MANY K.O.'S.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 192, 16 August 1938, Page 15

MANY K.O.'S.

AMATEUR TOURNEY.

WHIRLWIND DISPLAYS.

CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING

OPENS.

Whirlwind fighting varied by an occasional diepay of scientific boxing held the crowd's interest at the first session of the Auckland amateur boxing championships last night. The epectators filled the main body of the Town Hall. The most eurprising feature of the tourney was the number of knock-outs. Twelve of the bouts failed to go the full distance , and two, both in the middleweight class, lasted only a few seconds. In the first of these W. Mitchell finished off C. Cunie with two punches. He went in at the gong and sent Currie to the canvas with a ehort right hook, and knocked him out with another hard right when h e rose again. The fallowing bout went the same way, D. Grant knocking out N. Tobin with a couple of punches. Though there were too many one-sided contfcsts, sqine were fast and even,. and had the crowd in a fever of excitement. One of the most appreciated was between 1 R. Branch, provincial middle-weight champion, and W. Brown. In the first two rounds the champion had things all his own way. Boxing coolly with clever footwork and hard, clean punches, he eaeily led on points. Brown was down once in the first round and twice early in the second. But in the last he made o> great recovery, going in with heavy swinging blows to the head which drove Branch across the ring. He easily won this round, but rt was too late to make up the leeway on points and Branch took the decision. A special trophy wae awarded to the loser. _Jn the fasteet bont of the erenin* H. Stock. Todd, of Moii-lnivjlle, gMjenrt* ™ tae feoAherwweight division. Both had plenty of speed and drill, but Stock was a shade faster to the punch and were down his opponent with hard hitting. ■'■ j-.-'"'. ■ ..•'•;■';-- : " ;■.■■ There was ol!t38f f :j& the welterweight class, where the seven bouts were won by knock-out*. F. Woods, who performed well last year, was one of the most impressive.- He had strong opposition from D. Tee, but won by a technical knock-out in the second round. The winner showed himself a punuhing fighter with a good defence. Ray Nixon, who won the lightweight division last year, is probably Woods 7 strong est rival for the championship. He made short work of H. Robinson, game enough, but was up against a stronger and more experienced man.

McKay and Donaldson were the most impressive of the Jightweights. Though he a few seconds to knock out J - Smith, McKay showed unusual speed and strength for his class. Donaldson won on point* from H. WUlmott, probably the best in the class in the ring last night, apart from the two mentioned. Ken Moran and B. Lyall, who were not drawn for the preliminaries, should make the semi-finale interesting when they Appear to-night.

None of the heavy-weight or cruiserweight bouts .were staged last night. McHugh in the no-limit class and Jack Barry in the other are two of the strongest contenders. Both are Marist senior forwards and Auckland Rugby representatives, and both won New Zealand UniveTsity boxing titles this year. MeHugh is the holder of the Auckland heavy-weight title.

The officials were:— Referees, Messrs. J. H. Sloan, H. W. Brieifc R. Meale, A. B. Joplin; judges, Meaerai. G. Bush, A. B. •Toplin, J. H. Sloan, S. E. Burke, H. W. Brien; timekeeper, Mr. C. Cowan; announcer, MY , . W. E. Dervan. The second round of the tournament is to commence at 7.30 p.m. to-day and the finals will be decided to-morrow. The results were:— FEATHEK-WSHGHT, 9.0. B. Phelan, 8.11, beat N. Oreentree, 9.0, by-a technical knock-out In the second round; A. McGregor, 0.0, beat J. Giles, 8.12, the referee stopping the contest in the second round; I*. I'enningtom, 0.0, beat K. Brown, 8.11, on point*; H. Stock, 8.13, beat G. Todd (Morrinsville), 9.0, on points. LIGHTWEIGHT, 9.9. B. Kent, 0.6, beat D. Brown, 9.61, on points; A. Reid, 9.9, beat G. Black, 0.9, on points; I. Watson, 9.4, beat ft. O. Bapson, 9.7}, in the first round, the referee stopping the contest; I*. Donaldson, 9.8, beat H. Willmott, 9.8}, on point*; B. McKay, 9.5, beat J. Smith, 9.6, by a knockout in tbe first round. WELTER-WEIGHT, 10.7. F. Woode, 10.5, beat D. Tee, 10.5), on a technical knock-out in the third round; R. Nixon, 10.4}, beat H. Robinson, 10.6, on a technical knock-out in the second round; J..McLeod. 10.1, beat J. de Stigter, on a technical knock-out In the second round; C. Wilson. 10.6, beat W. Paki, 10.7, on a technical knock-out in the second round; W. Little, 10.6, knocked out E. Barfoot, 10.6}, in the second round; R. J. Balcombe, 10.5. beat J. Hudson. 10.5, on a knock-out In tbe second round; M. McKenna, 10.5 J, beat E. Turvey, 10.7, on points. MIDDLE-WEIGHT, 11.6. First Round.—W. G. Mitchell, 10.9, beat C. Currie, 11.5 J, by a knock-out in the first ronnd; D. Grant, 11.0, knocked out N. Tobin, 11.5, In the first round; R. Branch, 11.2, beat W. Brown, 11.6, on points.