BILLY AIKEPS DEBUT

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 128, 1 June 1935, Page 23

BILLY AIKEPS DEBUT

FINE IMPRESSION MADE

Billy Aiken, the local feather-weight boxer, had to wait some time for a chance to show what he could do among the professionals, but his debut against Charlie Buckley at Dunedin last Saturday won him praise from all quarters. In the south he is regarded as a likely contender for Clarrie Rayner's title, and the Oamaru Association is negotiating for a bout in which he will meet Percy Hawes.

In commenting upon .the Aiken-

Buckley contest the "Otago Daily Times" says it was a bright and willing bout, 'the notable feature of which was the fine exhibition given by the winner, a fast and clever little boxer with a beautiful left hand. It was Aiken's first professional contest, but he fought like a veteran, and showed an unusually good knowledge of ringcraft. Buckley, although beaten, was by no means disgraced, but while he stood up in his own characteristic fashion to everything that was coming to him, his punches lacked sting, and his timing was frequently faulty. In the first round Aiken scored well with the left, and using his feet prettily was making his opponent miss badly, and time and again was beating him to the punch. Buckley connected nicely with a right and left to the face at the opening of the second round, and tried to force the fighting. The Wellington boy, however, fought back coolly and stopped his opponent off with a long left that was always well timed and whipped in with the speed of a bullet. He then took the battle to Buckley, coming in all the time with clean, crisp shots to the face and body, and slipping Buckley's counters easily and neatly. SUPERIOR KINGCBAFT. Buckley went into action with everything he had in the next two rounds, but Aiken's superior ringcraft came to his aid, although it did not prevent the local lad from piling up a useful tally of points. Honours were about even in the fifth with the odds, if anything, slightly in favour of Buckley, but the next three rounds saw Aiken again on top and scoring repeatedly with well directed and snappy punches to the head and body. Buckley staged a great comeback in the second last round, and getting to close quarters made good play for the body. Aiken was always willing to mix it and in the infighting he showed himself to be just as stiff a proposition as at long range. In the last round he gave a beautiful display of two-handed fighting, and the ovation he received when the referee gave the decision in his favour was the crowd's tribute to a clever and willing fighter. Buckley, always a favourite with the public, also received a well-deserved .cheer as he left the ring.