BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 19327, 13 August 1926, Page 4

BOXING

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS SUCCESSFUL AMATEUR TOURNAMENT. A largo aiidionco filled tlio South Dunedin Tmvn Hall last night, when the Otago Boxing Association's amateur chninnionships _ were decided. The prevalence, of influenza, accounted for paucity of entries, there being only five bouts in four classes. The bantam and light-weight championships both provided tine contests, tho bantam title being_ won by R. Leckie, who scored a win against a game boy in S. Buckley after a good go. Leckie carried a punch in both hands and ducked very cleverly. A good display ol boxing was witnessed in the lightweight contest, H. Kindlcy turning the tables on R. Fulcher on this occasion. The remaining two classes did not produce pinch in tho nature of fireworks. Owing to tho non-appearance of Johnny Leckio’s opponent in the leather-weight class, an exhibition fourrduuder was staged between tho pro. W. H. Leckie and tho well-performed amateur J. Leckie. The crowd was treated to a clover display of boxing. Prior to this bout it was announced that W. 11. Leckie- was prepared to meet any man iu New Zealand up to 9.6. Tho officials were ns follow;—Referee, Mr Ucn M. Patterson; judges, Messrs Douglas Patterson and J. Gawne; timekeepers, Messrs S. Brown and T. Long; official announcer, Mr F. J. Campbell; official seconds, Messrs J. Higginson and J, Foster. The general arrangements wore in tho bands of the secretary (Mr 11. Divers), and left nothing to be desired. Results;— MIDDLE-WEIGHT. F, Bell (11.1) defeated 11. Sayers (11.0) Sayers showed that ho was little mnro than a novice at tho game, the result being a one-sided contest. Boll_ connected repeatedly with . a straight left and right swing, Sayers being down for eight in the first round and nine iu the second, after which the referee stopped tho bout BANTAM-WEIGHT. R. Lockie (8.0) beat S. Buckley (.8.2). Leckie packed a punch in both hands, and Buckley, who fought very pluckily against a clever opponent, used a good straight left. It was a good go from tho call of time to the final ...ong, tho opening exchanges favoring Buckley, who had slightly the better of an even first round. Leckie took the remaining three and fought vigorously, slamming homo lefts and rights from all directions. Buckley stood up to it well and showed in the last round that ho was not altogether done, connecting ■ with a stray upper-cut to tho chin. Leckie clearly won, though the decision met with disapproval from a small section of tho audience. LIGHT-WEIGHT R. Fulcher (9.6) lost to H. Kindley (9.12) Keen interest was taken in this bout. It was tho best exhibition of boxing during the evening, Kindley’s aggression and cleaner hitting getting him tho decision. His chief scoring asset was a hard straight left, and ho connected several times with a right upper-cut. Fulcher was effective in straight work with both hands, and he scored with some heavy swings, varied by a right hook. The defence of both men was very sound and their footwork good. The pair got to business quickly, and in the opening rally Kindley scored with a short arm right to tho body, blocking a hard counter. Fulcher took a left on the chin, and retaliated hotly with a straight left to tho jaw and a right swing to the head. _ Kindley jerked his bead up with a right uppercut, but overreached with a left, Fulcher returning with a heavy right swing. Fulcher took the_ round, but not by much, Kindley taking the next two, in which there were some clinking exchanges. Kindicy’s speedy left penetrated Fulcher’s defence several times, but tho latter scored with a right hook. Kindlcy took a hard left on the glove, shot in a short-arm right to tho body, and failed to follow up the advantage, Tho last round was willingly contested, honors being fairly easy. Fulcher slammed in some solid lefts, and Kindley connected with a right cross. A hot rally ended the bout, Kindley’s win being a very popular one, though both men were loudly applauded for their efforts. WELTER-WEIGHT. —First Round.— H Bcath ((10.0) boat J. Collins (10.2) after a bout that was marred by much bolding. Beatb was the more aggressive, and connected more clearly than Collins, who often missed badly and frequently overreached. Beatb scored with a straight loft, but the bout did not rouse the crowd to any show of enthusiasm. • A, Wilkinson had the bye, —Final.— A. Wilkinson (10.6) boat H. Beatb (10.0) The final produced a better contest than the preliminary, but it resulted in a far from finished display of boxing. After a tame opening round there were some fairly willing rallies, though both men were inclined to swing wildly. varied a right swing with a straight right, and though he had an ungainly style he connected with some powerful blows. Ho made several unsuccessful endeavors to upper-cut Beatb, who scored with his left in the second and third rounds, but did not connect as cleanly as the winner. EXHIBITION BOUT. W. H. Leckie (9.0£) v. J. Leckie (8.13) Johnny Leekie’s opponent in the toather-weight class failed to put in an appearance, the well known pro. Hector Leckie filling the _ breach by taking part in an exhibition bout of four two-minute rounds. A clever display of boxing was given by tho two men. Johnny Lcckio allowed that he ii in rare fettle.