BOXING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27128, 26 August 1953, Page 10

BOXING

CHRISTENSEN BEATS WILLIAMS In-fighting of a standard rarely seen in Christchurch brought Ulf Christensen, of Wellington, a well-received victory over Ron Williams, of Christchurch, in a professional welter-weight boxing contest for a purse of £B5, in the Civic Theatre last evening. Christensen, a former winner of the Denmark junior championship and the winner of 89 of 95 fights since he came to New Zealand, was too experienced for Williams, who was fighting his first professional match. Both boxers weighed in at lOst 71b. The standard of the amateur bouts was in no way overshadowed by the professional bout. Every bout was keenly contested and a fairly good crowd, judging by the applause, was very satisfied with the fare provided.. Christensen, through his greater experience, gave an exhibition of ringcraft in the first round which was to prove the pattern for his two-handed relentless

attack in the following rounds. Williams, driven into a corner, would emerge after

a period of in-fighting, only to find himself shepherded into another corner. Seldom did the two fighters stay in the centre of the ring for any length of time,

and -at no time was Christensen at the disadvantage of having his back to the ropes in a corner. To this corner to corner strategy of Christensen’s, Williams had no answer. He could only—and did—fight his way out, only, however, to find that he was in the same predicament a few seconds later. Towards the end of the bout fitness began to tell and Williams began to take a little more punishment. Christensen, however, looked as if he could have fought another eight rounds without much trouble.

The pattern of Christensen’s fighting lade itself evident in the first round,

and he followed it until the final gong. Cornering Williams, he used a series of right and left hooks to the body until an opening presented itself, and then he concentrated on the head and face.

Williams, though he was heavily outpointed, did not let Christensen have everything his own way. On odd occasions both boxers were in the centre of the ring, Williams found targets and scored with sharp lefts and a very powerful right. At the beginning of each round Christensen was put on the defensive, but his superior knowledge of ringcraft stood him in good stead and the rotes of attacker and pursued were soon reversed. Dale Cup Changes Hands W. Newitt (lOst 41b), who has held the Dale Cup since 1950, was beaten by Ron Welford (lOst 21b) in a welter-weight contest. A grand bout was spoilt to some extent by the holding tactics of both boxers. In between times, however, both men showed their willingness to “mix it.” Welford, very fast on his feet, had Newitt in difficulties in the fifth round when he landed with a right jab to the body and followed up with a barrage of lefts and rights to the head. Newitt came back in the last round and took the offensive, but points from the previous five rounds were in Welford’s favour.

A severe attack of tonsilitis prevented Neville Britt from meeting B. Shaw in a catch-weight contest. A worthy opponent in John Wilson, the West Coast wel-ter-weight champion, was provided in his place and the bout between the two great boxers proved ,a good one. Wilson had trouble in coping with Shaw’s southpaw action until well into the sixth round, when he began using his right hand with good effect. Shaw carried the fight to. Wilson throughout the bout, but in the short-range encounters Wilson gave as much as he received. Shaw won the bout after a great fight.

The referees were Messrs Eric Pocock and C. Winder, and the judges Messrs S. Welford, R. Simpson, Ml Parr, and Winder.

Results were:— Catch-weights.—A. Mulligan (6st 81b) beat G. Rider (6st) on points; B. Shaw (lOst 71b) beat J. Wilson (lOst 81b) on points. Light Welter-weight.—G. Shaw Ost 61b) beat V. Paintin (Ost 71b) by a technical knock-out in the second round; N. Clark (lOst 11b) beat R. Mitchell (9st 111 b) on points. Fly-weight.—J. Crawford (6st 71b) beat J. Patterson (6st 51b) on points. Light-weight—S. Moffatt (Bst 13lb) beat M. Drury (9st) on points. Welter-Weight.—Dale Cup: R. Welford (lOst 21b) beat N. Newitt (lOst 41b) on points. Middle-weight.—J. Williams (9st) beat J. Maunsell (9st) on points. Professional Welter-weight.—Ulf Christensen (lost 71b) beat Ron Williams (lost Jib) on points*