BOXING

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 167, 12 April 1926, Page 5

BOXING

PURDY TOO CLEVER FOR LOVERIDGE STIRRING CONTEST IN NEW. PLYMOUTH The greatest interest was taken in the contest between Dick Loveridge (Taranaki), and Charlie Purdy (Auckland), at New Plymouth on Saturday night. 'Hue house was packed, 1:125 being taken -at the doors. This was the first time Purdy had appeared in Taranaki, and everyone was anxious to see the Aucklander, about whom so much had been favourably heard. Mr. Allan Maxwell, the well-known Wellington referee, who was the third man in the ring, returned by motor car last night. '‘There was only one man in it,” Mr. .Maxwell informed a Dominion reporter last night.” Purdy was much too fast and clever for Loveridge, and made the Taranaki boy miss badly time and again. The first four rounds were even; but all the rest, with the exception of the fifteenth, went to Purdy, who boxed brilliantly. It was clear that the Aucklander had taken notice of criticism upon his recent showing at Wellington as on Saturday night he never once was guilty of hitting with tho open glove. It was evident, also, that Purdy has developed a punch, as Jis opened a, gash over one of Loveridge's eyes in the third round, and damaged his opponent’s other eye in the eighth. Loveridge presented a, fearsome picture, covered as he was in blood. Purdy was unmarked at the end of the battle. He is a greatly improved boxer, and his showing against such a lusky opponent as Loveridge surprised me on Saturday. The decision met with the entire approval of the crowded house. The welter title was not involved.” Mr. Miftwell declared that the tournament was excellently staged by the Taranaki Boxing Association. The amateur bouts, which were all interesting, wore refereed by Professor J. J. Stagnoole, a veteran of 76 years of age. Boxing in New Plymouth, is immensely popular, as is shown from the fact that the New Plymouth Association from being in debt has now a credit balance of 1186. “They are getting all the best men up there,” said Mr. Maxwell, "and the next contest will be between Williams and Stace." Janiito seems assured of a great welcome when he makes his first appearance in a contest in the Dominion on Monday next, opposed to the hard-hit-fing Trowern, from Auckland. In meeting him, Trowern will probably have the hardest proposition of his careen. Tamito, like most of the Filipino boxers, works on the principle that attack all the time is better than a little at'ack and. a lot- of defence, hence in his training he aims to prepare himself to go the full distance at top speed, and those who have seen him in his training work have been amazed to note his methods in this direction. The box plan will open to-morrow morning, and intending patrons are advised to book seats at the earliest moment. FERNANDEZ BEATS DE LEON. (Rec. April 11, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, April 10. At the Stadium Fernandea beat De Leon on points. The bout wai uninteresting consistin" mostly of wrestling and scrambling. De Leon badly lacking science.—Press A&sn.