BOXERS' RETURN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 209, 4 September 1929, Page 9

BOXERS' RETURN.

AUCKLAND AMATEUR TEAM.

FINE ALL-ROUND DISPLAY,

MANAGER'S ENTHUSIASTIC TRIBUTE.

Well pleased with their success at the New Zealand championships at Greymouth, the Auckland amateur boxing representatives returned home this morning. The local boys won three championships at the meeting. The manager of the team, 31 r. \V. Dervan, was enthusiastic over the performances of the Aucklanders. "Throughout the tournament there was not one of the team who fought a poor fight, and we went very near to winning five titles instead of three," he said. "They were a great set of boys, and their conduct was exemplary." Of Pearcey's win in the flyweight division, Mr. Dervan said that Purton, whom the Aucklander beat in his first fight, had twice won the title and had once been runner-up. Concerning Purdy's win in the ban-tam-weight class, Mr. Dervan said that there was, no shadow of doubt in his opinion that the decision was correc;.. Purdy boxed like a champion all through, and' carried out the instructions of the team's trainer (Mr. H. Donovan) to a letter. Ivnopp, who in the opinion of many of the spectators deserved the decision, was a tough little fighter, but was not the boxer that Purdy was.

"Johns fought better as lie went along. In each fight his form was better than that in the one previous, and in the final he could not have performed better. He and Leckie were the outstanding boxers in the feather-weight division. In the first round Johns was dropped by a heavy right and • .as a fairly sick boy at the interval, but lie went out for the second full of confidence, and boxed splendidly until ita end. In round three he returned Lockie's compliment of the first round, dropping the Southerner with his right. Johns fought better than he did at Auckland, and there was never any doubt about his gloves being closed," added Mr. Dervan. Pearcey, Purdy and Johns all boxed at their best form, and Mr. Dervan said he would not have been greatly surprised had the Jamieson Belt, for the most scientific boxer at the tournament, being awarded to either Pearcey or Purdy. However, Johns' success was popular. Fighting in the lightweight class, McKnight also performed well. He dropped •Stone in the first round and had nim thinking hard at the bell, but was unable to get the Wellington boy going again. The points at the end were very closc. McCarthny fought well on the first night, and made a very close fight »*f it in the final. Martin was going alou" in good style against Ennes, but in the second round ho received a groin injury. Although in considerable pain. Martin made a plucky attempt to win, bat was much handicapped by his injury. A good showing was also put up by Craig, of Te Awamutu. Mr. Dervan had a warm word of praise for the team's trainer. "Mr. Donovan," he said, "helped the boys a lot, and his advice was of much vane

to them. In fact, he could not have been better."