BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 183, 5 August 1925, Page 10

BOXING.

LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE.

•TROWERX'S DEFEAT.

That New Zealand professional ■ boxers are the equal, if not the superior, of the imported article, was convincingly demonstrated at the Town Hall last night, when Reg. Trowern, the youthful Aucklander, made a determined effort to lift the New Zealand lightweight crown from Les. Murray, of Dunedin (says the '-Dominion" of yesterday). The contest went the full distance, and was full of incident' from start to finish. The champion, though rattled in the third round, proved himself a worthy title-holder, and. by virtue of speed and experienced ringcraft. was content to shade his opponent throughout the journey. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the scientific and spirited showing made by both lads.

Both scaled 9.72; The champion was given a great reception as he entered the ring a few seconds after the Aucklundcr. Murray led with a couple of light lefts, but Trowern came back with the same weapon hard to the side of the head. The champion was showing pace, but the Aucklander was boxing coolly. The round was slightly in the champion's favour. In the second round Trowern scored with both hands to the head, and also landed a good left in the second session, of which he had slightly the better. Trowern caused the champion to miss badly with the left in the .third, but the Dunedin man slammed a solid left downstairs. A beautiful right by Trowern put the champion down for seven, and he rose groggily. The Aucklandpr was a trifle over-eager, but scored a heavy right uppercut. The gong was welcome music to Murray. The Aucklander went into finish matters in the fourth, but Murray unloosed a right, and steadied his man in his impetuosity. It was real fighting in the iifth, both scoring with straight lefts. Murray was (lying signals of distress, but he kept the points fairly even with speed and cleverness. Trowern was on his toes all the time, and scored twice with the left in the sixth. Murray got in a solid left to the solar plexus, and also scored a couple of light lefts to the face. The seventh was full of snap and sparkle. Both used the left to effect, Trowern still hopping, about nimbly on his toes. Murray appeared the more distressed of the two as they came out for the eighth session. The champion made pretty pluy with the left, and caused Trowern to niisa with the same weapon. The Aucklandcr did some beautiful ducking and dodging here, causing the champion to miss badly on several occasions. The ninth saw the champion pile on points with the left, but the Aucklander evened up with the same weapon with a couple which had steam behind them. It was fast and clever boxing, and the crowd were enjoying it. They roughed It in the tenth till Murray landed a solid right downstairs. Both plied the left to the face, but Murray forced the pace and scored well with left rips to the body before the gong went. In the eleventh Trowern sparkled up, and landed two good straight lefts in succession. Murray made the Aucklander miss badly with the right, but the challenger came back and rattled the Dunedin man with a couple of solid left swings to the side of the head. The round closed amidst hearty applause. The twelfth saw Murray score a light left, and miss badly with the right. The champion caught the Aucklander with a left hook and toppled him over, but it was more a stumble than the result of a blow. The

'•Devil's Round" saw Trowern dash in with the left to the lace, and he scored again later with the same weapon. They were tiring now, and a good deal of the steam had departed from the .exchanges. They fought toe to toe in the second last round, in which Murray had the best of the exchanges, the challenger's best work being on defence, in which some clever ducking figured. Trowern, realising that he was behind on points, attempted to even up in the last round, but the champion, by superior speed an.d his less experienced opponent, and foiled all the efforts of the deter. mined young northerner to land a decisive blow. The Judges' verdict went to Murray, who thus retained the title.

Mr. Earl Stewart was the third man in the ring, and the judges' chairs were filled by Messrs. P. W. Woods and J. E. Staples.