Boxing POINTS WIN TO SCANLAN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 13

Boxing POINTS WIN TO SCANLAN

U.K. Champion Defeated (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. By virtue of a better finish over the last five rounds, Tuna Scanlan won a split points decision over the British middle-weight champion, Mick Leahy, in a 12-round professional boxing match at Carlaw Park tonight.

The bout was even until the end of the eighth round, but Scanlan attacked strongly in the next, when he had Leahy in trouble with two strong lefts to the jaw. Leahy held on in a clinch as the referee, Mr F. Pearcey, tried to brush his hand down, and the bell went seconds later, as Scanlan stalked his opponent. The fight opened Sensationally when Scanlan was sent to the floor midway through the first round from a right to the jaw. He replied with a lightning left, which staggered Leahy near the end of the round.

Each landed good blows in the first melee of the third round, but became cautious and took no chances thereafter. Leahy forced Scanlan to the ropes in the sixth and in the seventh scored well with three right rips to the stomach.

Leahy changed his tactics at the start of the eighth and began taking the fight to Scanlan, but Scanlan attacked strongly to win the round and had his best round in the ninth. He continued on top, using his left to good purpose, and built up his points lead. Leahy was sent down in the eleventh when off balance and no count, was applied. He seemed to know he needed a knock-out for victory in the'last round, as he bored in for action.

The judging was: Mr R. Lyall, 236-228 to Scanlan; Mr H. Stock: 235-231 to Leahy; Mr Pearcey, 237-228 to Scanlan.

Scanlan weighed list 41b, the lightest he has fought at for years, and Leahy was 11 st 51b.