WON BY MULLETT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 154, 28 December 1942, Page 6

WON BY MULLETT

HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

STRICKLAND KNOCKED OUT

After a lapse of about three and a half years New Zealand again has a professional heavyweight boxing champion; and one, furthermore, who is potentially, if not actually, the greatest the country has ever had. He is Don Mullett, a 21-year-old Wellingtonian, arid he annexed the crown at Athletic Park on Saturday, afternoon when he knocked out Maurice Strickland, eight years his senior and a former holder of the title, in the fifth round of a bout scheduled for the championship distance of fifteen rounds. The crowd of about 4000 was smaller than might have been expected in view of the attendance at the Muliett-O'Keefe bout in October. The weather, was fine and warm. Mullett's success was primarily due to youth and vigour, size and hitting power. He weighed in at 14st 9£lb to Strickland's 13st 3£lb, and also topped his opponent in height. His hands, too, were so much bigger than his opponents that he had to use a different set of gloves. From the outset it was plain that he intended to make the most of his size. He5 kept on top of Strickland all the time, was impervious to punishment (except that his nose ran red in the second round), and hammered Strickland on the head and body with terrific punches which liad their inevitable effect. A blow to the side of the headl put Strickland down for a count of nine in the third round, but the ex-cham-pion remained on his feet until the gong, and then, by desperate defensive boxing, weathered the fourth. In the fifth Mullett came in for the kill, bearing down on Strickland with everything he had. 'Heavy punches to the body sapped Strickland's strength, one stretching him on the canvas for the second time. Rising again after a count of nine, Strickland ran into a further barrage and went down for the third and last time. Until Mullett's weight and heavy punching began to take effect Strickland was out-boxing his former pupil and won the first two rounds. When he found that he could not escape punishment either by getting in close or attempting to box at a.distance he must have known he was a beaten man. He was sure of it \vhen he saw some of his best blows have about as much effect on Mullett as if he had been hitting a gorilla., Mr. P. J. Stone was the referee and the judges were Messrs. W. P. Sommerville and R. J. Meale. Captain P. G. Thomson refereed the amateur preliminaries, which included some excellent contests. A challenge to the winner of the title bout was issued by Jimmy Shepherd, a United States [marine who appeared in an exhibition j spar. ••• ■• ■ ■■'.•.■'■■'■ Results of the amateur bouts are:— D. Clarke (Railways), 9st ;10£lb, beat D. Lena, (Newtown), lOst 71b, on points; N. Woods (Hedberg's), 9st 21b, beat R. Everett (Summers), Bst 61b, on points; A. Carlisle (U.S.M.C.), list 101b, beat W. Luddon (Hedberg's), lOst 131b, by a technical knock-out in the third round; J. Leary (Galley's), Bst 21b, beat D. Baker (Hedberg's), 7st 101b, on points; E. N. Geno (U.S.M.C.), 9st 51b, beat J. Mussen (Tracey's), 9st 81b, on points: N. Ross (Hedberg's), list 9Jib, beat N.Turner (Railways), 12st 71b, on points; J. McCann (Tracey's), list 111b beat H. G. Louis (U.S.M.C.), list 71b, on points; L. Philip (Railways), Bst BMb, beat A. Bonin (U.S.M.C.), 9st 31b, on points. •.:•