Good form from Graham

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 36

Good form from Graham

By

TIM DUNBAR

Paul Graham (Barry’sMonier) showed too many skills for Ron Tulano (Papanui) in the main bout at the Eric Pocock Memorial amateur boxing tournament at the Richmond Workingmen’s Club yesterday. Graham, one of Canterbury’s best young prospects, was technically more proficient than Tulano, a southpaw, and also had the punching power to rock his opponent with thundering rights to the head. While always of an aggressive bent, Tulano too often threw himself off balance as he unleashed his punches. But he did use a left jab quite effectively. Graham was awarded the Eric Pocock Memorial Trophy for being the outstanding boxer of the tournament. The other top bout on the 12-match programme ended sensationally amid calls of “Bad decision, ref.” when Philip Cropper (Crichton Cobbers) was disqualified after losing his mouthguard for the fourth time. Cropper, another southpaw, was ahead on the judges’ cards in his fight against Pulu Tootoo (Woolston W.M.C.) when the referee, Mr Warren Atkins, stopped proceedings in the third round. Mr Atkins applied a new rule limiting the number of warnings a boxer can have for losing his mouthguard. Ironically, when he last fought in Christchurch two weeks ago Tootoo was on the receiving end of a disqualification himself after hitting his opponent with a late punch. Cropper, mounting several two-fisted onslaughts, often had Tootoo under pressure, and a standing eight count was applied on Tootoo in round two. But there was too much pushing and holding for this fight to rise to any great heights. One other bout on the

Srogramme failed to last le distance. Hemi Dempsey (Fidow’s) only had 35s to show his boxing and dancing skills before the referee stopped his contest against an outclassed - Jason Fitzgerald (Ashburton). Altogether Ashburton had five boxers in the tournament and easily the most impressive was Andy Wood whose speed and strong punching ability took him to a points victory over Carl Blythe (Clearwaters). Temuka had two boxers at the tournament, and both Nigel Ennis and Bevan McCully showed promise in their respective wins over Andrew Dolan and Jeffrey Shanks (both Ashburton). McCully was later awarded the Bill Molloy Trophy as the boxer of the day. For this tournament the judging panel had an international flavour with one American, Mr Ed Weichers, and four Australians, Messrs Ron Gregor, Tony McGrail, Norm Jones, and Bill Burrowes, helping to officiate. Results.— Royden Leath (Ashburton) beat Noel Edgeworth (Woolston W.M.C.), majority points; Mark Davis (Hickson’s) beat Murray Batchelor (Timaru), points; Bevan McCully (Temuka) beat Jeffrey Shanks (Ashburton), points; John Townsend (Hickson’s) beat Andre De Latour (W.W.M.C.X points; Chris Bell (Eell’sKearns Motors) beat David Blair (Timaru), • majority points; Nigel Ennis (Temuka) beat Andrew Dolan (Ashburton), points; Gordon Samaeli (Fidow’s) beat Carl Bradshaw (Timaru), points; Keri Hita (W.W.M.C.) beat Hemi Newsome (Papanui), points; Hemi Dempsey (Fidow’s) beat Jason Fitzgerald (Ashburton), r.s.c., 1; Andy Wood (Ashburton) beat Carl Blythe (Clearwaters), points; Pulu Tootoo (W.W.M.C.) neat Philip Cropper (Crichton Cobbers), disqualification, 3; Paul Graham (Barry’s-Monier) beat Ron Tulano (Papanui), points.