COOPER BEATS SHAW

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 9

COOPER BEATS SHAW

BOXING

SPLIT DECISION IN CLOSE FIGHT

The Australian professional welterweight. Johnny Cooper, gained a split decision over Barney Shaw, of Christchurch, in a closely-contested bout at the Civic Theatre last evening. The bout, over 10 rounds, was staged by the Canterbury Boxing Association. This was Shaw’s second loss in seven professional bouts, and Coopers fifteenth win in 19 fights’ Shaw gave a rugged display against a cleverer and more experienced fighter, and the experience he gained should Stand him in good stead in future bouts Cooper weighed lOst 61b and Shaw lost

The first round gave early indications of Cooper's ability. He used a good clean left and a quick, vicious right, and his footwork and general ringcrait were tetter than Shaw’s, but the latter's rugged Don-stop attacks kept Cooper at a respectful distance. The whole fight was closely contested, with first one and then the other on top, and not once was the pace allowed to slacken. Shaw’s continuous attacks ’ earned him the crowd s favour, but his opponent's clever evasion kept Shaw from « delivering decisive blows. A right to the head from Cooper early • -i the second round almost decided the i.ght, but Shaw recovered and finished * the round attacking. It was at this s|age that Cooper looked an almost certain winner, but a refreshed Shaw in the third round, throwing clean rights to the head and powerful short lefts to the jaw. Showed that the fight would be closely contested. Rushing attacks by Shaw in the fourth . round worried Cooper, but he rode them well, adding to his own account by clever counter-punching. and always using his right whenever an opening occurred. Furious exchanges of blows marked the fifth and sixth rounds. At this stage Shaw switched to body attacks which he kept up till the end of the fight, concentrating on ’a lons right or a fast two-hand attack in the clinches. In the seventh round the first signs of strain showed, with Shaw appearing the fitter man. A greater wariness and resoect for each other’s ability was also noticeable. Towards the end, Shaw’s incessant attacks often worried Cooper. His solid left hooks and crosses often shook his opponent, while his ranging right kept him clear of Cooper’s attacks. Shaw’s punches to the solar plexus were also in his favour, but much of .his punching was rushed and many blows were wasted. Cooper's clean punching was the decisive factor in the last two rounds. Amateur Bouts The standard in the amateur bouts was high, with keen fighting marking nearly all the fights. The most popular bout of all was a mosquito-weight between B. Ward and P. O’Connal, with both fighters punching furiously for all three rounds. O’Connal was the winner. R-suits were:— Mosauito-weight.—E. Nye (Celtic) beat P. Smith (St. Anne's) on points: P. O’Connal (St. Anne’s) beat B. Ward (Kaiapoi) on points. Feather-weight.—J. Bryce (Kaiapoi) beat D. Green (Crichton Cobbers) on a technical knock-out. > Light welter-weight.—M. Purton (Linwood Cobbers) beat J. Williams (City Gym.) on points. Welter-weight.—P. Readon (St. Annes) beat A. Ritchie (Linwood .Cobbers) on points; T. Newsome (St. Anne's) M. Cameron (City Gym.) on points; w. Gill (Palmers) beat W. Renney (City Gvm.) on a technical knock-out; Williams (City Gym.) beat A. Fidow (Crichton Cobbers) on points.