BRILLIANT BOXING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 255, 25 July 1944, Page 3

BRILLIANT BOXING

Gordon Outpoints Griffin

Giving the brightest display he baa yet provided iu a Wellington ring, Clarrie Gordon, Auckland, outpointed Young Jim Gridin, Wellington, in a professional boxing contest before n packed house at tho Town Dall last night. Tho men fought at catchweights, Gordon being within the lightweight, limit at U.S}, while Griilln sealed 9.13. , , , Looking fighting tit, the Aucklander tore iuto his opponent front the opening gong, mill they hud a spirited argument, in which Griffin held his own well. Jne Wellington man had tiie better of the inlighting, and wa« showing all his characteristic elnsiveness, but Gordon did most of the leading, darting past Griffins lonleft to score with both hands to head and body. Gordon forged ahead In the early stages, showing bright footwork, and’bringing his punches over at speed. When Griilln occasionally launched Un attack, the Aucklaniler showed that he could dodge and head-weave with the best of them. Griffin. who had the advantage in height and reach, relied on a long straight left, but Gordon frequently brushed this aside to score left rips to the body. So strenuous was the going tjiat the referee had to pull Griffin’s knickers tin opening the fifth round. The Wellington man did better iu the sixth round, scoring with light left and right to the head, and following up with another rlgiit, raising a bruise above Gordon’s right eye. Gurdon look the aggressive in lite seventh round, scoring with well-timed blows with bolh bands to the bead, and landing a solid left rip to the body. Lusting well, Gordon increased bis lead over the last two rounds. Though aware that he was well behind on points, Griffin could not make an attack in the dying stages, as ho was beaten to the punch by a faster mover, it wa« one of the best exhibitions of scientific boxing which has been seen in a Wellington ring for sonic years. Gordon, who was a member of the boxing team which represented New Zealand at Ihe Olympic Games in 1936, has improved greatly since Joining the paid ranks, and, in the absence of .lack Jarvis, the champion, who is a prisoner of war, must be acknowledged to be the best professional lightweight boxer iu the Dominion at present. The verdict for Gordon was well received, and Griffin also came in for hearty applause for the spirited showing bo had made. Captain I’. G. Thomson was the referee, and the judging during the evening was done by Captain C. 11. Davidson and Mr. W. P. Souimerville.

Amateur Preliminaries.—A. Pickford (nailway), 11.0, outpointed P. J’oarj (City Mission), 10.13, in a hard-hitting contest, in which both showed stamina and gameness: 3'. Fox (Boys’ Institute), 10.13, beat TV. Pratley (Tracys), 11.0, in a willing bout, in which Pratley was down for seven in the second round; B. Goslin (Citv Mission), $.(!, knocked out G. Childs (Parkers). 9.3. with Iwo rights to the hand immediately tiie bout got under way; J. Barndon (Railway), 9.0, used a good straight left to get the decision over C. Tliistol (Boys’ Institute), 9.5; 11. Hanson (City Mission), 10.9, outpointed a much taller opponent, E. O’Sullivan (lledbergs), 10.7, bv virtue of doing most of the leading: T. Ahern (Hcdbergs), 9.1, beat It. ■Waller (Martins), 9.5, by a technical knock-out in tiie first, round. Mr. PL.ln. Stone was tiie referee.