BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 150, 29 June 1929, Page 23

BOXING

BY "Aeneas" HURNE'S MISTAKE

CONTEST WITH WHITE '

AUSTRALIAN'S PUNCH

If Cyril Hume had stood off ana boxed he may have gone the distance against Vie White on Monday - night, and if he had gone the distance he would have won on points. His impetuosity in the fifth round brought trouble to him, and he never really recovered form, ■ although up to the end he was still' the superior boxer. Had the New Zealander been content to go the pace he set over the opening rounds and blocked and slipped the Australian's punches, as he was doing, instead of taking them, the odds are that he would have received the thick end of the purse. However, the New Zealander was not disgraced, and it is to be hoped that he will get more matches. Hurne is a splendid boxer, but he needs to build up. At present he is not robust enough to stand punishment over long journeys. Vie "White, the Australian dual champion, was always confident, even when Hurne was peppering his face with punches. So confident was he that he took all that was coming and waited for the opening which would give him an opportunity to end matters. He gave his first taste of his punching powers in tho fifth, when he might have won the contest, and the blow that did terminate proceedings was a beautifully timed right to the point. It gave Hurne no chance. A Bad Match. The Wellington Association erred in pitting F. Norris- against P. J. Stone in a preliminary on Monday night. Stone is one of the most experienced amateurs in the Dominion to-day. He is the holder of the New Zealand welterweight title, and the Morgan Cupj and Ms form has been such that some of his friends consider that he could pick up money as a professional. The la3t claim may be flattering Stone, but there is no gainsaying that he would be a good match for Ted Morgan. Norris was the outstanding boy of the recent novice tournament, but he has a long way to go yet. If suitable opponents are found for him he will very likely become a champion, but if he is to be made a chopping block for experienced boxers he will be driven out of the game. Conqueror of Griffiths. Em Conners, who knocked out Tommy Griffiths in Sydney, is one of the most promising boys in Australia at the present time. He holds decisions over Bobby Delaney, Sid Samson, Tommy Doble, and a draw with Jimmy Kelso. Considering Delaney's performance against Sammy Shack at the Sydney Stadium last Saturday night, this record makes Couners look a good boy. _ Three months ago Conners had the misfortune to sprain his ankle training with Tommy Doble, and, after making sure that this injury was quite healed, he commenced training again last month. He is just 20, and has been boxing about three years,, and, as is the way with most boys who commence to fight in a startling manner, Conners was even forced to go into tho lightweight class to get matches. Abont last Christmas he fought a hard draw with a lightweight at the Stadium, but now he is confining himself to the featherweight division. His best punch is a left hook—considered by some the most dangerous punch in boxing. • M'Alister Retains Title. •The contest between Teddy Green ana Billy M'Alister for the bantamweight championship of Australia was disappointing and Green was never at home and while retreating he gave a display of unattractive low ducking, which eventually brought him disqualification. As early as the opening round Green was cautioned for landing his head on M'Alister 's chest, ana when the same head struck Billy below the belt in session seven tho referee, Yank Pearl reached down to crown M'Alister, who lay writhing on the floor, tho winner on a foul. M'Alister walked after Green with snappy straight lefts to the face,. and more thain one spectacular right uppercut to the chin soon gave Green the idea that the ling was too small for him. From, one angle to another Green retreated, and as he tried to duck away from a very aggressive iifltagonist, his head bumped M'Alister on the chest. M'Alister landed plenty of straight lefts to the face in lound one, and *o show that these punches packed plenty of power, a mouse made its appearance under Green's right eye early in the next round. The right uppercuts were hurting, too,' and one of these spectacular punches to the chin made Green stand still "momentarily. Mac measured his man with weighty rights in the next two terms, and Green did so much galloping away that the galleryites began. to ask him when was he going to do some fighting. Green fell, pulling M'Alister on top of him, just before the fourth ended, and appealed to the referee ■ for something after the tfell. He was ordered to his corner, and came back to retreat almost all the time throughout round five. Another head punch landed somewhere near M' Alister's solar plexus, but Billy kept shooting rights to the temple or ear, and had Green almost aazea as the round ended. For the first time in the fight Green was aggressive in session six, and he started off well with a few swings to the head. But M'Alister's right to the ear made Green again tako to his heels, and all the fighting for the rest of that round was done by the champion. M'Alister began to bore in for the seventh also, but tho round was not a minute- old when Green's head hit him below tho belt, and he foil to the floor in evident agony. There being no alternative, Green was disqualified, ancl M'Alister declared the winner. Busy Month. Donovan is in for a busy time next month. On Bth July he meets Leslie, of Auckland, in a return fight at Wanganui over fifteen rounds for a £100 purse, ana on 13th July is billed to face Hatton at New Plymouth under similar conditions. On 20th July it is expected that he will make his first appearance in Wellington with an imported Australian (who has not yet been selected) as an opponent. Since Leckie's departure for Australia, Donovan has been first man in the New Zealand boxing ring. Amateurs in Christchurch. The Wellington team that met Canterbury representatives at Christchureh on Monday night was by no means the strongest that the province could have sent, although all have had fair experience. In commenting on the bouts, "The Post's" Christchurch correspondont writes: N. Moulin, of Canterbury (9st 61b), beat C. M'Gee, of Wellington (9st 31b) on points. M'Gee looked easy in the first round, ana Moulin, boxing nicely, piled up points. In the second stage Moulin die!, just what he likea. Neither had any venom behind their punches. Moulin boxed nicely, scoring cleanly ana making M'Gee miss all the time. The third was better, M'Gee going for his man, and for a while Moulin had to step himself ont, but after the first flash Hmßb jjestunea the offensive and! j

