DOUBLE BOXING BILL

Evening Star, Issue 19919, 16 July 1928, Page 3

DOUBLE BOXING BILL

TOMMY GRIFFITHS WINS ARCHIE HUGHES'S GOOD SHOWING TEN-ROUNDER TO S. HUGHES. With two professional contests being staged by the Otago Boxing Association at Hie Drill Hall on Saturday night the 2,000 spectators present were provided with good entertainment, for both contests were evenly contested, one being so close that the decision or the referee. created a most unseemly demonstration on the part of a largo number of the spectators. Archie Hughes, the Australian boxer, making his second appearance, with Tommy Griffiths as his opponent in a fifteen-round feather-weight bout, gave a much brighter display. than in his first outing here, there being very little between the pair at the finish, though the decision went to Griffiths by a small margin. There could have been very little in it. The ten-rounder was a welter-weight contest between Steve Hughes and Fred Smitheram, the former winning a willing. and closely-contested bout. The boxing was of a fair order, Smitheram being the more aggressiye, though Hughes proved the superior boxer. . ' Mr Jack Kilmartin refereed both contests, and, despite the demonstration to which ho was subjected by an unsportsmanlike' section of the crowd, carried out his duties well. Mr F. J. Campbell (president of the Otago Boxing Association) was the announcer, and Messrs S. Brown and T. Long the timekeepers. Mr H. Divers had charge of. the secretarial arrangements. "Tt ut understood that tho takings were approximately £3OO. THE BIG CONTEST.. It was generally anticipated that the principal contest of the evening, tho feather-weight bout of fifteen rounds for a purse of £l5O between Archie Hughes (feather-weight champion of New South Wales) and Tommy Griffiths (of Dunedin) would prove a closer and more interesting bout than was tho case when Hughes w'as defeated by Johnny Leckie, and expectations were more than fulfilled. Though Griffiths secured the verdict, there was very little in it either way, tho fortunes of battle fluctuating frequently during the contest. Griffiths was in the ascendancy in . the closing stages when he clinched his win, and the fact that the Australian fell away somewhat at the finish may have been due in measure to the fact that during the week he had some trouble with his weight. With Griffiths and Hughes as boxers of somewhat similar make-up, it was but natural to expect a good display of boxing, and chough there was not the out-fighting of the kind that Leckie has made so popular, the contest was not lacking in incident, and some willing exchanges were staged, particularly round about the tenth and eleventh rounds. Hughes offended far less in respect to holding than was the case on the previous Saturday night, and, indeed, tho greater offender in this direction was Tommy Griffiths, who held on grimly round about the eleventh round when Hughes was ladling out some fairly heavy punishment. Griffiths was ahead in the straight work and connected with good lefts to tho head, while ho scored with short rights to the body and also a good right to tho chin. Hughes had him puzzled for quite a while, hut tho evasive work of both men was very clover. Griffiths exploited a left hook occasionally, though he did not have the same power behind this punch as Hughes. The Australian gave a tasto of ins real quality, and there was so little between tho men that a return contest would provide a good attraction for some association. Hughes used a better variety of punches than on the previous occasion, and in tho in-fight-mg was Griffiths’ superior, connecting to the body with both hands. As in his previous contest, his best scoring asset was a left hook, with which he shook Griffiths severely on several occasions. In fact, in tho eleventh round Griffiths finished in rather groggy state, and had Hughes continued to force matters at tho same rate in The following two rounds the result might have been different. The Australian displayed more initiative than in his opening contest, and frequently carried tho fight to his opponent. The defence of both men was good, there being little between them in this ro spcct. ’Though there was a little too much clinching, little complaint could bo found with the affair as a main attraction, and Hughes should not lack matches in view of his showings in tho two contests in which he has taken part in Dunedin.

