Title fight spur to Carstairs tonight

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 26

Title fight spur to Carstairs tonight

(By

R. S. LINDSAY)

R. Carstairs will have his big chance in professional boxing at Canterbury Court this evening. He must beat R. Logo, the Samoan-born, free-swinging puncher, to get another chance to win the New Zealand professional light-weight championship.

The title is at present held by R. Redden, of Wellington, who 18 months ago won it comfortably against the lack-lustre, off-form Carstairs.

Now aged 23, and the former New Zealand amateur light-weight title-holder, Carstairs has had an 18-month lay-off. He had previously won five of his six professional bouts.

“We want to win this fight —we are not looking any further,” said Carstairs’ trainer, Mr K. L. Dawson, of Christchurch, last evening. Mr Dawson and Carstairs are being honest about the fight. If Carstairs is beaten, and particularly if he showed the lethargy that cost him the fight with Redden, it could be the end of his career.

Carstairs and Mr Dawson have been carefully training and mapping out a strategy tb beat Logo, who can punch from all angles. Carstairs, and Redden, are classical boxers —the straight left or jab followed by the right cross.

If Logo beats Carstairs, he must cause Redden concern in a title fight. If Carstairs wins, a return bout with Redden for the professional lightweight title has been promised for Christchurch. Carstairs, as an amateur, was expert in hard punching while moving away from his opponent As a professional he has concentrated on hitting while moving in on attack.

Logo, like all Samoan boxers, smiles when he is hit and really grins when he hits an opponent. He is an attacking boxer, from start to finish. The fight is wide open, with both boxers having a real incentive to win. It is one of three professional bouts on the programme.