KIWI BOXERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 155, 4 July 1927, Page 14

KIWI BOXERS.

nelson Mcknight returns. aucklander-s performances IN AUSTRALIA. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE Locking 'fit and well, with the exception of a pair of slightly swollen hands, Nelson McKnight, the well-known New Zealand welterweight boxer, returned to Auckland by the Aorangi this morning. Since leaving the Dominion ten weeks 3ko McKnight has had live fights— s.nple proof of the favourable impres-s-ion he created with the Australian fan?. He won three contests by the K.U. route, fought one draw, and lost his fifth match, the referee stopping the Oght. In his first fight at Newcastle McKnight knocked out George Princle in j the seventh round, and the critics were well pleased with his display. He was next matched with Eddie Smith, of America, and he stopped his opponent in the thirteenth round. Frank Austin was his next opponent, and the pair fought fifteen rounds to a draw at Brisbane. Fqr this light the New Zealander had to travel 750 miles by train, and as he only arrived in Brisbane" the evening before the fight he was not in the best condition. With two wins and a draw to his credit, McKnight was signed up to meet Les Robson, the Queensland welterweight champion.. match took place at Brisbane, and the Hamilton boxer won in quick time, the Australian taking the count in the third round.

A week or eo before leaving for his home town, McKnight fought G. Pearce, and the excellent showing he made has been made known to Aucklanders by cable. In this fight .the referee stopped the contest in the nineteenth round. McKnight had so injured his hands as to be unable to fight back. "I had first injured by right hand against Austin, and had knocked out Kobson, rather luckily, with my left. Against Pearce I had chiefly to rely on my left, and when this also went I could do practically nothing," said McKnight this morning. An X-ray examination showed that a small 'bone in the right hand *was shattered. Asked as to his plans for the future, McKnight said he proposed leaving New Zealand for America by the Aorangi in about two months' time. Before leaving, he said, he would like to fight Artie Hay for the New Zealand welterweight title. He would also be willing to meet Jim Broadfoot, provided the latter could make lOst 121b. McKnight, who will bo managed on his American visit by Ben Tracy, said that he would then be conceding Broadfoot half a stone, his own fighting weight being 10st 51b. At Sydney McKnight trained with Chas. Purdy, who, he said, might fight Bluey Jones at Newcastle on Saturday next. In his first fight in Australia Purdy had fought well, beating Billy Richardson on points. Purdy, who had also beaten Buxton, would probably have two more fights in Sydney and one in Melbourne before going to South Africa in quest of contests. During his visit McKnight alsossayw y Beg. Trowern, who beat Billy Chambers on points, and also defeated Buxton.