AUCKLAND BOXERS AT GISBORNE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 28

AUCKLAND BOXERS AT GISBORNE.

DISQUALIFICATION OF BRANCH-McHUGH'S K.O/S.

(By F. BRUNO.)

The Xew Zealand championship* at Gisborne have gone into boxing history | with one or two echoes ringing behind them. Twenty-four boxing associations were represented and over 80 fighters took • part, making the championships the , strongest since 1932. The heavy and light j weights were the strongest for some years. ' The Auckland team was complimented upon its turnout of neat blue and white, , but some of the competitors from other provinces did not wear the distinguishing line on the costume for which the rules call in amateur contest*. '

The Aucklunders acquitted themselves well.

In the fly-weight division Cyril Worth fought well against a former New Zealand Hy-wciglit champion in Maddern, of 'iaianaKi. Maddern was a ball of aggressiveness, and though Worth boxed coolly and scored frequently with a neat left jab, Maddern took a hairline decision by sheer aggressiveness. Another very close right occurred when Ernie Underwood, who substituted for G. George Gordon in the bantam-weight division, met N. Leckie, of Otago. 'Though Leckie was the more experienced championship competitor, and clucked in and out with light blows to tiie body and head, Underwood gave a great display against the Otago champion. Experience told in this bout. H. Stock, the leather-weight, was considered very unfortunate to lose to T. Baty. of Waikohu. Baty used the more aggressive tactics and appeared the heavier puncher. Stock, however, was obviously the better boxer of the two, and appealed to win by a fair margin. This decision met with a mixed reception. Ken Morau early had a spirited tussle with Ramsay, of Otago, in the lightweight division, winning from him after three heated rounds. In his second tight he struck a dancing opponent in Morris, of Wairarapa. Morris kept swinging punches incessantly, and Moran took the rirst round. Early in the second Morris landed! two heavy right-hand punches, dazing the Aucklander. Morris won the round comfortably. In the third Moran seemeel to recover, sniping the charging rough-and-tumble Morris with straight left 1 Miches, and fighting back hard in close. There wa« a mixed reception when Moran got the decision.

Bob Lyall did not reproduce his Auckland form and was beaten narrowly by Giles, of Hutt Valley.

George Xelson, light heavy-weight, well ahead on points against Marsh, of Greyliiouth. in the first round, received a wild

"rabbit-killer" punch when on the ropes. As Xelson turned, dazed, he was met by 11 hard right swing which spelled finish. The referee subsequently stated that he did not see the "labbit" punch which did the damage.

The uproar which greeted the surprise ending to the Branch—Jack final of the middle-weight division continued for gome minutes. Branch was definitely superior in every department of the fight, punishing the Timaru man almost at will. Jack seem m 1 to be looking for the easiest way out, and on two or three occasions made grimaces to indicate foul blows taken. Coincident with the bell ending the first round Branch dropped his man with a heavy drive to the solar plexus, knocking him through the ropes. Jack was assisted to his corner and at the commencement of the second round shuffled out in a defensive crouch. Branch stepped in with three or four hard body blows, the Timaru champion immediately claiming a foul, which referee Rickard disallowed, and began to count him out. Jack had not. however, gone to the canvas and was leaning against the ropes. Branch stepped in, striking the Timaru man and was immediately disqualified. The consensus 'of opinion among the judges present seemed to be that there were faults on both sides. Seeing that Jack was still on his feet when the referee disallowed the foul the fight could be considered still in progress. Referee Rickard did not order Branch to his corner when he was counting out Jack. and disqualified Branch immediately he stepped in and hit his opponent. As Jack was under the protection of the referee at the time of the incident there was no alternative but to order him out and declare Jack the winner. The Aucklander's hasty action ie to be regretted. It will be remembered that something of the same sort happened when Branch oompeted in the local championships. The referee disqualified Branch for illegalities when striking Jack as he was being counted out, the rule making it clear that indulging in any tactics which in the opinion of the referee are unfair or unsportsmanlike would earn disqualification.

Maurice MeHugh stopped all his opponents in short order witli the exception of Marsh, of Greymouth, a light heavyweight, who rame very near to taking a <let ision over MeHugh in the semi-finals of the heavy-weight championship.