LIGHTWEIGHT BOXING TITLE RETAINED

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 3

LIGHTWEIGHT BOXING TITLE RETAINED

Aitken And Rayner Draw PACKED HOUSE WATCHES SPIRITED BOUT Dominion Special Service PALMERSTON N., July 29. Spirited boxing over the whole of the 15 rounds marked the professional lightweight contest for the New Zealand championship between Clarrie Rayner (Blenheim), the holder, and Billy Aitken (Wellington), fought in the Opera House tonight before an audience that packed every part of the building. The result was a draw, a decision that was challenged by a section of the audience but was •iccepted as fair by' the majority. Rayner weighed and Aitken J. 7. The referee was Mr. J. Watchorn. Aitken made the pace from the outset and the first round ended fairly evenly. The second was undoubtedly Aitken's, and he got in several good blows. . Rayner then became more forceful, exhibiting beti ter ringcraft than his opponent, and the 1 next four rounds were very evenly fought, Rayner probably doing slightly the better. From the seventh to the tenth round Aitken put in his best work, and at that stage of the contest the hopes of his supporters ran high. From then onward, however, Rayner appeared to be slightly an top till the final round,, which was fought every inch of the way, each striving for a knock-out. Both men got in some telling blows, but Rayner's steadier ringcraft was maintained to the end. The preliminary bouts were all interesting, particularly a professional contest between J. Collins (Palmerston North) and V. Loveridge (Taranaki), at catchweights. After a gruelling contest in which Loveridge revealed himself as a very tough opponent, Collins gained the verdict, which' was popular. Three amateur bouts resulted: —D. Prentice (Palmerston North) beat A. Cantwell (Feilding); D. Coughlan (Palmerston North) beat S. Richards (Feilding) ; and J. Jones (Palmerston North) beat V. Dye (Palmerston North).