patted his man practically at will. The fourth was a repetition, Moulin winning with the greatest ease. D. Sjoberg, Wellington (lOst 81b), beat T. Green, Canterbury (4.lst 21b) on points. The first round was "peppy" a!.l .the way, both men landing with solid rights. The taller Sjoberg had the reach, and used it, Green being v trifle slow, but evened with a twohanded onslaught following a heavy right to the chin. Sjoberg was slightly ahead on the round, but Green, in the second had rather tho better, though it _ was devoid of real incident. Tho third opened with a heated toe-to-toe exchange, both men scoring, and by their enthusiasm giving the crowd a thrill. Neither man connected with his right. In the final round Green made great efforts to land his right, but Sjoberg fought back hard, and gained a questionable decision on points. C. E. Nixon, Canterbury (9st 71b) beat J. Jackson, Wellington (9st 111b). Both had the punch and a certain amount of experience, and the bout opened at fever heat. Nixon landed twice with heavy swings, and then stopped a right to the ear. He stepped back and made two points with straight lefts, and then the two settled down and went at it hammer and tongs. Nixon was cleaner, and, though he missed badly with some swings, ho slowly iorged ahead. The boxers tired as the strenuous fight went on. Both worked tor the knock-out, but neither could beat the other down. Kach .session saw Nixon shepherding his strength, let Jackson do the attacking, and prop off the onslaught with a- straight left. The decision was narrow, but well deserved. W. Carey, Canterbury (9st 131b), won on a technical knock-out from W. Mansfield, Wellington (9st 91b). Carey was too solid and too experienced for Mansfield, who fought gamely, but could not slow his man up. In the third round Carey ripped a left to the stomach which doubled Mansfield up, and after Carey landed again to the neck the referee stopped the fight. C. Gardiner, Canterbury (12st), beat J. Tasker, Wellington (list 111b), on a technical knock-out. Gardiner walked away from his man and made him miss, planting an occasional left all the while Tasker landed twice, but Gardiner was a shade ahead on the first round. Tasker went for him at the gong for the second, Gardiner just evading several strenuous rights, and stopping a couple of lefts with his face. In the third, Gardiner got down to business, and soon snapped three rights to Tasker's chin. The Wellington man sank down, but rose in 5 seconds. Gardiner was on him like a shot. The visitor was game, but out on his feet, and Gardiner landed an upper-cut to the jaw which finished the encounter, the referee giving him the bout without counting Tasker out Tasker was game and aggressive all through. Offer to Hatton. Matt Hatton, the Auckland featherweight, has received a telegram from the Napier Association offering him a match with Syd. North, the Sydney feather-weight, in the middle of July. The purse mentioned is £100. Hatton says it cost him over £30 in expenses when he wens down last time, but he will accept again should the Napier Association offer, him reasonable expenses. Hatton's next fight is against Donovan on 13th July, the New Ply. mouth promoting body having put up a £100 purse with £.20 expenses. Bert Brown Returns. Looking as though he had just stepped out from training quarters rather than a long sea voyage, Bert Brown, formerly of Hamilton, and ex-feather-weight champion of Now Zealand, landed in Auckland last week after a four months' absence in Canada and the United States, states the "New Zealand Herald." Whilo away 'the New Zealander fought thirty times He won twenty-six of his contests, losing four when fighting out of his; class as a. light-weight. Prominent