BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 72, 24 March 1923, Page 11

BOXING.

MURRAY BEATS HANSEN. KNOCKOUT IN LAST ROUND. "The content in the Town Hall last nisht between Les Murray. Hsht weight '•humplon, and Fred Hansen, who has recently oiued the professional ranks after having won the Australasian welter title, provided all the action the most critical crowci could ilesire. and after barine gone Just on the scheduled 15 rounds, ended In a win for Murray by the knock-out. Hansen stripped at 10.7 and Murray at 9.1-!, while the tormer also had a eonsideraule advantage in height and reach, but in hittlns. speed, versatility and exnerlem-e Murray had assets that enabled him to turn the balame ill his favour, um-e lie had got the measure of Hansen's limitations. In the early rounds it was soon apparent that Murray was faster and snappier in his bitting, but there was enough speed and shiftiness Hansen, roupied with a superior reach, to keep the Southerner going at top. while Hansen snowed ability after having taken punishment to come back with a punch that more than once steadied his opponent, and promised a swing of the balance in his favour. In the first two rounds Hansen's reach disconcerted Murray, and in fast tightnis both eeored frequently to the face with left and right. They slowed down for a couple of rounds, in the course of whleli Murray's superior footwork enabled him to get a slight lead. The fifth round saTg Murray i-et his man's measure by jumpiiih to get over Hansen's guard with right and left to the head, and once he closed in ha peppered tin; local boy's head mid body with last jolts to head, baring him puzzled and bothered by the twohunded in -lighting. Similar tactics in the sixth increased Murray's Ip.td. and although he fought gamely Hansen finished the round somewhat dazed. With a gooil straight left Hansen kept his man off throughout the next round, and steadied him with a right cross to tue face, whereon Murray used his feet and had tlie other man missing with hia right. Changing his lead to a straight drive to round, and vi clone quarters once again the body, Murray got in again in the eighth punished Hansen with fast jolts, cleverly evading efforts by the latter to retaliate with his right. After a quiet ninth round, Murray played for a knockout in the next twu r.'.mids by back moving bis opponents lead and cross, but missed twn or three times as he came fcacfc with a right uppercut. Once again he became aggressive in the twelfth by jumping in to honk left and right to the head—i style of lead which would have been risky against a more experienced boxer —.uid then punishing Hansen with his much greater speed at close quarters. Murray played at intervals fur the next two rounds for a k.o. chance as Hansen landed lightly with a left lead, and brought his right across, but he failed tv than half-way through, and Hansen took every risk to get his right drive there. It looked as if the fight would go to Murray on points, when he got his chance as Hansen missed badly with his rigtu, and a right hook to the jaw sent him down for flvc seconds. On rising he poked his left into Murray's face, and once again missed with his right cross, whereon Murray stepped In, and hooked his right agalu to the jaw. Shaken uud dazed. Hansen tried too late to cover up. liut breaking his guaid with two !or three jolts Murray swung in a heavy left hook to the point, and Hansen went down for the count. The boxing throughout was fast, aggressive and clean. Murray more than once held off when a stumble gave him an advantage, and his sportsmanship was recognised iv the unanimous cheer that went ,up for him when Mr. Frank Burns the referee, lifted his glove as the victor, despite the fact that Hansen had many I supporters in the hall. Hansen, who recovered quickly, was among the firat to congratulate his opponent. This is Hansen's i flrst loss. He won his way to the Austra- ■ lasian amateur title without being beaten and won his first professional flght, against Scott in Taranakl, a few weeks ago