AUNT SALLY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 126, 30 May 1944, Page 7

AUNT SALLY

ALIAS BILLY STRAUSS

STOCK BOWLS HIM OVER

A 1 Stock, chunky warrior from the Middle East and other sundry places, was as happy as a sand boy. Big smiles lit his face as friends and admirers, homeward bound after six rounds of a 10-rounder, gave liim a hand in congratulation for his short-cut defeat of Billy Strauss, of the American Army. Strauss, too, has done his bit in a theatre of war, and has returned for a rest, incidentally with a South Pacific all-services championship.

That much for certain we know of Strauss. He is reputed to have plenty of professional experience in American rings, and had impressed the gym. fans with his speedy two-handed boxing. Too fast for Stock, was the summing up before the pair took the Town Hall ring last night, with the Aucklander the three pounds lighter at 10.1. And yet just short of six full rounds, Stock had eclipsed his rival easily. The fight and the biggest purse that A 1 had ever fought for had been handed to him on a plate, as it were. Why shouldn't A 1 smile? Strauss Started AVell But A 1 will no doubt admit that he shares the opinion of the packed house that the American would have been a tougher proposition had he persisted with the two-handed attack with which he dominated the two opening rounds to score the bulk of the points. His adversary had carried the initiative to Stock, and though the Aucklander mixed it he was beaten to the punch. There was no Etpparent reason why Strauss should change his tactics from round three onwards and present to Stock an unguarded head from which a rain of blows bounced like wooden balls from an Aunt Sally. After shooting a left and right to Stock's head in round three Strauss dropped his head against the Aucklander's chest. Stock pushed it up with a right. Strauss pressed harder. So did Stock. The American appeared worried, discarded his mouthguard and came in close—again to his disadvantage. Stock's round. Opening the next session with a left and right, Strauss immediately changed to in-fighting. Forced against the ropes he left his head unguarded. Stock plied it with both hands. It was a rolling target so like the dolls which defy the glancing shots of small boys and their big brothers at a sideshow. Stock's blows were short and coming in sideways. The target was there unguarded, but it was resilient. The crowd was frantic. Surely Stock would knock It over. But apparently the Aucklander had not hurt that rolling head, although it was his round again. Solar Plexns Blow The small boys know that it is the shot fair in the centre that knocks Aunt Sally. Stock remembered it in round five when he drove a right uppercut to the solar plexus and Strauss toppled to the canvas. He took a count of eight and rose in a fuddled condition, turning his back to his opponent. Stock went in for the "kill," but his blows were smothered and Strauss went back to his corner shakily. . , , The crowd was surprised when the American came back for round six to take the initiative again with clean left hooks. Again Stock got him at close quarters and again Strauss presented that unguarded head. Lolling against the ropes a regular tattoo of blows was rained against that defenceless target. This time there was 9io need for StocK to look to the referee with appealing e>es. Referee Herb. Brien was satisfied that Strauss had taken enough . . . that it was time to lift the barrage. As he pulled the pair apart from the ropes to lift Stock's hand Strauss rolled against '"stock was looking for the shower before his opponent left the ring ... a oeculiar fight, indeed. . Outstanding of the amateur aries was the bout between R. McCarthy, 8 9 and R. King, 8.13. McCarthy showed outstanding boxing ability against a hard hitter, and had he not mixed it with King towards the end he would have got the decision instead of a draw. _ F. L. Bunting, 9.11, who used slapping blows against the straighter hitting of J Donald, 9.11, appeared lucky to get the decision and the crowd resented it. A. Gordon, 9.0, beat, L. Mulholland, 8.10 on Doints and W. Ngakuru, 12.0, Phed his 10 ' 7 ' Stock Matched Again A number of bouts for the near future Stock will meet another American, C. Champagne. _