BOXING

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26723, 6 May 1952, Page 8

BOXING

V. TUCK BEATS W. SMITH SEASON OPENS IN CHRISTCHURCH The Canterbury Boxing Association opened the 1952 season at the Repertory Theatre last evening whek an audience which occupied every available seat enjoyed first-class entertainment. A team of boxers from Greymouth competed against the best in Canterbury and won most of the bouts because of greater experience and better condition. Many of those present were disappointed when F. Lingman, who had been narrowly beaten by M. Tuck in previous bouts, was unable to take his place in a further bout against the West Coaster, but were more than satisfied with a hectic six-round contest between Vernon Tuck, a New Zealand title-holder, and W. Smith, described as the Samoan champion. and trained at Wellington. Although beaten by a straighter and cleaner hitter, Smith showed gameness and tried hard to win in the last round, although he was well behind on points. Prom start to finish this bout was clearly fought at a fast pace and the absence of clinching and in-fighting gave the big crowd the thrills they were looking for. Only in the first round, when the two men were feeling their way. was the bout at all dull, for in the second round and in each round until the sixth, there wa s action all the time. When settled down Tuck used a straight left, which the Samoan only occasionally slipped, to good effect and these leads followed by short-arm hooks to the head gave him an easy advantage. Often Tuck scored with a right lead and his left and right hooks to the jqw carrjed plenty of weight. The third and fourth rounds, all in favour of Tuck's superior boxing, were followed 'ey a fifth in which Smith showed improved form and scored with heavy rips to the body. Although apparently feeling the effects of the fast pace, Smith fought an gamely and showed himself a boxerfighter who cannot be taken lightly by any middle-weight in New Zealand. P. Wilcox, who acted as substitute for F. Lingman, was not a match for M. Tuck, who pulled his punches in an effort to add interest to the match. His bettertimed punches and clever evasion left Wilcox short of staying power in the fourth round when the referee wisely stopped the contest. C. De Vries, a light-middle-weight from Holland, created a good impression in his first appearance in a New Zealand ring, and easily beat H. Greenaway, who was possibly short of a work-out. In scoring a technical knock-out in the second round De Vries showed himself a well-condi-tioned boxer who may be heard of again. In an emergency bout L. Moulin proved too fast and rugged for the Ellesmere light-weight, J. Sunckell, and for a boxer lacking experience, he showed the greatest promise. J. Hobbs (Greymouth) and L. Jolly discarded all ideas of defensive boxing in a light-weight bout of four rounds, and Hobbs, a shade more accurate with his heavy right swings, stayed on the better and gained a clear-cut win. R. Williams, of the Crichton Cobbers Club, and L. Urquhart (Greymouth), fought vigorously for four two-minute rounds and after a grand exhibition in which Williams showed the more initiative and Urquhart evaded , many blows by clever defence, Williams reeieved a narrow but well-deserved award from the judges. Results:— Greymouth v. Canterbury Fly-weight.—G. Finlay (Greymouth) 7st 121 b beat K. P. Sheard (Lincoln) 7st 91b. Light-weight.—J. Hohbs (Greymouth) 9-2 heat L. Jolly (Crichton Cobbers) 9-2; V. Graham (Greymouth) 9-8 beat H. Christie (Ellesmere) 9-12. Welter-weight—R. Williams (Crichton Cobbers) 10-7 beat L. Urquhart (Grey--mouth) 10-4. Middle-weight.—V. Tuck (Greymouth) 11-1 beat W. Smith (Wellington) 11-0. Cther bouts resulted:—J. Purton (Fisher’s) 8-7 beat R. Pimley (Lurch’s); W. Shaw (Lurch's) 6-12 beat G. Bell (Greymouth) 6-12; L. Moulin (Fisher's) 9-0 beat J. Sunckell (Ellesmere) 8-13; C. De Vries (Crichton Cobbers) 11-0 beat H. Greenaway (Fishers’) 11-0; M. Tuck (Greymouth) 11-3 beat P. Wileox (Lurch's) 11-2.