Tommy Harris and Pat O’Connor were in Hughes’s corner, and Griffiths was attended by Archie Leckie and Bobby Fulcher. Archie Hughes weighed S.ISJ and Tommy Griffiths SHUT- Despite the slight difference in weight, it was seen that there was not much between the two men, though Hughes was a little the more rugged of the pair. it was early apparent that the contest was to be a battle of tactics, for the stylo of tho contestants had a good deal in common. In-fighting marked tho tho style of the contestans had a good dea lin common. In-fighing marked tho opening, and Hughes had slightly the better of it, connecting to the body with short punches with both hands, while ho hooked a, left to tho jaw. Ho missed with a: fight uppercut, and Griffiths jabbed several stinging lefts to tho jaw, and landed short right to the body. It was Griffiths’ round, but not by, much. , , . * There was not a great deal in the second round, but Hughes continued to have tho better of in-fighting. The Australian’s smother was effective, and at times Griffiths appeared puzzled. The local man failed to get his distance with a left, and,, boring in, Hughes planted some telling half-arm lefts and rights to the body. Griffiths drove a quick, left to the mouth, and, breaking from a clinch, dug Ins right into the Australian’s ribs. Hughes connected with a, letfc hook to the jaw, Griffiths bringing a right across to the jaw a moment later. Both men were elusive, each making tho other miss. Hughes got homo with left and right to the face,, and an even round was slightly in his favour. The men again clinched at the opening of the third round, and Hughes sent a right to the body, lifting Griffiths’s chin with a , right uppercut. Griffiths did not relish being on the defensive all the time, and poked Ins loft out, which made Hughes retreat. Griffiths jabbed a left to the mouth, and followed with a right to the jaw. He scored with a left hook to the jaw and a straight left to the face, having slightly the better of a good round. , , There was still.very little between the pair, and it was apparent that a more' interesting and equal contest than the previous week’s would ensue, though not a great deal, of damage had been done so far. The fourth session opened with a close exchange in favour of Hughes, who. connected with a left hook to the jaw, and dug both hands to the body, Griffiths planting a short right to the solar plexus. Hughes drove a straight left ’ to tho

face, and landed a short right to the body, maintaining his by hooking his Idt to the .chin. Gnttiths jabbed; a-couple of lefts to the chin, but Hughes made him miss with a right by smart ducking. ft was Hughes’s round. , , The fifth was a willing round, tint" fiths opening with a left to the mouth. Hughes planted two straight-arm leits to the ribs, and got home with a halfarm right. Ho was scoring well with a left hook to ■ the jaw, but in a hot exchange Griffiths was bringing Jus right up quickly in an endeavour to even things up. Punches were exchanged as the round closed, the honours being fairly easy, but the round went again to Hughes. Hughes had Griffiths thinking in-the sixth round, though the Dunedin man had the better of the in-fighting at the start. He jabbed a left to the mouth, but Hughes hooked a left to the body, and when Griffiths rushed in stopped him with a couple of lefts to the chin. He landed a-short right to the body, and by smart ducking made Griffiths miss. It was Hughes s roiind. , ' ~ Hughes drove a left to tho jnouUi m the seventh and the pair clinched. Hughes blocked several body blows, but Griffiths penetrated with a left to the jaw, and followed by ripping a left jab to the mouth. Hughes faded to score with short letts to fho body, Griffiths moving back and then landing a left to the body at Jong tango mid another to the chin. Hughes hooked a left to the chin, and endeavoured to follow up, but Griffiths checked him with a couple of good lefts. This was one of the best rounds,to date, and ended in favour of Griffiths. . • ~ , Griffiths was effective in straight work with bis loft in tlio next session, scoring both to head and body. Hughes was short with a straight left to the face, but connected with a left hook to the jaw, Griffiths making him miss at the close. It was Griffiths’s round, but not a very eventful session. Griffiths-was holding a good deal in the ninth round, and for a while the pair were practically wrestling each other, the referee eventually breaking them. Griffiths scored with Jolts to tho mouth and short rights to the body, and in tho in-fighting brought bis right up to the head. Ho ducked smartly, and made Hughes miss, - though Griffiths also landed a left aimlessly" over the Australian’s shoulder. Hughes drove a straight _ left to the body, but Griffiths was going well, and hooked a hard left to the jaw, tup round favouring Griffiths. Hughes showed good defence in, the tenth, and evaded Griffiths _ cleverly, stopping tho latter’s rush with a left to tho mouth. Griffiths dug some short rights to tho body, but Hughes was connecting with telling left hooks to the jaw and with short punches to the body with both hands. Honours were fairly evenly divided at in-fighting, though Griffiths was holding on fairly frequently. It was Hughes’s round. The eleventh session opened in torrid fashion, and Griffiths had to take fairly heavy punishment for a while. Hughes hooked several heavy lefts to tho jaw, which shook the Dunedin man, who held on grimly. Hughes pushed him off and hooked another left to the jaw, Griffiths jabbing a left to the mouth. Had Hughes continued to force matters be might have ended tho bout, but tho pair clinched, - and then Griffiths drove a left to the mouth. The Dunedin man connected with a right uppercut, and Hughes dug- several rights to the body, and hooked a left to"the jaw. It was Hughes’s round all the way, Griffiths being rather groggy when the gong went. Griffiths made a good recovery in the twelfth, though Hughes was carrying the fi<dit to him at- tho start, sending a left to tho body while he connected to the jaw with a left hook. Griffiths drove a couple of straight lefts to tho mouth and connected with a right swing to tho chin. Tho Australian landed several times to the jaw with left hooks, and Griffiths and ho both did too much holding. A close round was slightly in tho Australian’s favour. Tho thirteenth round found Griffiths in good fettle, and he fought strongly, two left swings to the jaw failing to stop his progress. At close range ho dug several rights to the body, and ripped somo telling left jabs to the mouth. It was Griffiths’s round. Griffiths connected cleanly in tho straight stuff with his left in the fourteenth round, and also scored by raining his right up to tho chin very quickly. Hughes hooked a left to the jaw and pounded Griffiths’s_ ribs with a right. Griffiths swung a right to tho jaw, and drove two lefts to the lace, the round ending in his favour. Tho fifteenth round was fast and willing, Griffiths, _ in particular, fighting with groat vigour. Ho was short with a left to the jaw, but was not to be stopped, and connected with right to head and body. Ho landed several stinging straight lefts to the face, and tickled Hughes’s ribs with short rights. Hughes hooked a left to the jaw twice, but Griffiths came back with a right swing to tho head. In the closing rally Griffiths had the better of a good exchange, and connected with two telling left hooks to the jaw. It was Griffiths’s round. A close decision went to Griffiths, the verdict being a popular one. Both boys were loudly cheered for their good display, which left the issue in doubt to tho finish. Tbo margin of points in favour of tho local man was a very small one.

