RING MEDALS CERTAIN

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33445, 29 January 1974, Page 10

RING MEDALS CERTAIN

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MILTON HAYES)

Bill Byrne. Lance Revill and Robert Colley assured themselves of at least winning bronze medals in boxing for New Zealand when they each won through to the semi-finals of their divisions at Canterbury Court last evening. Byrne, aged 23, a Wellington lineman, won his quarterfinal bout in the light heavyweight division with a. technical knockout in the second round against Paul Thompson (Papua New Guinea). He

had his tall opponent in all | sorts of trouble in the second round. A combination of punches to the head opened up a bloody gash, and the referee had no hesitation in asking for a medical examination and then calling off the bout.

He will meet Isaac Tkhuoria (Nigeria), in the semi•finals, and is assured of a ibronze medal at least, as

both the losing semi-finalists share third place. Ikhuoria. who took the bronze at the Munich Olympics. beat the Kenyan. Petei Dula. bv a unanimous points

decision in probably the best bout of the afternoon.

Revill. aged 20. a national • light middle-weight champion, easily out-pointed Uti|fiu Vaili (Western Samoa), I but Colley had a tougher task •with Robert Moepi (Lesotho), winning on a split decision — from four of the five judges. Revill was out-punched in the first round however, when Vaili found gaps in the New Zealander’s defence for his : iab and some crisp right ! crosses. In the second round, though, the Auckland carpen;ter quickly asserted his su-

periority. Vaili took a standing count after one minute 34 seconds of the round, after being clipped bv a left-right combination to the head and one minute later took another standing count as Revi ill’s right again found its mark. 1 The Samoan tired badly,

but still managed to last thei distance in the face of Rev-| ill’s relentless pressure. Colley moved well for the first two rounds against Moepi. staying clear of the African’s big right hand. The Wellington youngster scored steadily with his left and

made his southpaw opponent appear clumsy as he slipped inside his punches. Colley was obviously uncom-

fortable and nearing the end of his resources in the third and final round though, as he began to be caught more often and trapped on the ropes.

To qualify for the final, Revill will have to beat the.

Scot. Alex Harrison, who beat Siologogo Afamiliona. a plucky Fijian, in a bout, stopped in the third round.' Harrison was wide open to the Fijian’s right hand, however, and may find himself in trouble unless his defence is tighter against the New Zealander. TOUGH UGANDAN Colley will meet the rugged Ugandan. Ayub Kalule, in his semi-final and I will have to pull something [out of the bag to advance to, the next stage. Kalule. a southpaw, was in; devastating form last evening, beating Ray Heaney (Northern Ireland), the Ulster champion for the division, comfortably on points in a bruising encounter. There was a great battle I in the light-flyweight division •.yesterday afternoon when.

John Bambrick (Scotland) scored a points win over Mick Abrams (England) in some of the best boxing of the Games.

Abrams, six years older than his opponent, but standing only sft lin. gave away height and reach to the clever Scot and this made all the difference. Abrams was dangerous when at close quarters, rapping combinations to the body of his more experienced opponent, but often found himself walking into a jarring straight left or left hook from the southpaw.

In the semi-finals tomorrow Bambrick will meet the tough Kenyan, Stephen Muchoki, who had a points win over a game Australian. Roger Richens, yesterday.

KNIGHT FAVOURITE The West Indian-born English light heavy-weight, Billy Knight, showed that he will be hard to head off for the gold medal in the division when he easily out-pointed the rugged Western Samoan, Tolai Lieuteine. Knight, the more skilled ring craftsman, was always on top, but nothing he could mount stopped the Samoan, a solidly-built southpaw, who time after time walked into Knight’s left jab or rapid-fire combinations. Liuteine tired in the third round and took a standing count after one minute 59 seconds—after taking a particularly heavy barrage—but was still moving after the taller man at ;the final bell.