FAIRHALL KNOCKS OUT SMITH

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 32, 7 August 1923, Page 11

FAIRHALL KNOCKS OUT SMITH

LOSER'S POOR SHOWING.

Freddy Smith, a boxer from Australia, who came here with excellent credentials as to his ability in the fistic arena, made his local debut before a large gathering of enthusiasts at the Town Hall last evening, iii what.was scheduled a; a fifteen-round contest with Tommy Fairhall, also of Australia. Smith shaped like a novice, and in the third round Fairhall terminated the proceedings by catching him on the chin with a right cross as he came- off the ropes, and dropped him to the boards for the count. Smith's showing as a boxer was of the poorest and did not in any way bear out his reputation. The acting officials were : Referee, Mr. Earl 'Stewart; judges, Messrs. J. E. Staples and P. W. Woods ; timekeepers, Messrs. T. H. Coltman and W. Cook; Eeconds, Meesra. H. Hull and N. Coffey; announcer, Mr. A. Curtavne; stage manager, Mr. E. A. Dawson."

Both boys weighed in at 9st ll|lb, and were obviously in fine condition. Fairhall was first in the ring, accompanied by his trainer, Jack Donnelly, while a few minutes later much cheering announced the arrival of Freddy Smith r.nd Trainer Pat Connors. Neither party wasted much time over preliminary arrangements, and with the opening "gong they stepped to the centre of the floor.

As he came in, Fairhall landed a light left hook, and Smith, who was adopting a crouching attitude, still held his glove over the opposite side of his jaw. Fairhall jerked up a dangerous looking up-per-cut, which must have missed oulv by a fraction of an inch, but Smith "still kept both arms stiffened and gave the impression that ho was posing, and did not have, any intention of beginning to box. Fairhall again stepped in briskly and sent.over several light punches with both hands to the head, whereat his opponent fell to the canvas and stayed down to the count of nine. On regaining' his feet it was not long before ha stopped a right jolt to the. jaw, this time-with some - sting behind it, and the referee once more was obliged to count to nine before Smith regained hia feet. The winner came in confidently, hooking hard with both hands, and Smith was in trouble on the ropes when the gong saved him.

Evidently realising that he had nothing to beat, Fairhall scorned the feeble raking blows delivered by Smith in the second round, and, walking straight up to his opponent, h e commenced to hit him hard and often with both hands. He occasioanlly bent forward, guarding his face and jaw with his glove and forearm, and as he moved up to Smith broke loose with a snappy left hook. Smith was badly punished about the face, and Fairhall, who might easily have stopped the ridiculous affair, contented himself with, forcing him to the ropes, and connecting at will with a hard straight left. _Xho third and final round saw the wfiuier'"spring lightly from his corner, and commence to further punish the already dazed Smith, who had managed to sjagger out from his angle. He forced him to the ropes, and as he rebounded with lowered hands, Fairhall caught him square on the point with a heavy right, smash. The businesslike referee saw at once that it was not necessary to enumerate the count, and immediately crowned the winner in token of victory. No possible excuse could be advanced on behalf of Smith. Had he been " fluked " at the opening of the bout, one could have understood the situation, but his apparent disinclination, or probably inability ' to fight, lent matters a most peculiar aspect. He presented a most pathetic figure, covering his bruised face with his heavily bandaged hands, as he was helped from the ring. At each knock down the crowd hooted and jeered, but it was unusually quiet and melted away without complaint after the final episode. Fairhall showed himself to be all that critics have said. ho was, and was master of every situation, but he was never even bothered, lei alone extended. THE PRELIMINARIES. Threo hard rounds were provided by the lightweights, E. . Napier, 9st 121b and D. Nixon, 9st 61b. The heavier boy came in aggressively with the opening gong, but Nixon steadied him with snappy straight lefts to the face, and occasionally connected with a swinging right to the ear. Napier boxed better in the second round, but Nixon was too shifty for him, and adopted a back moving policy, stepping in occasionally with left and right and gliding out of range before his opponent could counter. Napier used his weight to advantage and forced the pace in the final round, landing several heavy left hooks to the body, but Nixon maintained his lead and won fairly comfortably. A splendid three-round featherweight contest was provided by Percy Black Bst 121b, and N. M'Arthur, Bst 81b. The lighter boy sprang in with a left hook to the body as the bout opened, and, claiming Black's right arm, he punched' away merrily with his own free weapon. Black showed fine defensive work, and allowed M'Arthur to run the risk of breaking his hand on his elbows, on which he look most of the blows. Still aggressive; tho lighter man forced his opponent to the ropes, and, stepping back, connected nicely with a volley of blows to the body, followed by an uppercut which narrowly missed. Black used v, good straight left in round two, and again showed good ring generalship and cleverness, in allowing his mnn to do all the work. He was quite at home in the clinches, but M'Arthur often connected with left and right as he came in. The lighter man made th e pace ie the final round, and forced Black all around the ring, but the latter was by no means hustled, a nd met him at every turn, A very unpopular decision went fj Black, the audience voicing its disapproval by much hooting, and, on leaving the ring, the loser was given a 51 pat ovation. J. Cotterell outpointed S. Dellabarca in ii paperweight bout. Cotterell's ex?ancnco stood him in goad stead throughout the threo rounds, and ho managed to nullify the persistent efforts of his agressive opponent. He won the first two rounds, but Dellabarca made the pace in the final, though he could not make up the margin of points. 11 was a brisk little encounter, characterised by willing boxing on both sides.