Elisara faces tough fight

Press, 18 October 1976, Page 26

Elisara faces tough fight

By

JOE HARNETT

Sofo Elisara the bright star of Canterbury professional boxing, faces one of the sternest challenges of his colourful career when he meets the Aucklander, Viti Patterson, in a ten round middle-weight contest at the James Hay Theatre on Thursday evening. Elisara, who is using this fight as a warm-up for his challenge against the New Zealand champion, Jeff Rackley, on November 11, might be a little rash in meeting Patterson at this stage, for the Aucklander is known as a hard and relentless fighter with genuine two-handed punching ability. Elisara. who as an amateur met the country’s best in his division for a record of 22 wins in 28 bouts, turned professional in 1975 and was an immediate success, easily winning his first four fights over Billy Fruan, Joe Tolomaki, Silo Naramai (all of Auckland) and Joe Namaa, of Fiji. His next tight was against the hard-punching Ten Beetham of Auckland. He was a little slow in this bout and in the third round Beetham caught him with a hard right cross to the jaw which put him on the canvas. Elisara was badly dazed and the referee awarded the bout to Beetham by a technical knockout.

The highlight of Elisara’s career came last August when he narrowly defeated the now national middle-weight titleholder and former Olympic Games representative, Jeff Rackley, in a 12-round contest at Christchurch. His next fight was against Canterbury’s other middle-weight, Eric Briggs, a tough and experienced pugilist. This was a magnificent battle, with both boxers giving their utmost for the dura-

tion of the contest. Elisara was a handy winner. In these last two bouts, Elisara has proved himself to be a professional fighter of the top ranking and if he beats Patterson on Thursday will pose a very real threat to the titleholder. Patterson, after a very successful amateur career, turned professional last year and in his relatively short career of five bouts has lost only once — to Rackley.

This was a particularly hard and close bout, with New Zealand’s most noted judge, Mr Brian O’Brien, separating the boxers by only one point. After the fight Rackley said, "He’s very good. That’s my hardest fight so far.’’ Patterson is keen to do well in this bout because a win would put him lii line for a shot at Rackley’s title. On present fonn, and with the advantage of greater professional experience, it seems likely that Elisara will win this contest. But if he relaxes his guard and allows Patterson to connect with some of his harder punches the result could be in the Aucklander's favour.

Tennis.—Arthur Ashe, scoring his first win ever on clay against Hie Nastase, has defeated the fiery Rumanian, 4-6, 6-4. 7-6, to gain the men’s singles final in the 8158,000 world invitation tennis classic. Ashe will meet Bjorn Borg in the men’s final.