been thrown it seemed probable that a rush would be made for tbe platform. The referee was powerless to stop tbe men. The pugilists had got clear again and there were wild shouts of “ Let them fight it out,” “ Its a b swindle,” etc. The referee and seconds rushed towards the combatants, and they were separated, the referee declining to allow the fight to proceed. After some heated wrangling between the pugilists, they took off the gloves and left the stage. The audience hooted and howled, and on the referee going forward to explain, he was received with a storm of derisive laughter and groans. A retreat was made to the back of the stage, and the audience held their ground, the more turbulent spirits emphatically demonstrating their presence; others again treated the whole thing as a joke. Matthews seconder was allowed a hearing, and he said he considered his man had been unfairly treated. The referee essayed to speak and was understood to say that the men should fight fairly—otherwise there was no use allowing them to continue. The uproar again increased. “ Give us our money back ! “ It’s a fraud 1” . " Where’s the gatekeeper 1” “ Fight it out, you sods I” were some of the forcible, if not elegant expressions used, while in ihe meantime a wrangle was going ou behind the scenes, the contestants themselves appearing to be thirsting for each other’s gore. The audience shortly after dispersed, not one of them appearing satisfied. Some put the whole blame on the referee because he almost ignored the first foul, and then when the men were on square terms again the match was stopped. At the finish Newton seemed to have the best of it, and Matthews was out of wind, but neither of them were severely punished, and up to this point most of Matthews' blows were put in too high, though it was evident to those who knew anything of boxing that Newton’s guard was at times very loose, and that a few heavy undercuts would have nearly settled him.
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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 173, 24 July 1888, Page 2
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929Boxing to a Finish. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 173, 24 July 1888, Page 2
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