BOXING

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26576, 12 November 1951, Page 8

BOXING

MULLETT RETAINS .N.Z. TITLE JACK BOYD BEATEN ON POINTS (New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 10. The New Zealand professional heavyweight boxing champion, Don Mullett (Wellington), retained his title when he beat Jack Boyd (Stratford) on points over 15 rounds at the Stratford racecourse today. There was an attendance of more than 4000. The weather was overcast, but mild. Boyd stripped at 14st, and Mullett at 14st 61b. The first round was exploratory. Boyd kept his left out more than usual, but dia not score to any effect. Mullett landed a right cross to the head during in-fight-ing. The second round opened with blows to the body, and Mullett was warned for rabbit punches. Boyd appeared to be getting the measure of Mullett in the infighting. Mullett was wary in the third round, and Boyd scored with his right twice with telling effect to Mullett’s head. In the fourth round both boxers were hitting solidly. Boyd kept sending his left home, and Mullett concentrated largely on Boyd’s body. Boyd slipped one of Mullett’s right swings in .the fifth, and gettihg in with a succession of lefts and rights to the head shook Mullett severely. He had him staggering until they clinched, the break coming just a few seconds before the end of the round. However, in the sixtli round Mullett came out as fresh as ever, and began attacking. He landed uppercuts to the body and rights to the head, but in return took solid punishment. Tht seventh round was quieter, but Mullett was at his best and won the round. In the eighth and ninth rounds Mullett went after points and got them, winning both rounds decisively. In the eighth he stopped Boyd with a right cross to the head which made Boyd flinch. In the ninth round Mullett poked three lefts in quick succession to Boyd’s bleeding nose. In the tenth round. Mullett again went after Boyd with his left, but Boyd retaliated with two right crosses which rocked the champion. This round was fairly even. There was not much effective action In the twelfth round, but Mullett was fighting more aggressively. Boyd was not so keen in the thirteenth round to follow in after an advantage as hi had been earlier, and he was losing on the in-fight-ing. Mullett landed fairly heavily with lefts. Mullett was holding a points lead at this stage. He endeavoured in the fourteenth and fifteenth rounds to increase his margin. punishing Boyd with more dangerous in-fighting. The decision was unanimous for Mullett.