BOXING Title Fight Won By Murphy

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30259, 11 October 1963, Page 17

BOXING Title Fight Won By Murphy

Dion Murphy, the Christchurch lightweight, out-boxed, out-generalled, and outpunched Jimmy Cassidy, of Wellington, to win the New Zealand professional title, the “Truth” belt and £lBO of a £3OO purse at Canterbury Court last evening.

After a funereal beginning, •the bout blazed into action in (trie eighth round. It was Murphy all the way. He was awarded the bout by the referee (Mr N. Fisher) on a technical knockout in the eleventh round of the scheduled 15-round fight after Cassidy had been down flor a count of six and was practically out on his feet. Murphy scored steadily after the shadow-eparring first two rounds. The turning point of the fight came in the eighth round when Cassidy, formerly of Glasgow, ducked into a right cross and wilted visibly. Cassidy, after a year's lay-off, was ragged in his timing. A southpaiw, he seldom used his left

Murphy boxed very coolly, and scientifically demolished Cassidy after breaching his defence in round eight, engineering his openings and placing has punches well. A crowd of 1800 applauded both boxers. Colourful Uniforms

In the opening two rounds, both fighters concentrated on conserving their strength. The crowd observed that Cassidy wore black boots and Murphy white ones. There was also time to notice that Murphy wore red and white shorts, and Cassidy purple and green ones. They provided the only colour in the first two rounds. The referee was the most active person in the ring. The fifth punch of the fight came in round three. Murphy ducked under Cassidy's guard and hit him in the body with a right. Murphy also got two lefts on to the head.

In the fourth round, Murphy missed badly with a right cross and left himself open to the southpaw’s straight right lead. However, both boxers were still sparring and the crowd’s main interest came when a chair broke under a spectator who rolled to the floor.

With one-third of the rounds gone, both had landed one hard right book each. Murphy appeared quicker on defence. Cassidy, with swift ducking, made Murphy tribe throe tunes with right books. But Murphy was quick to counter-punch and landed three solid right ripe to the body. Bonding Lead The crowd's first appdauee came for clever left leads and hooks by Murphy in round seven. He wee building up a steady points lead aga’inst the Scotsman, but still no damaging blows had been landed. Cassidy's nose looked the veteran of 61 bouts, but Murphy had not landed a blow on it

Mid-way through the eighth round, Cassidy ducked into a hard right - cross from Murphy. He staggered beck on bis heels, arms at his side. Murphy moved in for the kill, but Cassidy held on grimily in a series of clinches. Then Murphy hat the southpaw with five more hand blows, two right crosses to the heed and two right rips to the body. Murphy scored with heavy ripe to the body in round nine, and twice hooked Cassidy hard on has battered nose. Cassidy scared with a right lead. He had hardly used his left all the bout, and was punching most ineffectively with it when be dad. Cassidy fought back after Murphy had him on the ropes, and soared with a long left and right. He had nicks under both eyes, and Murphy was as far ahead on points as Christchurch is from Wellington. Perfect Right Cassidy fought well at the opening of round 11 and scored wfth five straight rights in succession. Murphy ducked into a left hook. Then Murphy moved in. scoring with bard blows to the body. He crossed a perfect right tn Cassidy’s jaw. The Scotsman staggered back round the ring on his

heels. Murphy landed two more rights and a hand left hook tn Cassidy's face. Hie Scotsman staggered backwards on to the ropes. Murphy poised, then threw a hard right at Cassidy's chin as he came off the ropes. The blow missed. Murphy hit Cassidy with two vicious ripe to the body and yet another right cross to the chin. Cassidy backed on" to the ropes, was catapulted off, and fell forward to the canvas. Mr Fisher began to count. Cassidy rose on the count of six, and Mr Fisher gave him the mandatory eight count, but Cassidy wm stall wobbly on his feet. Murphy punched him into the comer with body blows, and Mr Fisher stopped the fight. The judges were Messrs M. Drury, C. Wellman, and R. McQuinn.

Preliminary Bouts A town v. country matching of B. Bassett (Linwood Boy*) and M. Bell (Cheviot) provided the moat exciting amateur bout From the opening bell. Bell, heavy-footed end heavierhanded. took the fight to Bassett. punching non-stop tor two minute*. Bassett was overwhelmed by the furious, if unscientific. attack, but landed some good straight lefts. The blits continued in the second round, but Bassett was scoring heavily on retreat. Bell used no defence at all, and jus* took all Bassett's punches. In the third round Bel) was still gamely plugging away, but was very tired. Bassett went on the offensive. but both boxer* were now exhausted. Bassett took th* decision and both boxers were loudly applauded. The best boxing of th* preliminary bouts came from th* bantam-weights, D. Moller (New Brighton) and D. Ney lon (Linwood Boys). They were quick on their feet, varied their punches well, and blocked blows cleverly. Neyton won. but Moller showed plenty ot promise. The referees were Messrs H. Shield* and M. Drury Th* judge* were Messrs S. C. Ashton. T. Wilde, and R. McQuinn.

Bantam-weight.—D. Neylon (Linwood Boy*- Club) beat D. Moller (New Brighton!, on points. Ught-weight—H. Bullmor* (Linwood Boys’ Club) beat F. PavieU (Fldow’s Gym), on points. Light Welter-weight—S. Benell (New Brighton) beat S. Meads I Crichton Cobbers), on points; G. Sandry (Timarui beat L. Small (Fldow’s Gym), on points Welter-weight E. Bassett (Linwood Boys’ Club) beat ML Bell (Cheviot), on points Middle-weight. J. Harnett (Crichton Cobbers) beat J. Tyson (Tirnsru). on points (• spto decision).

Firm Tone.—Adelaide wool sales closed today on a firm tone with very little change over the three days selling. Crossbred prices included 58g from 71d to 7fid and 56s from 65d to 73d.—Adelaide, Oct 10.