LAST NIGHT’S BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 19019, 14 August 1925, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S BOXING

THE AMERICANS OUTCLASSED 1 i SOME WILLING LOCAL BOUTS. Plenty of sailors, but a meagre crowd of civilian spectators, witnessed the Otago Boxing Association’s “ fleet tournament ” last evening, and if the programme was not very classy there were incidents here and there that kept up interest frojn beginning to end of the tournament. America’s representation in the ring was not as large as it might have been, nor did some interesting bouts scheduled for the evening actually eventuate. But that was not tho fault of the association, which learned only yesterday that the fleet doctors had forbidden the appearance of some Americans, and private business presented some good local boxers from attending. So under the circumstances the association did very well, and was worthily represented by its officials—Mr J. Kilmartin (referee) and Messrs J. F. Campbell and O. Batt (judges). , Bad condition and lack of training did not give either of the two American participants a chance. Yet it is doubtful if either could, under the best of circumstances, show many points to his local opponent. There were two special bouts for American competitors—one between Seaman Rodgerson (10.5) and R. Fulcher (9.7), and another in which Tommy Griffiths (8.8) met Seaman Dannibrink (9.1). t The local boys gave smart exhibitions. Fulcher’s opponent had a beautiful reach and symptoms of a powerful wallop, but, though the former was occasionally utilised in defence, Fulcher made the American miss badly at almost every drive. Fulcher's ducking was the essence of agility, and his hot fire of straight lefts wearied the untrained seaman long before the gong ended an uneven fight. The American lost to a really clever boxer, Griffiths found the bout with his American an easy thing. He showed some pretty action with his left, and le|'issly outpointed Dannibrink. This young man has an antiquated stance reminiscent of the “roaring forties”— head and shoulders well back—and that, combined with his poor condition, made him little more than a punching ball for his nippy little opponent. An amusing exhibition bout was staged by Instructor Harry Ussery, who put _on tho gloves with a game little Filipino. Ussery is a scientific boxer and a good leatner dodger, and perhaps it was to exhibit this prowess that he chose the Filipino novice. > The local bouts, finals in the various weights, were of much the same class. The programme opened with the spectacle of a couple of raw ’uns seemingly out to slaughter one another. It was a bantam fight between F. Wills (8.1) and W. MacAlevey (8.2), three fierce rounds, with Wills easily tho better slogger. He won obviously. In the final of the novice lightweight, J. Oallan (9.9) won fairly comfortably from H. Franks (9.11). Gallon made use of hi? iwo hands in the first round, and puzzled his man. Franks replied gamely in the second round, but was eventually outpointed by Calls n.

In the middle-weight final J. Davidson (11.0) met R. N. Black (10.12), the latter taking the place of M’Ara, unable to attend through an injury. It was a rather wild exhibition, with Davidson leading most of the time. Ho won easily, but not before he had reoeved an occasional telling blow, One of the best bouts of the evening was a short contest between the finalists in the fly-weight class—-in which R, LecHe (7.5) heat W. , Heller (7.6). Leckie gave a neat exhibition, and seemed to ne more at homo. The other lad was a game little chap considering that it was his first experience in the squared ring. The only otHgr bout was a shortlived go between T. Walker (8.18) and J Bowie (9.0) in the featner-weight division. Bowie should not go into a ring until he learns at least how to stand. The first round saw him out,. The good humor of the sailors was a delightful feature of the show. From the time that they were welcomed by the mayor (Mr H. 1/, Taploy) until they, finished the evening upstairs with A sing-song they conducted themselves admirably.

The visitors were , entertained at supper by the association.