QUICK KNOCK-OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1935, Page 15

QUICK KNOCK-OUT.

AITKEN STOPS TAYLOR.

VICTORY IN THIRD ROUND.

YOUTH CONQUERS OVER AGE,

Age had to how quickly to youth in the professional boxing match, at the Town Hall last evening, between Frank Taylor, of Auckland, and Billy Aitken, of Wellington, the Aucklander being knocked out in the third round of a contest scheduled for twelve three-minute rounds. The iargest crowd to attend a boxing tourney here for several years saw Taylor counted out on his knees after being sent twice to the floor previously, once a few seconds before the final punch landed, and once in the second round.

It was a triumph for youth at the expense of age. Taylor has been fighting for upwards of 15 years, while Aitken is but a few months over 18, with less than half a dozen professional matches to his credit. In the matter of experience New Zealand's former leading bantam was a long way in front of the Wellingtonian, but it was all of no use to him. Opposed by a virile youngster, brimful of confidence, he was never given a chance to show his real worth. A right swing that found his head in the opening round upset what confidence the Aucklander might have possessed, and whenhe was dropped in the second round it was obvious that he would have to epring the greatest surprise of his career if he was to win. That surprise was not to come, and onty a fighting instinct, first shown when his opponent was but a few years out of the cradle, kept him on his feet as long as he was. The man could do little against the youth. Taylor's Speed Lacking. A few years ago Taylor's speed and quick thinking might have kept him out of trouble, but last night he was unable to avoid the most badly telegraphed of his opponent's punches, and he was sent on the way to defeat with blows which at one time he would have made go harmlessly round his neck, or miss him altogether. Aitken wisely fought his man at long range, until he knew he had him beaten, and then he went after him in a way that gave him no chance to recover. Among the crowd who eaw the Aucklander sent down three times, on the third occasion, to have the full count tolled, over him, there were many who felt eorry that it had to be that way, for Taylor had for many years been an asset to the boxing game in Auckland.

Directly behind Aitken in the role of an unofficial second sat his mother, dressed in white sweater and skirt. She had come from Wellington with the intention of looking after her boy between rounds, but was persuaded to allow local seconds to do the work while she kept a watchful eye on him from outside the ring.

The opening round was fairly quiet. The men early got to close quarters; and Taylor (8.12) used his left well to the body, soon raising' a pink patch on the visitor's ribs. Aitken (8.11&) got home with a right ewing to the head, and the Aueklander's legs were seen to sag elightly. Early in the second round Taylor landed a nice left hook, but the Wellingtonian at once let go a long right which caught his opponent on the jaw and upset him. Kneeling on the mat the Aucklander took a count of six. Another right to the head had Taylor shaky, and he retreated to the ropes. A third right swing sent away by Aitken looked likely to end the contest at that stage, but Taylor jerked hie head back and the punch sailed harmlessly across his face. Near the., end of the round, the Aucklander endeavoured to bring ' his own snappy right into action, but it was the visitor's round 'by a wide margin. The Final Knock-down. Looking a winner all the way, Aitken rushed the fight to his opponent at the opening of the third round, putting a light right to the head and thudding both hands to the body. Caught by a heavy right to the head Taylor fell back against the ropes, and went down for a count of seven. No sooner had he got to his feet again than he found himself the target for further punches. By retreating to the ropes he temporally escaped the etorm, but his legs were now sagging. As he endeavoured to escape from a corner Aitken hooked him with his left and pursued him along the ropes to crash home a heavy right to the jaw. Hopelessly tea ten now, the Aucklander staggered and fell, to lay full length on the canvas. At the count of six he struggled to his hands and knees, but he could get no further, and he was still in that attitude when the count was completed. The referee was Mr. R. Meale, and the judges Messrs. G. Bush and A. B. Joplin.

The amateur preliminaries, which included a rousing team contest of ten oneminute rounds, which delighted the spectators, were controlled by Mr. N. McLean, witlr Messre. F. Burns, W. W. Luke and R. W. Rugg as judges. Results: —

H. Brady (8.6) beat S. Stock (7.10) on points. Stock set a lively pace at the opening gong, but found Brady a clean puncher,, who made good use of his left. In the following three rounds Stock fought pluckily against his bigger opponent, continually forcing the issue. Brady's left alone, however, made him a handy winner. Both lads were cheered.

R. Nixon (9.4%) beat R. Wilson (9.3) on points. In a willing opening round Wilson early tried to get home with a telling punch, only to find Nixon a solid puncher who made good use of his longer reach. Nixon showed a good defence in the second and also landed the cleaner punches. In the third term Wilson fought desperately but failed to break down the defence of his opponent, whose cleverer boxing in the final round mafle him a comfortable winner. Wilson was applauded for his aggressiveness and willingness to make a fight of it throughout. A fine bout.

R.'McLachlan (9.9) beat E. Estall (10.7) on points. Clever boxing rather than vigorous fighting marked the first two rounds, in which McLachlan appeared to gain an edge on the points. In the third round Estall attacked more vigorously, and early in the term upset his opponent with a right to the jaw. Estall was inclined to fight wildly in the final round, and McLachlan's good boxing won him the more points. M. McKenna (11.1) beat W. Shields (10.3%) on points. Shields was the aggressor in the first and second rounds, but found difficulty in landing on his opponent. In the third round McKenna attacked more and landed well with both hands. Shields made a gallant effort m the final round, and had his opponent very tired at the finish. At the final gong McKenna collapsed and had to be carried to his corner. Inter-Teams' Contest. Results of the teams' contest between sides representing the Northern Boxing Club and the other local clubs were as follows, the names of the Northern Club competitors being given first:—G. Allen (7.12) lost to E. Fenwick (8.0); D. Colli oun (0.0) lost to R. Cook (—); C. Curtis (9.0) beat R. Dye: D. Me Williams beat H. Deanv, E, Turvey (9.9) lost McDonald '(0.5); B. Beehre (O.IOV beat J. Arnold (9.5); D. McKenna (10.0) beat J. McCulloch (10.4) ;N. McGregor (10.3) lost to A Zainev (—); T. Maher (11.0) beat R. Somervell (11.3); J. Ellis (12.0) lost to R. Bethell. BROWN DEFEATS HUMPHRIES. (Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day At the Sydney Stadium last night, in a lifteen-round boxing bout, WlJlard Brown, 10.7 (America) beat Diet Humphries, 10.4 (Australia) on points. Brown was the better tactician, and several times rattled Humphries with v cavy body punches.