THE NOBLE ART.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 200, 24 August 1928, Page 13

THE NOBLE ART.

N.Z. BOXING TOURNEY.

PROGRESS OF THE BOUTS. GOOD GENERAL STANDARD. The noble art of self-defence as practised by amateurs in the gymnasiums of New Zealand was displayed at the Town Hall last night for almost a full five hours without wearying the large attendance of spectators. Nearly half a hundred amateur boxers showed their paces before the crowd under the supervision of Referees R. Meale (Auckland) and J. Kilmartin (Otago), assisted by Judges A. Beban (Greymouth), J. E. Staples (Wellington), S. A. Lindsay (Invercargill) and G. Bush (Auckland). Surprisingly few of the twenty-one bouts were one-sided, there being but one clean knock-out, and three more decisions were given by intervention of the referee before the full distance was covered. None of the contests could be said to be really thrilling, but undoubtedly the general average of the boxing was excellent and sustained interest. Probably the highest standard was reached in the bantams, wherein the opening bout between Hurne (Wellington) and Hawes (Westport) was worthy of a final, and Hawes was unlucky to draw the probable champion of the year right at the outset. Yet in Davies (Auckland), Roebuck (Taranaki) and Knuckey (Hawka's Bay) there is quality left to make Hurne step along. It is a fine class.

While last year's feather-weight champion, Donovon, of Taranaki, won his two bouts handily, he was kept doing his best on both occasions, to the delight of fans who like to see champions fully earn their laurels. In this class the lbcal champion, Leslie, defeated a good boxer from Hawke's Bay, while Terris (Ashburton) and Roderick (Gisborne) promise plenty of solid action for the second round and finals. The only Gisborne representative believes in keeping right after his man, and was promptly "Heenev" to the crowd, who were pleased with his succehs.

In the middle-weights' the standard is fully maintained by Waite (Wellington). a two-fisted tiger, who qnickly signed k.o. to the Auckland man's account; by Nichol, a fast and clever actor from Southland, but lacks sting in his punches; by Davis (Otago) another keen two-handed hitter; and by Turner (Marlborough), ruggad and willing, but lacking in finesse. A slight fall In quality was noticeable among the lightweights, none of whom was outstanding. Probert, of Hawke's Bay, got through two bouts in effective style, showing speed and 6t?ng In his straight hitting. Jones, the Auckland champion, was a bit lucky to get the decision over Baird. of Christchurch, and the same applies to C. McKnight (Frankton). whose decision over Karton (Wanganui) was got by the narrowest of margins. Fuleher, of Otago, is solid and resourceful without being unusually clever.

On the run of the form shown last night it is obvious that in all these classes the bouts to-night will be full of interest, and that roost of the decisions will be very narrowly earned.

The Bantama. Hawes (West Coast) and Hurne (Wellington) provided something fast and clever in the first bantam boot. Both displayed hitting power as well as clever defence, and were hard to separate in the first two rounda, though Hornet? extra reach gave him somewhat of an edge on his shorter opponent. Hurne took a decided lead in the last round, and was proclaimed. It was hard lock for Hawes to meet such strong opposition in the first bout.

Davies (Auckland) and Hutchinson (Napier) were not up to the standard of the former two bantams, but they pleased the crowd by mixing it freely, and Davies got the decision near the end of the third round, when the Napier lad went down for a short count, and Referee Kilmartln intervened.

Neither boxer was impressive in the go between Knuckey (Hawke's Bay) and Craik .(Otago). Knuckey landed with a number of wild swings, and got the verdict, but his display was not impressive. Concluding the bantam programme of the evening Brosnaban (North Otago) and Roebuck (Taranaki) had a lively set-to. After Roebuck had been warned for holding in the clinches he went out next round for a slog, and they both went at it toe-to-toe. Roebuck won by a very narrow margin. Results: — E. Hnrae (8.15> beat P. Hawes (5.2). E. Davies (7.13J) beat R. Hutchinson (8.1J). L. Knuckey (8.0J) beat J. Craik (7.133). N. Roebuck (8.14) beat E. Brosnahan (8.1J). The Feather-weights. The feather-weight class opened with a good bout between Sea strand (Hawke's Bay) and Richardson (Greymouth), in which a good straight left gave the Hawke's Bay lad a close decision. Then the present titleholder. T. Donovan, of Taranaki, came on against G. Thomas, a Btrongly-built southpaw, whose stance and reach bothered the champion till he found an opening for a strong right cross. Thomas fought back willingly for two rounds, but weakened and took a deal of punishment in the final. Maneon (Te Aroha) and Terris (Ashburton) were both willing to mix it. and I after each had taken a deal of punishment the decision went to Terris.

