BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 19614, 21 July 1927, Page 11

BOXING

OTAGO AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALS DECIDED The finals'of the Otago amateur hexing championship were decided in the Art Gallery last night, there being another very satisfactory attendance or the public. Though most of the bouts wore not as closely contested as was anticipated, some first-class boxing was witnessed, the showing of some of the contestants auguring well for their success at the New Zealand amatem championships at Invercargill next month. _ . c • , i . W. G. Leckio again gave a finished display in defeating A. Roavo in the leather-weight final, tho winner carrying a punch in both hands. Rowe fought very gamely, however, and took a lob of punishment. _ The winner of the light-weight championship was R. Fulcher, who has rarely boxed better tban ho is doing at present. He scored with lefts and rights from all directions, both to the head and body, and iiis footwork and clover ducking were a treat to watch. S. Hughes, the welter-weight winner, also gave a first-class exhibition of boxing, using a solid straight left and good right cross to advantage. li. Hughesjvas very lucky to get the verdict over n, M. Hix in the fly-weight championship’, and in two other classes —bantam and heavy-weight—only one competitor came forward in each of the respective divisions. Uuring tho evening three no-dccision bouts Avero staged, tho best of Avhich was that between H. Kimllcy (New Zealand amateur light-Avcight champion) and T. Hunt. Mr J. Kilmartin was the referee, and Messrs P. Rustou and V. E. Parker were tho judges.

At tho close of the tournament news of Tommy Griffith’s success over Duke Maddox at Napier was , received, and mot with a great reception. Details of the bouts, eacli being scheduled for three romuls of throe minutes, with the exception of the flyweight final, which was three rounds edch of two minutes’ duration: — FLY-WEIGHT FINAL. Though IT. Hughes (7.7) secured the verdict against E. M. Rix (7.7), there seemed little doubt that Rix should have got tho verdict, for he used both hands effectively and packed a much harder punch than his opponent. Hughes used a good left on occasions, but lie fought principally on the retreat, and did not connect as clearly as his opponent, 'Die opening round was quiet, Hughes scoring with a left to the face, which was returned in full by Rix, who got in with a left ami right to tho body. Hughes made use of his reach in the second round, and poked out a long left to tho head, also connecting with a right across to the chin. Rix bored in and favored the body, scoring at long range with both left* and right. Rix had the best of a willing exchange, connecting with a straight left and right swing, and in tho last round lie gave Hughes a torrid time, frequently penetrating the defence with straight lefts and rights, following up his advantage with a right jolt to the jaw. Hughes stalled lor the end of the round, and received a very doubtful verdict. FEATHER-WEIGHT FINAL. W. G. Lcekie (9.0) beat A. Rowe (S. 10). —This was one of tho best bouts of the evening, for, though Leckie clearly outboxed and outpunehod his oppouet, Howe showed rare pluck and took all that was coming to him without a murmur, frequently retaliating with his left. Leckic connected well with Loth hands from all directions, and on occasions unloosed a fierce uppercut, while he made Rowe miss several times. The contest opened with a tvarm offensive by Lcckie, who connected with a straight left to the face and a right hook to the jaw'. Howe made him miss once, and got home a left to tho mouth. Leckic had the better of the second round, for, though Rowe landed irsolid left to the mouth, Leckic came back vigorously with a fusillade of lefts and rights to the face and head, ami a right to the body. , Howe’s eye was opened with a left in tho hist round, in which there were one or two good exchanges, Rowe shaking Leckie with a right book to the jaw. .Leckie was not to bo denied, however, and lie sailed iu again, jolting, homo some short rights to the body. ’ Leckie got the only possible verdict, but Howe was applauded for a game display. WELTER-WEIGHT. —Scmi-fumi.— A. J. Wilkinson (10.7) was no match for S. Hughes (10.1!), the latter being too quick and clover for his opponent. Hughes scored repeatedly with his straight left to tho lace and a handy right cross, but Wilkinson’s blows were, principally taken on his oponent’s gloves. Hughes connected with some telling left hooks in the last round, and also scored with Ins left to the body, tho only possible decision going to Hughes, who won all the way. H. S. Davis, who had the bye, fought a uu-decision bout with A. TI. Brugh, whom ho had defeated the previous evening at the end of the second round. An interesting enough display resulted, though neither man conneciod very clearly. —Final.— The final between S. Hughes (IU4L and H. S. Davis (JO. S) was expected to provide a close contest, but expectations were hardly realised, for, though Davis connected heavily on occasions, Hughes was noticeably superior, giving a first-class display ol boxing and taking the honors of tho round. He led with his left from the outset, ami connected repeatedly to the face, while lie countered Davis’s loft with a bard, quick right. Davis endeavored to get to close quarters, but Hughes drove him out with a rapid loft and increased his lend in the second round with several short rights to the body. Davis’s persistence was rewarded when be got home with a left hook to the jaw, hut the advantage was only temporary, and Hughes came back with a right cross, which landed flush on Davis’s month. Davis forced matters in the last round, and landed a solid left and right to the jaw. but Hughes emerged coolly from a tight corner by good use of a straight left, which ho followed with his solid right cross, the verdict going to Hughes. LIGHT-WEIGHT FINAL.

