BOXING

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25811, 24 May 1949, Page 3

BOXING

CLEM SANDS BEATS CRUICKSHANKS (New Zealand Press Association.) AUCKLAND. May 23. The Australian aboriginal boxer, Clem Sands, lOst sJlb, beat the former New Zealand champion, lan Cruickshanks, lOst 61b, by a technical knock-out in a wel-ter-weight contest this evening. In a professional light-weight preliminary, Laurie Rodger, 9st 10ilb, won his first fight as a professional by a technical knock-out of Paddy Waddick, 9st 71b, in the sixth and last round.

CLARKE BEATS DOWNES (New Zealand Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 23. The New Zealand professional light-heavy-weight bosfing championship changed hands this evening when Barney Clarke (Auckland), 12st 211 b, beat the holder, Tommy Downes (Palmerston North), 12st 511 b, on points, in a 15-round contest. Clarke forced the fight, Downes boxing cleverly on the defensive and obviously looking for an opportunity to score a knock-out. Clarke knocked Downes down with a short right and a left hook to the jaw at the end of the ninth round, the gong saving the titleholder. Downes made a good recovery but, although he fought back strongly over the closing rounds, he could not reduce Clarke’s comfortable lead. R. Goodfellow (Dunedin), Bst 101 b, beat G. Shaw (Christchurch), Bst 121 b, on points; A. J. Valenski (Dunedin). 9st lib. beat C. Herriott (Christchurch), Bst 131 b, on points; S. Butterfield (Christchurch), lOst 111 b, beat Z. Unkovich (Dunedin). lOst 81b, by a technical knock-out in the second round.