The Ring-News and Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 18, 21 July 1934, Page 22

The Ring-News and Notes

By "Aeneas."

Kay Nicol, who spoitingly forfeited | his Kcw Zealand professional titlo in order that the Christchurch- people should not loso the opportunity of .witnessing a championship contest when a boil on his arm prevented his mooting Liittrell there on Juno 20^ has won back, the crown from Maurice Strickland, the Wcllingtonian who defeated Luttrell twice within about ten days. Strickland- had provipusly -gained . a decision over Nieol, but he was unablo to repeat that performance when he met tho Southland boy again at Invercargill on Wednesday night. Taken all round, the; contest was a disappointment for a title bout between champions (reports the, ''Southland Times"). It "was marred by too much clinching and was by no means as clean as some of tho heavyweight contests witnessed recently in Invetcargil]. mAtch-wtnntn<* tactics. Compared with his form when he previously met and lost to Strickland, Nicol was anew man,' and employed tactics which, while not wholly appreciated by tho crowd, served to counter Strickland's devastating long-arm punching. The last' .occasion tho pair mot Nicol left himself very open over the second half of the bout, and took a lot of unnecessary punishment.'* This ultimately, cost Nicol tho fight. Last night, howe,vcr, Nicol adopted all his old match-winning tactics, and by clever ringcraft interspersed with a variable attack, ho had Strickland baffled. Although smaller in stature Nicol gener- | ally carried the fight to his opponent, and by getting in close kept out of j harm's way1. Thero wore times when Strickland met these tactics with some | good countering, only to find Nicol's head a mercurial target. > This was a feature of Nicol's boxing. He was remarkably elusjvo and seemed to sense the unleashing of Strickland's right almost, every time the champion decided to use it. It was Nicol's speed and footwork which enabled him to carry out these tactics so successfully. He was well fitted for a strenuous fight and fully earned the decision... , " STRICKLAND'S INACOUEAOY. Strickland adopted his familiar style of trying to wear his opponent down' with sparely placed bat hard punches to the vulnerable* points of the anatomy. Ho rarely connected cleanly on this occasion, and by dint of missing at least threo times out of every four punches he lost many points. Only in tho last few rounds, when probably he realised ho was lighting, a losing battle, did (Strickland show any speed on attack. Ho endeavoured to keep on top o£ Nicol, but rarely bustled him-

NICOL AGAIN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

self, and thereby lost much valuable opportunity in the- early stages. He landed one hard punch, to Nicol's jaw in the. fourth round and odd . .hard •punches to the body in the later rounds. His left was only sparingly used, and in actual leading with this member he was .overshadowed by Nicol.

In short Strickland fought disappointingly for a .champion. Ho did not appear able to size up the tactics of his opponent, and was too casual in */!a earlier rounds. , There was always the danger that he would win by the short route all the same.