BOXING

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26119, 23 May 1950, Page 6

BOXING

AMATEUR SEASON OPENED

R. HICKLING’S GOOD BOUT WITH K. MURFITT

Three open bouts and 12 novice contests provided some bright boxing on the opening night of the Canterbury Boxing Association’s amateur season at the Civic Theatre last evening. Most of the boxers were well matched, only two bouts having to be stopped.

Patrons hoping to catch the last tram home were disappointed, long intervals between the bouts delaying the completion of the programme until 11.20 p.m. The theatre was about half full.

The best bout of the evening was a sixround open light-weight contest between the formidable K. Murfitt and the Air Force boxer, R. Hickling. The more experienced. Murfitt gained the decision, but it was by no means the walk-over which some expected.

Hickling was the quicker on his feet and had the better of the first two rounds until Murfitt floored him with a vicious jab. It was apparent then, that : Hickling had to keep out of range of Hurfitt’s powerful punches if he was to survive the bout. Although he slowed down towards the finish, Hickling had the better of many encounters and gave a most creditable dis 7 plav throughout. When he has acquiree, a little more of the ringcraft which Murfitt has in large measure, he will be a formidable opponent. The last bout of the evening, which followed this one, was rather an anti-climax. W. Ellery and W. Newitt circled the ring in the open welter-weight bout, and were separated from clinches several times each round. Newitt, the faster of the two, landed a few lefts before his opponent touched him, but Ellery scored heavily in the clinches. Newitt was very groggy by the end of the bout, and the decision, in favour of Ellery, was a foregone conclusion. x .. The other open bout—between the feather-weights, C. Herriot and W. King—was a slogging match, each lad being floored in the first round. Herriot lost many points through bouncing on to the ropes before launching an attack. As often as not King would be raining punches to Herriot’s body before he came oft the ropes. King tired in the second round, however, and Herriot had the edge in the third and final round to give him the decision. ' A parly of young boxers from Ellesmere fought gamely in the novice bouts, one of them, H. Montgomery, 'giving a fine display to beat R. Powley in the welterweight class. Spectators at the rear of the hall thought Powley was getting home with resounding punches in the first ana second rounds, but most of these blows landed on Montgomery's gloves or, were delivered round-arm. Montgomery s defence was excellent, and his punches always came from the shoulder. . In the other novice welter-weight bout, J. Larn secured a technical knockout in the first round over G. Twiney. From the little seen of Larn it appeared that he could safely be matched against experienced amateurs. Referees were Messrs H. Robertson, E. Pocock, E. Hawes, and C. Winder. Messrs Winder, Robertson, J. Parr, Pocock, J. Musson, Hawes, Annant, and C. Barrow were the judges. The light-weight and welter-weight open bouts were of six two-minute rounds and all the others were of three twominute rounds. Results:— Open Amateur Bouts Feather-weight.—C. Herriott (Bst 131 b) beat W. King (Bst 121 b). Light-weight.—K. Murfitt (9st 81b) beat R. Hickling (9st 71b). Welter-weight.—W. Ellery (lOst 21b) beat W. Newitt (lOst). Novice Bouts Paper-weight.—G. Worthington (sst 101 b) beat R. McSeveny (sst 121 b). Fly-weight.—K. Hook (7st 81b) beat J. McCormack (Ellesmere. 7st 91b). Feather-weight.—L. Jolly (Bst 41b) beat D Spence (Bst 41b) on a technical knockout; A. Bowen (Bst 41b) beat W. Jones (Ellesmere, Bst 41b); T. Woodham (9st) beat N. Moulin (Bst 111 b). Light-weight.—T. Lucas (9st 71b) beat J. McKinlay (Ost 61b); L. Wootton (Ost 71b) beat P. Christian (Ellesmere, 9st 61b); B. Reese (9st 61b) beat R. Johnson (9st 11b). Welter-weight.—H. Montgomery (Ellesmere, lOst 101 b) beat R. Powley (lOst 21b); J. Larn (lOst 21b) beat G. Livesey (lOst) on a technical knock-out. Middle-weight.—D. M. McNab (list 21b) beat J. Farrell (list 81b); J. Lewin (lOst 91b) beat C. M. McLaren (lOst 101 b). JOSEPH BEATS GRIFFIN (New Zealand Press Association) NAPIER, May 21. With the bout in progress only 125 seconds, Francis Joseph (lOst 61b), of Fiji, scored a knock-out over Brian Griffin (lOst 111 b), of Wellington, at Napier on Saturday night. Griffin, who was taller and had a longer reach, was down for a count of four just before the knock-out. The bout was I fought at catch weights.