among those he has beaten are Bobby Garcia who defeated Billy Grime, Vie. Foley^ and Chris. Newton, light-weight champion of Canada. Newton beat Brown in their first encounter, but later the New Zealander won decisively. Jimmy Mars, who was also defeated by Brown •subsequently fought a draw with Kid Kaplan, world's feather-weight champion. Brown, who intends returning to the United States in three or four months' time, was met on his arrival by Mr. D. H. Armstrong, of the executive of the Palmerston North Association which brought him out, and under which body he is to have his first fight. Mr. J. H. Watts, secretary' to the Northern Boxing Association, has approached Brown for a second fight in Auckland. The association will bring over an bpponenfc from Australia. The Palmerston North Association expected to bring over Jack Eoberts, but he was not available, so Norman Gillespio was approached, and he will be Brown's opponent on 24th July. Donovan Disqualified. Victory was in sight for ■ Tommy Donovan at Napier when he hit the Australian Sid North low, and was disqualified by the referee, Mr. Earl Stewart. The Napier Association, which staged the contest, was rewarded with a great house. North was 61b lighter in weight. In a description of the contest, the "Hawkes Bay Herald" states: lYom the initial gong Donovan wasted no time in getting to work. He played to the body with snappy lefts; then, at the first opportunity, set his piston-like right to punch North's left side in the clinches. The Australian's efforts to counter the blows failed, and he screwed to, avoid them. The opening exchange's left the impression that North was endeavouring to size his man up; to avoid the persistent rushes and tiro Donovan^ He failed to avoid the rushes, and Donovan, did not tire. Four successive clinches found the New Plymouth man connecting to the ribs with half-arm jabs, and once in the open he caught North's face flush with a smart left. Twice North toppled over Donovan when the latter ducked, ana the two were showing signs of nervousness. Towards the close of the first session, the Australian was breaking ground rapidly, but not effectively, and was suffering from Donovan's rushes. A clinch opened the second round, when Donovan had the better of tho infighting, battering North's unprotected side with heavy rights. Donovan's rushes became more deadly, more frequent, and his blows were landing with uncanny accuracy. North succeeded with punches that lacked sting; but his defence was obviously weakening under the storm of heavy exchanges, that were sent over. He almost lost his balance once when he endeavoured to retaliate with two swings, which failed to connect. Then he snapped home a right to the chest on retreat. Donovan's unorthodox and wild methods were puzzling the Australian sadly, though ho strove hard to face the music. With his head .on North's shoulder, Donovan rammed home blow after blow to the body, which began to show unmistakable signs of the attention it was receiving. Donovan concentrated on the sore spots in the third round, and his rushes became more vicious than ever. He smashed down North's defence and plied his body with crushing blows. Suddenly he hit North too near the belt to be comfortable, and the latter broke away in pain. Donovan was kept off by the referee till North appeared recovered sufficiently to continue. Donovan flow in to complete his work, but tho gong saved the Australian, who went to his corner badly shaken. A few seconds after the gong rang them out in the fourth, North was crumbling under a savage onslaught, when Donovan struck low. Tho referee, without hesitation; announced North the winner, ana the Australian was helped to hsa ooasngr jg R fioUapring ooaditioa.