WELTER-WEIGHT PRELIMINARY. As a forerunner to the big bout, the professional welter-weight of ten three-minute rounds between Fred Smitheram and Steve Hughes, both of Dunedin, provided the spectators with one of the most closely-contested encounters that has ever been staged in Dunedin. The pair had met once previously as amateurs over six rounds at Oamaru, where a draw resulted. Saturday’s contest proved just about ns close, and thougli.it could, not be said that the standard of boxing was a high one,, both the contestants showed a good deal of promise, and there was nothing lacking on the score of willingness. . Hughes got the verdict by a very narrow margin, but the decision caused a loud uproar, most of those present favouring a draw. Though there was so little between tho pair, Hughes probably got the decision by his superior ' boxing, his ' straight work being in advance of Hint of the other man. Smitheram was very aggressive in tho early stages, but his timing was not as good as that of Hughes, and ho did not place his punches so well, though ho dealt out fairly heavy punishment at times. Ho used a hard left and solid right swing, but Hughes’s defence was very sound, and lie took many blows on his gloves. At in-light-ing Smitheram was a good deal better than Hughes, planting some telling short rights to the body. Hughes connected with some well-timed straight lefts and also employed a right cross with effect. A return bout between this pair-, would be a splendid preliminary to one of the further feather-weight attractions tho Otago Boxing Association is staging. Smitheram entered tho ring at 10.5 i, Johnny Decide and Bobby Fulcher being in his corner; while Hughe's, who had Tommy Harris and Tommy M‘Cartap'in his corner, weighed 10.5. It was seen that the pair were well matched, but Hughes had a slight advantage in height and reach. ■The. pair wasted little time in sparring, but came together in mid-ring, Hughes landing with lefts to the jaw. Smitheram then commenced to force the fighting, and in close planted several short rights to the body, and slung a left to the face'; Smitheram was hitting harder, but w-as not placing hi.S punches as well as Hughes. A good rally ended the, session, both men missing two or three times. Honours were faii’ly easy. . ■ , - . ■ .1 | _ Smitheram began the second round rigorpusly, and got ip close, .where he

