BOXING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 13 September 1927, Page 10

BOXING.

LES MURRAY RETURNS. MATCHES IN AMERICA. [THE PRBBS apMitl B»rrtc«.] AUCKLAND, Soptombcr 12. "In America, aggressiveness counts for everything, and only the man who will 'tear in * fight, and stand up to heavy punishment is wanted." Los Murray, the wellknown Dunedin boxer, and cx-lightweight champion of Now Zealand, returned to the Dominion to-day by the Niagara with this impression. i Murray, who has beon absent from tho Dominion for sixteen months, spent eight or nine months in America, and during the course of a bout with Jack Bernstein, exchampion light-weight of tho world, injured a shoulder. Hoping to recover, he decided to make a trip of Europe, Asia Minor, Italy, and Africa. However, when he thought o£ returning to tho States ho found his shoulder still tender, and thereupon decided to return homo. "My shoulder is practically right again now," ho said to an interviewer this afternoon, "and I expect to bo in harness again in a few weeks' time. I will attempt to regain my former (status of light-weight champion of New Zealand." Murray saw a good deal of Tom Hccuey, the New Zealand heavy-weight, who ho said, was fighting well, and had rocently met three men of quite good class. Asked if ho knew whether Keener was returning to New Zealand, Murray said he did not think so, as Heeney was doing too well for that. Whilst in America, Murray, who is lookin* fit and well, fought three light-weight contenders for the world title, Bernstein, Petrolic, and Solly Seaman. The last-named, who has just lost a very doubtful match with Mandell, tho light-weight champion, was beaton by Murray. The New Zealnndcr, however, lost to Petrolle and Bernstein. LECKIE WINS AGAIN. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBiM.) DUNEDIN, Soptember 12. A professional boxing match between Johnny Leckie (Dunedin). feather-weight champion of New Zealand, and Darby O'Connor (Australia), for a purse o* JIJW, took place in His Majesty's Theatre to-night Every part of the theatre was packed, and many people were unable to secure admittance. O'Connor declared at over 9st, and Leckie at 9st. The former appeared to have a fair advantage in weight, and had a lon»br reach. Leckie forced the fighting practically all the time, and had the advantage in almost every round. O'Connor stood up to it well, however, and it was not until the 12th round that the issue was decided in Leckie's favour. The eighth round ticularly strenuous, both Leckie and O Connor getting in a lot of blows. The local bo> had the best of the exchanges, but though Leckie appeared to have victory within sight, the Australian made a wonderfully good recovery. Both were pretty exhausted at the end of this round, and the next three rounds wero much quieter. In .the twelfth round Leckie forced the pace, and knocked O Connor through the ropes with a right hook, the Australian taking the count for seven. Leckie used his opportunity to full advantage, and O'Connor was severely punished. He went down Bgain for eight, and then for six, and when the local boy floored him once more with a right, the referee stopped the fight.