FEAST OF BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1937, Page 5

FEAST OF BOXING

BIG CROWD THRILLED

DUNN IN GREAT FORM

MUDGWAY BEATS PARKS

A veritable feast of boxing was proI vided patrons at the Town Hall last evening when a large crowd was present to witness two professional contests, each of ten three-minute rounds, between "Tiger" Parks (U.S.A.) and -ville Mudgway (Auckland), and Henry Dunn (Hutt Valley) and Stan Smith (Wellington). After a hectic display of hard hitting and pretty boxing Dunn was given the decision on points against Smith and a similar decision went to Mudgway against the American,. though the second contest was a far less spectacular one than the first.

Dunn Ost 61b) and Smith Ost 121b) mad> the pace a cracker from the start Smith's awkward stance seemed to disconcert Dunn for a space but the latter soon measured his opponent and proceeded to give him a lesson in straight, clean punching. Smith, who made the fighting throughout, appeared to waste a great Jeal of energy before even getting within hitting range and when he did so he swung his arms from behind his back, Dunn in the meantime frequently getting in about three blows. While Smith demonstrated that he was a bundle of energy, Dunn showed himself to be a very solid and skilful boxer, particularly in his retaliation when pressed against the ropes. Smith's greatest asse* was his fighting spirt and, in the first five or six rounds, he threw lefts and rights from all directions, but Dunn's weaving and ducking and superior footwork made him miss badly. The seventh and eighth rounds found Dunn treating Smith with a certain amount of respect and he took a good deal of punishment, but in the final' round Dunn showed his mastery by knocking Smith all round the ring. The result was inevitable but the audience showed its appreciation of a good fight in which an outstanding feature was the good sportsmanship displayed, Smith in particular showing that he could take hard punishment with a smile.

A DOUR CONTEST.

| To the accompaniment of cries of "Come on Louis," "Tiger" Parks (lOst 21b), an American negro, advanced upon Neville Mudgway (lOst 21b) with a long straight left in evidence, but he found Mudgway a very elusive target and clean blows landed on either side were scarce. Both appeared businesslike, dour fighters and were very wary of each other. A great deal of clinching was in evidence and .it was not until the men had received a request from the referee at the beginning of the sixth round for a little less hugging and a bit more fighting that any real action was witnessed. For the first few rounds Parks seemed on top and his left was" worrying Mudgway, but the latter made up a lot of leeway after the sixth round, when he had the negro missing badly. Anything like a hard blow from Parks was stopped by Mudgway on his gloves and the former, who seemed to tire a lot in the last couple of rounds, let Mudgway in for a points decision. The referee was Mr. Earl Stewart and the judges were Messrs. W. P. Sommerville and B. A. Guise-

AMATEUR PRELIMINARIES,

Results of the amateur preliminaries were: — ; H. Robertson (Newtown) 9st 81b beat J. Hansen (Hedberg's) 9st 41b on points. ..._._ R Scott (Moera) lOst 21b beat J. Kellehan (Newtown) lOst 21b on J Parker (Newtown) Bst 61b beat T. Hansen (Hedberg's) Bst 121b on points. H Calder (Tracy's) 9s' 91b beat J. Martin (Moera) 9st 81b on points. Three professional boxers were introduced to the audience from the ring, Don. Glengarry, Barney Downes, and Billy Pearce.