BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 17312, 27 March 1920, Page 11

BOXING

Our Auckland correspondent writes:— The hosing epidemic, which broke out at Westpoint about a year ago, has since spread into " hysteria" to such an extent that, with perhaps the exception of Cfrristchurch, boxing associations throughout the Dominion are eagerly endeavoring to outbid each other by holding out attractive pirso3 in the hope that the "stars"— Ciabby, Uren, Lloyd, Tracey, or otherswill sign up for a contest. Never before has such material been offering, and, with the visiting boxei-3 naturally desirous of earning money—it is a strong trait with fighters—the public have been provided with several treats. The present invasion was-headed by the American Jimmv Ciabby, and lie very quickly proved himself the " goods." He was followed by Jimmy Tracey, an Australian heavy, and then came heavies from the Commonwealth in Tommy Uren and Albert Lloyd.

It. is just on a fortnight since Lloyd—who, by 'the way, brought with him the title of" Australian ho having signed up to meet Tracey for a purse of £SOO and the title of champion. The match was arranged by the Northern Boxing Association, and, judging by the packed Town ITa'l on Monday evening, the secretary should bo in the happy position to present a satisfactory statement when the commitece meet. It was the popular opinion that Lloyd would win, but those who had been privileged to witness Tracey twice beat the Auckland crack (A. Pooleyj, and also fight a- strenuous uphill battle at Hamilton with the redoubtable Ciabby, were quite prepared to see a contest worthy of the occasion. And in this th'sy'"were not disappointed, because from gong to gong, during tho whole of the 15 rounds, there was something doing all the time. The weights were : Lloyd 12st Alb. Tracey 12st 91b; but though the scale showed a difference of only 51b, Tracey, who is much •'the taller, simply towered over the Australian crack. From the very opening it was apparent that no kindness would be shown by either party; and" not only the first but every lap was strenuously fought. Tracey's long reach made it difficult for Lloyd to stand and " mix," while Tracey, on the other hand, made the most of his reach to jab the left to Lloyd's face. Each time this v.-as followed by a clinch, and in the closo Lloyd was far "the superior, and ho "peppered" Tracey's ribs and body with short jolts. The effect of these soon showed, "and Tracey, from shoulder to ribs, was crimson. "Early in the fight Lloyd did serious damage by very nearly closing Tracey's left eye ; but later on Tracey .did t.hp «!fimA to iTim-d's rifht. so that thin.es

were evened up in that respect. Round after round the same tactics wove adopted, with the exception of the seventh, vrhen both men stood and swung for each other. Lloyd's speed was clearly established then, but", instead of going on with it, he dropped back and went on boxing Tracey. The later relied mainly upon his left, and this he placed to Lloyd's face with monotonous regularity; but there ivm -really little force behind the blow, because of the absence of speed. leisurelydelivered blow never carries weight, and so it was with Tracey ; but Lloyd was just the opposite, and his quick jolts had plenty of weight behind them. Neither man Blackened till about the eleventh, when, for some unaccountable reason, Lloyd appeared to ease oft, and, though lie fought | scientifically and we'll from thence onward, j he did not put the vigor into his efforts that he did in the earlier rounds. As a boxer he was far ahead of Tracey; but the latter is nothing if not " game." and lio forced the fighting in all of the 15 rounds. It was on© of those contests where the most critical, if called upon to give a decision, would prefer the job being given to another ; but possibly the majority favored Lloyd up to the eleventh, round. 16 was then that he threw his winning prospects away, because, as remarked above, he undoubtedly took matters too eas-y, whereas Tracey, by reason of Lloyd slackening, appeared to be going stronger than ever, and particularly in the final round did he fight hard. When the gong brought the end of the contest nobody could say to whom the verdict would go, and when referee F. Burns placed his hand on Trace-.-there was an outburst of cheering such as has never been heard at a boxing contest in Auckland. Whether Tracey actually won is a point upon which many differ, and, without wishing to deprive him of any kudos, it is only fair to Lloyd to say that the majority thought that if either man won, Lloyd was the man. Tracey fought and fought well, but he is not a°s clever as Lloyd, nor is there the same weight behind his blows. However, tie title of champion now belongs to Tracey, ! but the writer is quite prepared to see it revert to Lloyd should the pair meet I again.

Brian M'Cleary, of Dunedin, last pight met Senior at Wtstport in a six-round bout. M'Cleary won in the first round. These two men last met in the final divisional tournament in France. M'Cleary was successful on that occasion also.