BOXING

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26179, 1 August 1950, Page 10

BOXING

CANTERBURY TITLES SEMI-FINALS DECIDED Heats and semi-finals and one final of the Canterbury boxing championships held at the Radiant Theatre last evening provided fast and interesting sport and a promise of close and exciting contests in the finals, which will be decided this evening. Good entries were received for most divisions, but the failure of several entrants to draw the stipulated weight curtailed the programme. The fly-weight class drew only two entries, and M. Drury, a young boxer from N. Fisher’s school, gained a points decision over W. Kett. Drury, the younger and taller of the two midgets, used his reach and a snappy straight left to good effect, and though Kett, the harder puncher,, made efforts to carry the fight to close quarters, Drury’s footwork kept him out of trouble. The most polished display was given by the Ashburton feather-weight, J. Pile, whose long experience in the ring proved too much for a plucky opponent in W. Underhay. A stabbing straight left was a match-winner for Pile, who scored points in the first two rounds with clever footwork and evasiveness which kept him out of the way of Underhay’s vigorous right swings. In the third round. Pile, who had already established a good lead, varied his attack with a vicious uppercut, which narrowly missed Its mark. Under hay fought on pluckily in the hope of landing a knock-out punch, but in Pile he met a boxer-fighter who may be good enough to win the Canterbury title. K. Murfitt was fully extended to hold off a little-known light-weight in R. Airey, and in the second round the latter repeatedly connected with rights to the jaw. Murfitt. who looked fitter and stronger than his opponent, had the better of the early part, and it was not until the closing stages of the first round that Airey connected with heavy right swings to the jaw. Murfitt appeared to have no guard for these punches in the second round, at the end of which he was well behind on points. Airey was very tired in the third round and Murfitt’s superior stamina gained him a clear-cut win. M. Skiffington reached the semi-finals of the welter-weight class when he beat N. Britt on a technical knock-out in the third round, and G. Croucher in the first round. Skiffington was called on for his best efforts in his bout with Britt who, while taking a count of nine early In the fight, scored points with a straight left that had his opponent puzzled. There was a fair amount of holding by both boxers. Britt still held his own in the second round, although he was again down for a count of nine. Skiffington, however, was the stronger and harder puncher, and the referee, Mr P. C, Hawes, wisely stopped the fight and declared Skiffington the winner when Britt failed to weather a sustained assault. In his second bout, with Croucher, Skiffington went in to make a short fight v.x u, and tnough Croucher fought well .or a minute or so a heavy right rip to the body sent him to the canvas. He was up almost immediately, but plainly at the mer. v cf his vigorous opponent. The rexei ee declared Skiffington the winner on a technical knock-out. in the final Skiffington will meet W. Sllery, who won a decision against W. Pattison, who had the longer reach, which e laiied to use to the best effect. Ellery was the more experienced boxer and frequently got inside Pattison’s guard tn inflict body punishment. Ehery was a clearcut winner, but the bout was not so good as might have been expected in a championship. F. Lingman, an improving young boxer, was much too good for another middle-weight, P. Wilcox, and only a few punches had been thrown by Lingman before the referee recognised the unevenness of the contest. Lingman was declared the winner in the first minute of tlie first round. Lingman won his second bout when he outpointed W. Russell, a veteran of the ring, who showed much of his old skillin evading the attacks of his younger opponent. Lingman carried the fight all the way, but he found Russell a very elusive target and many of his punches finished in the air. Lingman’s conoition enabled him to establish a good lead in the third round, although Russell, when very tired, displayed a knowledge of ringcraft not shown by many younger boxers. To-night Lingman should have little difficulty in beating J. Larkin, who gained a points decision over W. Kerrigan. Larkin, a good type of boxer, showed a lack of ring experience, although he always held an advantage over his slower-moving opponent. M. Gardiner and L. Jolly fought an even bout in the feather-weight division, and only better staying powers enabled Gardiner to win. To-night Gardiner will meet Pile. Messrs P. C. Hawes and C. Winder acted as referees, and Messrs H. Robertson and J. Parr were the judges. Results:— Fly-weight.—Final: M. Drury beat W. Kett. Feather-weight.—M. Gardiner beat L. Jolly; J. Pile beat W. Underhay. Light-weight.—K. Murfitt beat D. Airey. Welter-weight.—M. Skiffington beat N. Britt; W. Ellery beat W. Pattison. Semifinal: Skiffington beat G. Croucher. Middle-weight.—F. Lingman beat R. Wilcox. Cruiser-weight.—F. Lingman beat W. Russell; J. Larkin beat W. Kerrigan.