BRIGHT BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 10

BRIGHT BOXING.

HUGHES BEATS JOHNS.

DECISION Oh! POINTS.

AUSTRALIAN'S PERSISTENT

ATTACK.

A relentless attack and the ability to hit hard with both hands made Archie Hughes (N.S.W.), the winner over Harry ■Johns (Auckland) in the fifteen rounds professional contest staged by the Northern Boxing Association in the Town Hall last evening. The match was an excellent one, with action packed into every ■round, but the attendance was one of the smallest in the history of the association. Although Johns fought gallantly he wag unable to slow up the persistent New South Welsh-man, and Hugh as was clearly the better man on the night.

In taking the decision in last night's clash Hughes wiped off the defeat that Johns inflicted upon him when the pair met at Auckland some weeks ago. And he did it well. Eight from. the start the Australian went about his job in a busi-ness-like fashion. In the matter of reach the visitor was at a distinct disadvantage, 'but he refuse.! to allow Johns to make .a long-range fight of it. Had he done so .the chances are that the Aucklander would have won. Always was Hughes on the attack, and Johns was allowed no respite. Feather-weight champion of his State, Hughes is the busiest little battler seen locally for a long time. All through his aim was to fret to close quarters, and as he was able to achieve this object he succeeded in winning the long end of what must have been a very light purse — the men were fighting for a percentage of the takings, with a small guarantee as a safeguard. Hughes showed great cleverness in evading his opponent's lead, either 'by slipping the punch or iby back-mov-ing, and in the tixrht work he took many of his opponent' 6 punches on places where they did not hurt. The Australian also punched harder than in his first fight, and he tried hard to stop the light inside the fifteen rounds. Near the end of term seven he rattled Johns with a series of stinging upper-cuts to the chin, hut it was later in the fight when he landed hard to the heart and solar plexus, that he gave the Aucklander most worry. On his display last night the New South Welshman would have been unlucky had the referee (Mr. K. MealeJ decided upon a draw.

Credit Due to Johns. Much credit is also clue to Johns for the excellence of the fight. Opposed by a man who is considerably older, stronger and more experienced than himself, he fought gallantly and never once gave a suggestion that he wanted .to haul down his flag. At times it appeared that he wag working along unsound lines—there were occasions when he went in and traded punches with the tough little Australian—'but it is probably very much easier to talk about boxing Hughes at long range than actually to do so. Where Johns did appeal- to err most was his practice of lowering his head and inviting his opponent to let mo one of his vicious uppercuts. At a distance the Aucklander made many points, but at close quarters Hughes was clearly his master. Possessed of a very useful pair of feet Johns is always a difficult target when he is on the move, but he was unable to keep moving all the time and consequently was unable to dodge all the fire that the Australian put over. The Aucklander has speed in plenty, and several times last night hfe beat his opponent to the punch. When he failed to make contact with his left he left himself open to a nasty hook, •and Hughes did not let the opportunity jKo a-begging. . Small, though it' was, the house did not tail to appreciate Johns' clever .boxing and sameness, and the cheers at the finish were as much for him as for the winner. Early in the fight he received a solid tap on the nose and there was a steady trickle of blood into his mouth right up until the last round. _ That he was beaten should give Johns no cause for worry. He is yet a youngster, and Hughes has proved his worth against men high up in the game. And although Johns was certainly beaten, the Australian's margin of success was no more than comfortable.

Round By Round John (9.7%) had a slight advantage in weight, his opponent coming in at 9.6. There were some good exchanges in the opening round, Johns rousing his supporters when he drove the Australian on to 'the ropes. In the close exchanges Hughes worked both hands to the body and tried hard to uppercut his man. Johns' nose was bleeding at the gone, but in the matter of points there was nothing in it. Hughes Rot a slight edce on the points in the second round, but Johns boxed at a great pace in the third and evened the score up again. There was nothing of particular incident in the fourth, but in the fifth Hughes Bent the Aucklander's head batik with two stinEinc right uppercuts, and was immediately cautioned for holdinc with his left hand. In over-reaching with his left later in the round Johns lost his balance and fell forward, and Hughes hit him lightly as his gloves touched the mat. It was a purely accidental breach of the rules, and fortunately had no serious consequences. The sixth round was a lively session, and near the end of the seventh Johns took four hard uppercuts when he attempted to fight the v;Bitor at close quarters. Although he rallied brilliantly the Aucklander looked worried as he went to his corner. Huches attacked hotly in the eighth, and when Johns fought back spiritedly the spectators saw some boxins that had them cheering at the gong, lerm nine was quieter, but the pace was on again in the tenth. In the eleventh session Hughes shook the Aucklander with a series of hard uppercuts, and Johns appeared to be more troubled than at any previous

stage of the fight. After the twelfth round it was obvious that Johns would have to | take the next three- terms by a vep- big margin if he was to win, but his chances faded further into the distance in. the thirteenth, when Hughes thudoed vicious rights to his heart and solar plexus. There was some exciting boxing in the fourteenth. John scored well in a long range exchange, but was steadied by a hard snort right to the heart. Near the end of the term the Aucklander was applauded lor the war he stood up to heavy punishment. Hughes tried hard to put his man to the canvas in the final term, but Johns had still plenty of life in him, and actually shared the points. Both men were cheered at the gong. The Amateurs. R Burgess, 7.12, beat C. Croul, 7.12, on points. After a quiet first round the bout livened up, Burgess, who displayed clever footwork and punched the faster, establishing a handy lead. In the fourth round Croul, who had shown a good dexence in the previous rounds, opened up more, ana there were some bright rallies. A Spragg, 8.12, beat J. McLachlan, 8.11, on points. This bout opened splendidly, both boys giving and taking punches. Spragg forced the pace, but McLachLm landed several nice hooks with his left. McLachlan boxed well the aggressive Spragg in the second, but jas upset bv a left to the chm in the third. Spragg kept his left working well in the fourth round, and took a popular decision. W Mullins, 11.3 beat A. Broadbcad, 11.2, on points.. The boxing m this bout was more lively than polished. Both took solid punishment to the head, and in the third round Mullins' jmnclung slowed his opponent up. Broadhead rallied well in the fourth round, and there were some bright exchanges. On several occasions Mullins landed near the prohibited ar S Smith. 6.4. beat L. Ball, 0.1, in the third round. Helped by his greater experience and longer reacn, Smith in the lead from the start: but Ball, who was in fine condition, fought a good losing fight. In the third round Smith landed time and again, until the referee stopped the bout.