CHAMPION BEATEN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1935, Page 14

CHAMPION BEATEN

LIGHTWEIGHT BOXING

RAYNER OUT-POINTS JARVIS

GOOD BOUT AT TOWN HALL

The boxing public is by no means easy to please but, on the other hand, it cannot be said that the same public has a flair for selecting the most attractive bouts to give its patronage. So far as Wellington is concerned the recent Aitken-Hawes matcii attracted a good attendance but resulted in a disappointing display which enthusiasts do" not seem to have forgotten. The Jacobs-Reeve fixture should have done something to restore confidence and

the bill presented by the local association last night appeared attractive enough in prospect to have drawn a good house. To the disappointment of the promoting body, however, the attendance was less than mediocre and it was small compensation to the officials that the contest should prove the public again astray in its choice.

Following a series of amateur bouts which produced lively boxing of good quality there was a professional contest between two of the Dominion's leading lightweights, Jack Jarvis (Eltham), the present holder of the title, and Clarrie Rayner (Blenheim), retired featherweight champion, whom Jarvis defeated on a foul in the title bout at Blenheim a few weeks ago. The bout went the full distance of fifteen two-minute rounds and resulted in a win for the Blenheim boxer. A COMFORTABLE WIN. The decision which resulted in Rayner losing in his home town was criticised at the time, since he appeared to commit no more than a purely nominal breach, and last night he saw to it that he did nothing to rob himself of a result which he appeared confident of achieving. Maintaining a two-fisted attack anfl presenting a solid defence to the other boy's advances he won comfortably, although the decision in his favour was not well received by a small section of the house, comprising (it seemed) mainly small boys. Both boxers entered the ring at the same weight, 9st 41b, and they were evenly matched in height and reach. Rayner, who has had the greater ring experience, appeared the tougher of

the two, his bronzed body being in striking contrast to the fresh pink skin of his opponent. He adopted a crouching attitude while Jarvis stood erect, and he moved in with both hands ready to strike whereas the champion relied largely'upon a jabbing straight

left to pave the way for his attacks. The bout was not long in progress before it was apparent that only an accident could prevent Rayner winning, and, though Jarvis did better towards the finish, the latter never looked like wiping olf his deficiency lin points.

The bout could by no means be described as electrifying, but it produced plenty of skilful boxing and the pair were' generally active. Rayner was the more accurate hitter and he outboxed the other, boy both at long range and when they were in close. ROUND BY ROUND. They spent the first round mostly in sizing each other. up though Jarvis drove Rayner to the ropes and scored with solid body blows. He also held his own in a brisk exchange out in the open. In-fighting was the. order in the second round, in which Rayner showed to better advantage. Jarvis was warned for holding. Rayner set to with a will in the third round and, though the Taranaki boy kept-his guard up, he could not check all the blows that were rained upon him. Rayner again made the pace in the fourth, throwing over a solid right and varying it with a snappy left upper-cut. Jarvis decided to take a hand in the fifth round and used a straight left to clear the way for his right. He was inclined to leave himself open, however, and Rayner needed only the briefest of opportunities to score. Smack-smack went Rayner's right and left to either side of Jarvis's jaw in the sixth round, but Jarvis steadied j him up and they sparred over most I of the remainder of the round. RAYNER SUPERIOR.

Rayner used a straight left in the seventh and then brought has right up from underneath. He scored well in the- close-work which followed and appeared to have the other boy's measure. This impression was strengthened in the next round, in which Jarvis opened out with both fists but I was beaten to the punch. Jarvis, how- ! ever, was doing better towards the end of the round. In the ninth Jarvis took the initia-

tive and Rayner "coasted" while his opponent tried, often ineffectively, to c la«d scoring blows. In-fighting was t. general in the tenth round and Ray- i ncr scored with punches to his oppon- n ent's face as he was moving back. 11 It was more open in the eleventh and i: both boys got home to the jaw. Ray- o ncr hit the canvas with a bump after f being thrown off his balance. A i round of applause at the bell showed c that the crowd appreciated the brighter s display. Matters were even in the j. twelfth, in which few scoring punches t connected. . i In the thirteenth the crowd began to c display keener interest and the round t produced brighter boxing, with Rayner ceeping a shade ahead. Jarvis made i good use of his left in the fourteenth ) and drove his man to the ropes. He \ was doing better than previously but c could not prevent Rayner scoring with { body blows. ■ . i Jarvis caught Rayner on the jaw ' when he attempted to move in in ] the last round and then forced the ■ Blenheim boy against the ropes. Ray- ' ncr went in close and concentrated on Jarvis's body, the bout having a lively finish. AMATEUR PRELIMINARIES. Results of the amateur preliminary bouts were! — G. Bridge (Newtown), Bst 121b, beat G. Cook (Tartan), Bst 71b. The bout opened quietly with a good deal of respect displayed on both sides, though the initiative was generally taken by Bridge. Bridge hit straight and generally beat the other boy to the punch. Cook was outboxed all the way and took some heavy punishment near the P. Dunn (Moera), sst 51b, drew with H. Carbin (Newtown), sst 41b. Both boys showed that they had been well schooled and at times they fought like a pair of wildcats, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. The decision was a popular one. R. Aitken (Newtown), Bst 121b, beat W. Wilson (Tracy's), Bst 121b. Wilson was a rugged fighter, and, though the Newtown boy was an elusive target, he sent home some solid blows to the jaw. Aitken was always awaiting opportunities, however, and these came more frequently as the bout progressed. Wilson was also cautioned by the referee for hitting with an open glove. L. Parris (Tartan), 9st 61b, beat W. Hedberg (Central), 9st 71b. Hedberg, as usual, attempted to bore in but Parris checked him with vicious blows delivered with lightning speed. Parris, however, was advised to keep his gloves closed. Hedberg's ruggedness stood him in good stead and he had the crowd with him, but Parris's win was clean-cut. T. Loveridge (Taranaki), 9st, beat N. Tanner (Newtown), 9st. Boveridge was built on solid lines and was a willing fighter without a great deal of science. Also, his footwork was faulty and frequently he fell through losing his balance. He owed his win, in which he could have had little to spare, to his aggressiveness. P. Mclvor (Newtown), lOst 121b, beat R. Holden (Taranaki), list lib. It was not a particularly attractive bout, the visitor failing to make the most of his physical advantages. Mr. A. Curtayne was the referee, and the judges were Messrs. P. W. Woods and W. P. Sommerville. Mr. G. A. Broad acted as announcer.