had the better of an exchange, connecting with left nnd right to the head and a short right to the body. Ho drove both loft and right to the face, but missed with a- right upper-cut, Hughes evading cleverly when Smitheram was puting in some solid punches. Hughes connected with a left to the jaw and a half-arm right to tho body, Smitheram finishing tho round with a left to the face. It was Smithcram’s round. v ’ In tho third round Smitheram had the better of in-fighting, but, though there were some willing mix-ups, both men were missing a little, Hughes failing to get his distance, while Smitheram was not placing to advantage, Hughes taking several punches as he was moving back. , Smitheram rushed Hughes to the ropes witlr'a straight left to the face, followed by a quick right; but Hughes got out of danger by good straight work, driving a couple of sweet lefts to the face. He .was connecting more cleanly than Smitheram, though ho did not pack the vicious wallop of his opponent. Hughes scored with two well-timed rights to the jaw, Smitheram sjingihg in a left from long range. It was Hughes’s round. Both men were fighting at a good clip, and, though several opportunities went a-begging, what they lacked in finesse was inado up for in willingness. Hughes scored well in the opening exchange of the fourth, poking a solid left to the jaw, though ho just, grazed Sniithefara’s face when ho brought his right across. Smitheram landed his left to tbo jaw three times in succession, but Hughes retaliated hotly by driving «. well-timed left to the chin. Smitheram was forcing the fight, and connected with his left to the jaw and a halfarm right to the body. Hughes just missed with a left, and a close round went to Smitheram. Smitheram was fighting strongly, hut Hughes was boxing coolly, .and, moving back in face of a volley of bard lefts, bo continued to poke several telling lefts to tho jaw. Hughes ducked a loft and smashed a couple of lovely lefts to tho jaw as tho fifth round closed with the points in his favour. While Smitheram was doing more of the leading and showing superiority in tho in-fighting, Hughes maintained good defence, and was connccting ( more cleanly in the straight work. Smitheram hit low accidentally in the sixth round, and was cautioned, Hughes then driving him back with n straight loft to tho face and a right cross to tho jaw. Smitheram was effective in the jn-fighting with right jolts to tho chin and short rights to the body, and some hot rallies were witnessed, the pair standing to© to toe and swapping punches for all they were worth. In these exchanges Smitheram drove both hands to the face, but Hughes showed the sounder defence, blocking wcIJ, while he hit Smitheram on the jaw with a couple of good lefts. This was a fairly even break, with Hughes slightly in the ascendancy. Smitheram fought grimly in the seventh session, landing with left and right swings to tho jaw. Hughes missed with a right upper-cut, and his opponent signalised the loft-off by driving Hughes to tho ropes with straight lefts to tho jaw, also digging several short rights to the body. Hughes jabbed a couple of lefts to the mouth nnd liooked n- Jett to -th© ja/w f but ho missed through faulty timing on several occasions, tho -round being in favour of Smitheram. Even fighting marked the eighth session, in which Smitheram had to give ground at tho outset, though he drove Hughes out with two lefts to the jaw. Smitheram, _ however, was not getting the right distance, and Hughes scored with straight lefts to tho face and a left hook to the chin. _ Ho was boxing welll at long range, bis left being very effective. Tbo round was slightly in Hughes’s favour. Both men were wary as they came up for tho ninth round, sparring for an opening. Hughes crossed a right to tho jaw, Smitheram retaliating with left and right to tho face. Smitheram slung two lefts to tho jaw, but Hughes was not slow to reply, following a left to tho jaw by bringing his right across heavily. Smitheram made him miss as tho round ended, and in close planted a short right to the body, hooking a left to the jaw. Hughes was still ahead in the straight stuff, though Smitheram was doing well at in-fighting. There was still little in.it, though this round may havo been slightly in favour of Hughes. The last round was well contested. Smitheram moving in from the start. He landed a short right to the body, but Hughes drove a left to the faca -and connected with a right upper-cut to the jaw. Hughes just grazed Smitheram’s ribs with a straight-arm right, and Smitheram got into a clinch, digging several short rights to the body. Hughes jabbed a couple of stinging.lefts to the mouth, and Smitheram smashed his left to the jaw three times in quick succession, Hughes missing with a left. It was Smitheram’s round by a slight margin.

Few would have cavilled at a draw, but tho decision in favour of Hughes was tho right one, for ho connected tho more cleanly of thepair and was a good deal more effective in the straight work. Smitheram had tlm bettor of the infighting, but bis timing was not as good as that of Hughes, though he forced the fighting more than his opponent did. It was even milling pretty nearly all the way, and the margin in favour of Hughes was a very small one.