SANDS BEATS MARK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 142, 29 March 1948, Page 5

SANDS BEATS MARK

BOXING

POINTS DECISION AFTER 12 Rounds (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 27. Showing amazing courage and fighting skill, the Victorian cruiser-weight boxer Jackie Marr, 12st, 21b went 12 rounds with Dave Sands, list 9Hb, Australian triple champion in the topweight division, at the Petone recreation ground this afternoon. Sands was awarded the contest on points. With memories of what happened to Doug Rollinson (who was beaten on a technical knock-out in the first round of a bout with Sands on March G) the crowd did not expect. Man- to last. Although he took heavy punishment Marr never seemed to have much doubt that, he would still he on his feet at the finish.

Sands to-day was just as brilliant, a boxer and just as heavy a hitter as he was against Rolliuson. Marr, however, evaded or blocked punches, which would probably have connected with Rollinson, and he had powers of endurance far exceeding those of the New Zealander. Marr of course, had an advantage over Rollinson in that he had fought Sands before, but even so he put up a remarkable performance. Sands did not do all the hitting, and here were times when Marr landed some really telling blows. One lefthand punch toward the end of the bout set Sands back on his heels. Early in the bout it looked as if there might be a quick finish as. a result of a cut over Mam’s left eye. After the fight Marr said his performance had been affected by the eye injury. A warm tribute to the durability of Marr was paid after the .fight by Tom Maguire, Sands’ manager, who said it was a great fight between two splendid fighters. Sands took the aggressive in the early rounds. Blood was streaming from a cut over Marr’s left eye in the third, and Sands had a less serious cut on the left cheekbone. Marr’s eye was again bleeding in the fourth. In the fifth Sands’ right found Marr’s injured but the Victorian’s excellent defence enabled him to block the majority of the punches and he likewise weathered the sixth and seventh. Both took punishment in the eighth. A righthand blow by Sands on the jaw affected Marr, but the latter was undaunted and later shook Sands with a lefthander. A vigorous tenth round followed a quiet ninth and heavy fighting marked the twelfth. Time after time in the course of the bout Marr was almost lifted off his feet but at the finish he was still able to walk to his corner, even if a trifle dazedly. He showed no emotion when the decision was given against him and went over with a smile to congratulate Sands.

The judges were J. McKenna and J P. Gaynor.