TOO MANY GUNS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1927, Page 19

TOO MANY GUNS

PURDY BEATS JANSEN

FRENCHMAN OUTPOINTED

There was an international flavour about the contest, between Charlie Purdy and Raymond Jansen, the Frenchman^ at the Town Hall last night. The visitor's corner, was draped with the Tricolour of France, and over the ringpost of the'opposite angle was the New Zealand Ensign. The seating accommodation was inadequate; and many had to Btand. It was a strenuous contest, and Purdy always looked the winner. The reported punch ot the frenchman did not arrive, and, although he was always ready to fight, and perhaps a little over-anxious at times, he failed to master the most versatile boxer seen in the local ring for many years. He was not as fast as Purdy, and fought' without variety. Thus the New Zealander Picked every move of his opponent early in the bout, and his judgment was seldom at fault. Not only that, but Purdy punched, just as hard as Jansen, and would dart in and score to both head and body, in the. clinches it was soon seen that Jansen a chief weapons were the left hook and the right uppercut, when in close, and Purdy's. chin r would anticipate any move to drive these home—it was perhaps just as well.' Purdy has never fought a more strenuous contest locally. . Against M Carthy he lived through a magnificent nnish, but last night he was on his toes all the way, and, against a man that was tougher, he was always sure of himself. .He was never afraid to cross swords, and never lost an opportunity to thrust home. Jansen s chief fault is that he signals his punches. He starts his blows from the side of the body, and Purdy could always see them coming. If he were to fight more from the front, and, ,thus shorten his blows by a foot, he would be as. dangerous as any of his weight. He is out to give the crowd, a good show, but he wants to increase his efficiency as a boxer. Until he. imprQves his knowledge of the scientific side of boxing. Purdy will always be his master. Jansen' weighed in at 9st 111b, and Purdy at 9st 10%lb. A CONTEST. DESCRIBED.

Purdy, as usual, played with a light left to the face, and Jansen rushed in close. He missed with a couple of right hooks, but jabbed with, the Bame hand to the body. Clever headwork caused the Frenchman to miss twice with a couple of swings at the beginning of the second round, and he failed to get near. Purdy when he rushed the New Zealander to the ropes. Purdy was at his best,- and was beating his man to a punch. In the third Jansen landed by two good punches. In the fourth Jansen was boxing at a faster pace, and a left hook to the side of the head stung Piirdy. Purdy hooked to the body with his left, .and then twice with the same hand to the side of the head. Jansen worked his right to the chin; but Purdy's head swayed back with rare judgment. Jansen was swinging too much in the sixth to land a square punch on so an elusive opponent, and Purdy was always busy with his left. Janaen's left hook was tod plainly signalled to beat Purdy's guard, and the New Zealander was getting inside in the clinches. Jansen speeded up in the seventh round, and kept advancing on his man. Purdy took a fair amount of punishment, but he was still working his hands the faster, and his_ anticipation was little short of marvellous. Again in the ninth Jansen was on top of his man, but his punches were too slow in coming. The Frenchman hooked, with his left to the body, and Purdy smothered .on the ropes. Jansen was showing plenty: of strength in ' the clinches,-and: his blows to the body carried weight.' • Purdy went through the tenth m the role of a fighter,'and mixed matters with.the willing Frenchman. It was lively boxing with- the thrill of an occasional loaded punch. In the eleventh P^urdy blocked,a le£t hook, back-moved, and then darted in again to score with the left to the head, and a right to the face. Jansen 1 swayed out of the: way of a left hook, and then connected with a straight left to the face. Purdy twice beat the Frenchman to the punch at the

beginning of the twelfth, but the persistency of the visitor held' Purdy to it all the time. Jansen opened the thirteenth round with a light uppercut to.the chinone of his best punches to date —and jabbed his other glove to the side of the head, but Purdy's guard was there first. Jansen landed lightly to the solar plexus, and Purdy's reply was a straight left. Jansen now had" to knock the New Zealander out to.win, and came determinedly for the fourteenth. Purdy thrice planted his left to the face, and then back-moved from a counter. Jansen caught Purdy on the ropes, and hit but with both hjinds but missed. Over the last bit it was blow for blow, and the crowd applauded a hard round. After a clinch in the final session Jansen cut loose, but Purdy was too speedy for him,.and, although the Frenchman, was at it all the time, he could not make up any leeway. He hooked" a left to the jaw, but Purdy came back with a.heavy right to the side of the head. They were fighting hard when the gong sounded. Purdy. was the winner, and both men received a big ovation. THE AMATEURS. D. C. Cleverley* (9st 101b) outpointed D. Kirkpatrick (Bst 121b) in a spirited contest, in which both men showed boxing ability above the average. Cleverley played frequently with a straight" left, but Kirkpatrick, the shorter of the pair in height and reach, hit hard in at close range, and in the final round had Cleverley "swinging" from a solid right hook.There was not an idle moment in the four rounds between C. Hume (7st 121b) and G. Hawker (Bst 51b). They set a brisk pace, and maintained it throughout the journey. Both proved to be good two-handed punchers. Hawker was the aggressor,-but he was not so clever as his lighter opponent, who moved -; speedily, and .would hit with fine judgment; Honours were eevn in the first round between H. Thomas (Bst lib) and \ R. Brown (Bst 31b), but in the second Brownwas continually running into • a heavy straight left. In the third Thomas was again the more businesslike, but there was little between them in the fourth,-which was a torrid session. • Hume was ahead on the aggregate. '■'■.. A. Curran (Bst 31b), who contemplates turning professional, faced P. Keith (Bst 61b), one of the best known of the local amateurs. There was little vim in the first two rounds, although : both boys boxed well, but. at the beginning of the, third Curran rushed in, and they slugged hard for half a minute. After a. lull Curran came in again, just before the gong, but Keith met him half way. ■ It was punch for punch in the final rally. At the conclusion Curran scored a narrow, but popular victory.