POPULAR SUCCESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 100, 1 May 1939, Page 14

POPULAR SUCCESS.

TOWN HALL BOXING.

BOTH AUCKLANDERS WIN.

B. McKAT AND G. ALLEN.

It was a popular triumph when the two Aucklanders who fought visiting professional boxers at the Town Hall on Saturday night both won clearly on points. Sheer skill gave George Allen the decision over Fin. Mclvor, rugged Wellington middle-weight, and the result of the bout decided which was the logical contender for the New Zealand professional title. In the other bout the clever Auckland lightweight, Brian McKay, overwhelmed Australian Fred Taylor, winning every round by sustained aggression. It was the best performance of McKay's career, for .his opponent has a fine record of wins in Australia, including the defeat of Danny Reilly, Victorian champion. Taylor's poor showing, however, is explained by an accidental bump under the jaw received in the first round from McKay's head. His trainer, Mr. C. Linden, stated that Taylor sustained a deep cut, and was dazed for nine rounds. McKay, a picture of strength and fitness, went in fighting at the first gong with a rapid fire of left and right hooks from every angle. The Australian showed skill in defence, but rarely countered effectively. Nearly every round went the same way, McKay keeping up a hot attack and giving a masterly display of footwork and hard, clean punching. He varied the attack nicely and scored to the head and body, forcing Taylor to remain on the defensive. On the rare occasions when the visitor did open out he landed straight punches to the head, but McKay's willing retaliation soon made him take cover again. Even when Taylor sought relief from the Aucklander's non-stop barrage by claiming, he was beaten in the in-fighting as well as the long range. Thrilling Final Round. It was not until the last round that Taylor gave the crowd what it wanted. Throwing catttion to the winds, he sailed in with both fists working and landed heavily to the head. For a while McKay wavered under a hail of blows, but eventually retaliated as strongly as ever. Taylor, already weakened by the punishment he had received, fell back before a succession of right and left hooks to the jaw, varied by rips to the body. It looked as if Taylor would go down, for he refused to cover, fighting back all the way. He appeared to be nearly gone when the final gong 6ounded and McKay was acclaimed victor. Although McKay's weight was announced at 9.4 and Taylor's as exactly 9.0, the difference seemed to be more than 41b. The referee in this contest was Mr. H.' W. Brien, and the judges Messrs. G. Bush and S. E. Burke. Before the start the announcer (Mr. W. E. Dervan) introduced the Australian lightweight, Harry Summers, who issued a challenge to the winner or to any lightweight in New Zealand. Fast Middle-weights. Opposed by a fast-moving and hard-hit-ting boxer in Mclvor, Allen, previous middle-weight champion of New Zealand, gave a masterly exhibition of ringcraft. It was hard going all the way and not until the final rounds did Allen establish a clear lead. The bout started at a fast clip, both men moving with the speed of lightweights. Allen's superior reach stood him in good stead in the open work, though most of the fighting was at close quarters. Here Mclvor landed heavily to the body at times, but Allen's clever evasion caused the former to miss frequently. Throughout Allen did most of the leading and scored with fine straight lefts and left hooks to the head, while in close he kept both hands working with hooks and rips- from all angles. Mclvor fought strongly all the way and it looked as if his powerful right cross might settle matters at almost any stage. Allen's clever defence, however, kept him out of danger and there was no doubt about the issue at the final gong. Allen thiw avenged the two defeats he had suffered at Mclvor's hands. Allen weighed in at 11.4 and Mclvor at 11.6. The referee was Mr. R. Meale and the judges Messrs. A. B. Joplin and G. Bush. Amateur Contests. Lightweight. —E. Underwood (9.2) defeated Henry Stock (9.3) on points, after a fast and even bout. Stock won the first round with his aggressive tactics, but later on his opponent made up the leeway, showing unusual skill for a youngster. Catchweigbt.—Len Ford (8.12) outpointed Trevor Payne (9.1). The winner kept up a non-etop attack from- the start and won by a clear margin, although Payne fought back gamely all the way under heavy punishment. Welter-weight. — W. McDonald (10.5) drew with H. Robinson (10.7). After taking some heavy punishment in the first two rounds Robinson made a.good recovery to split the decision. For the amateur bouts the referee was Mr. A. B. Joplin and the judges Messrs. J. H. M. Keenan and H. W. Brien.