Boxing On April 8

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 13

Boxing On April 8

Plans for the early opening of the Canterbury boxing season on March 29 broke down because of injuries to one of the professionals contracted to fight, but the Canterbury association, in an effort to keep faith with boxing enthusiasts has arranged for the appearance of one of Australia’s leading welter-weights in a bout in Christchurch on April 8. The boxer, “Kid” Lewis, has a record of 32 wins in Australia and two losses. Both losses were against Don Barnes, brother of the Empire title-holder, George Barnes. In the first loss Lewis

was paralysed with a blow which cut off his wind in the third round. He made amends with a great 12-round split decision loss later in the season. Trained by Ambrose Palmer, well-known in New Zealand, “Kid” Lewis is classed among the better fighters of his weight in Australia. His opponent will be Charlie Smith, an Australian who now lives in Dunedin. Smith has beaten both Ken Anderson and Morrie Homan. Last year Anderson had successes over Ulf Christensen, Johnny Cooper and Don Barnes and Homan beat such good opponents as Nino Squadrico and Billie Leckie. So notwithstanding the unfavourable cancellation of the first scheduled bout, the Canterbury Boxing Association has done well for its season’s openings