Roderick, of Gisborne, opened his bout against Wrigbt (Christchureh) with heavy swings and uppercuts. but quickly working a position 1n clinches Wright waited, and came to light in the second with right and left hooks that shook the Gisborne lad's confidence. A slogging finish left little between them, but Roderick got the verdict. In his second bout of the evening, Seastrand (Hawke's Bay) bad to face the Auckland champion. Leslie, who forced the pace and had the Hawke's Bay lad down in the second for a win. T. W. Webber (Otago) was the second opponent to face the present champion, Donovan, of Taranaki. and he made a fight of it that delighted the fans, though Donovan won every round comfortably. Results: — I A. Seastrand (8.13}) beat D. Richardson (8.13)). T. C. Donovan (8.12)) beat G. Thomas (8.13|). i i R. Terriss (8-12J) beat C. Manson (8.134) beat R. Wright 1(8.8). i J. Leslie (8.13J) beat A. Seastrand fB T.'V\ Donovan (S.I2J) brat T. Webber (S.IIJ). The Lightweights. R. Fulcher (Otago) and A. Argyle (Oamaru) provided the opening bout of tlie lights, but it was uninspiring. Argyle invariablv bored Into close quarters, where the infighting wag only moderate. Fulcher scored freely to the bead at middle range, though missing a deal with a wild upper swing, and he got the verdict. Well-matched in height and weight, C. Probert (Hawke's Bay) and J. Papps (Wellington) went a good boot. Prober! s left kept him in front throughout a fairly lively three rounds. Lively and willing. Wright (Greymoutn) and Karta (Taranaki) pleaaed the crowd with aa even bout. In which both scored cleanly with left and right in the first two rounds, and Wright had his man daied with hard left to right in the third round. Even then Karim fought back pluckily, though n loser. Thf Greymouth boy \\ right proved to have no parry for I'robert's straight left, when these two came together, and a right cross had htm down for six in the econd round. He made a game recovery and saw the third round nut in good shape, though well behind in points.

Fnlcher*? second time out Teas against W. Dnggan, of Westport, who did not prove up to the standard of the Dunedinite. Fulcher won a rather uninteresting bout comfortably. Against A. Jones, the Auckland champion K. Baird, of Christ church, started well, but a right swing had him down for four in the opening round. Looking for a knockout Jones was kept off by Baird's consistent straight left. In the final round Baird outboxed Jones and had him defending desperately, Jones got the win on the first round, but the verdict got a mixed reception. A lively pair were C. McKnight (Frankton) and O. Karton (Wauganui), who provided the last bout of the evening, to a surprisingly large proportion of the fans, in view of the nearness to midnight. Karton adopted rushing tactics that worried McKnight, who, however, boxed a good third round, but was lucky to get the decision. Results :— R. Fuleher (9.S> beat A. Argyle (0.02). C. Probert (9.10}) beat J. E. Papps (0.13J). T. Wright (9.65) beat A. Karim (9.9). C. Probert (9.10*) beat T. Wright (9.6J). Fuleher (9.8) beat W. Duggan (9.113). A. Jones (9.10J) beat R. Baird (9.9J). C. McKnight (9.12J) beat A. Karton (9.13J). i The Middles. Hard-hitting and fast, Waite, the Wellington middle, pleased the crowd in his first appearance against the local man. Pitcher, who was disposed of early in the second round with a rush of lefts and rights to the jaw—the first k.o. of the evening. Thompson (Christchurch) and Turner (Marlbbrough) made a mill of the next bout, with Turner wrestling and roughing his way to victory in the last round.

Showing the best speed in hitting to date, and good footwork also, Xichol (Southland) had Norton (North Otago) in trouble and dazed in the first round, but his blows lacked Bting, and the North Otago boy came back to see the second round through, and the third to near the finish, when Referee Meale stopped it and raised Nicholas glove. A ready two-handed fighter. Davis, of Otago, found an open target on the face of Seown (Patea), who was badly punished, till Referee Meale stoppod proceedings in the third round to save the Patea niau unnecessary punishment.

C. Wait* (11.13J) beat \V. Pitcher (10.10}). I- Turner (11.3J) beat H. A. Thompson (10.10). R. Nichol (10.13 J) beat C. Norton (10.10). H. Davis (10.13 J) beat M. Scown (10.11).

DRAW FOR TO-NIGHT.

The draw for this evening's programme is:— Welter.—Stone (Wellington) v. McDonald (Manawatn), Ferguson (Hawte's Bav) t. Moynihan (Greymouth), Adams (Southland) v. Winner No. 1. Fly.—Pearcey (Auckland) v. Richmond (Otago), Gray (Wanganui) v. Knopp (Wellington). Light Heavy.—Mullins (Auckland) v. Pearce (Wellington), Gardiner (Christchurch) a bye. Heavy.—McCarthney (Auckland) v. Carlson (Wanganui), Hooper (Wellington) v. Campbell (North Otago). Feather.—Leslie (Auckland) v. Roderick (Gisborne), Donovan (Taranaki) v. Terris (Ashburton). Bantam. —Knnckney (Hawke's Bay) v. Davie? (Auckland). Hurne (Wellington) v. Roebuck (Taranaki). Light.—McKnight (Frankton) v. Jones (Auckland). Fuleher (Otago) v. Probert (Hawke's Bay). Middle.—Nichol (Southland) v. Waite (Wellington), Turner (Marlborough) v. Davis (Otago).