R. Fulcher (9.8) gave a splendid display of boxing against H. W. Davis (9.13), and showed in an unmistakable manner that ho packs a hard punch in both hands. Davis was ontgcnerallcd, but he showed considerable promise against a more experienced opponent. In the first, round Fulcher connected in straight work with boll) hands to tho head, and made Davis miss a lot by smart ducking and clever fontwork, but there were some willing exchanges in the second session. Davis connected with a straight left and right swing to the head, hut his blows did not have the power behind them that Fulcher’s had, and tho latter landed a terrific right to the jaw, Davis going down lor three. He was in a bad way when he rose, but Fulcher showed a very sporting spirit in standing off and allowing his opponent to recover, though this might have proved his undoing. A hot rally opened the third round, Fulcher having the better of it, scoring with both hands to the body and a tolling left hook to the jaw. Davis landed two hard rights to the jaw, hut the only possible decision went to Fulcher, both men being applauded for a, good display. HEAVY-WEIGHT. J. W. Decide was tho only competitor to come forward in the heavyweight division, hut lie took part in a no-decision bout against 11. J. Anderson, the middle-weight champion.

Le'ckio held a big advantage in height and reach, and connected with his left and right just when he pleased. Anderson ran into a left on the jaw in the second round, and Avent doAvn, the bout not being continued. NO-DECISION BOUT. _ H. Kindley, avlio avou the amateur light-weight championship of Ngav Zealand last year, engaged in a no-decision bout with T. Hunt, a good exhibition resulting. Kindley gave a clever disB’ay, and saved Avith both hands, while unt got in Avith an occasional left and a right sAving. It Avas good faro for a no-decision contest. BANTAM-WEIGHT. W. A. Parker Avas the only entrant in this class, and was not called upon to appear. WINS FOR HAY AND GRIFFITHS. CAREY AND MADDOX BEATEN. Artie Hay-(Hastings, 10. G) defeated Harry Casey (Australia, 10.9) in a tenround contest at Napier last night. The fight Avas lifeless, Casey being the chief offender in this respect. Both had to be spoken to by the referee. Another ten-rounder—Tom Griffiths (Dunedin, 8.10) v. Duke Maddox (Hastings, 9.6) Avas in marked contrast, the former getting a A’cry popular decision. Vince Parker issued a challenge to the Avinnor of the Hay-Casey tight. TROWERN BEATS CHAMBERS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 20. At the Stadium Reg. Trowern (10.1) decisively outpointed Bill Chambers (9.RJ) in a fifteen-round bout. The Ncav Zealander dealt out heaA-y body punishment, and several Avcll-placcd lefts to the head in the seventh round rattled the Australian, almost flooring him. Excessive clinching marred the contest. Chandlers Avas the greater offender, TroAvern tired over the last four rounds, but Chambers Avas unable to avail himself of the opportunity to even matters, and the Ncav Zealander finished Avell ahead on points. DEMPSEY AND SHARKEY. TRAINING FINISHED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, July 19. Dempsey and Sharkey completed the final . day' of their training for their bout on Thursday. Reports that Dempsey had injured his arm are branded as false. Ho boxed four rounds and punched a heavy bag to-day, and also shadiiAv-boxcd. Critics are far from unanimous regarding his condition. Some observers declare that he is the old Dempsey, while others declare that he is an empty shell. Ho expresses his confidence to dispose of Sharkey in a feAV rounds.

Sharkey to-day boxed three rounds, and went through similar activities with the hag and shadow sparring. The odds are in favor of Sharkey. Following is the physical comparison of Dempsey and Sharkey respectively;— Age,' .‘32. 24: weight, 1961 b, 1901 b; height, 61t 1 tin, hit llRn; reach, both Oft 2in ; nock. 1 7iill. 17in : chest, normal, 4-fin. Alin; expanded 4(iiii, 4oiii; waist. Min, ID in : biceps, Join) l.’Lin; forearm, I .‘Din, I2in; thigh, 22,1 in. ‘22Jiu.