NEW CHAMPION CROWNED

Evening Star, Issue 22260, 11 February 1936, Page 11

NEW CHAMPION CROWNED

FEATHER-WEIGHT BOXING TITLE W. AITKEH OUTS RAYHER Promise of a good match for the New ' Zealand professional featherweight boxing championship between Olarrie llayner, of Blenheim, and Billy Aitken, of Wellington, was hardly fulfilled for the contest at the Town Hall last night ended disappointingly in the second of a scheduled 15-round contest, when llayner was knocked out following a solid punch to the solar plexus. llayner formerly held the title, but vacated it when he went after contests in the light-weight division, and for some time the championship has been vacant. This was the first professional match held in Dunedin for some months, but there was an attendance of about 1,000 spectators, most of whom could hardly realise that the contest was over, so suddenly and unexpectedly did it terminate. The men appeared particularly well matched, Raynor coming in at 8.131 and Aitken at 8.131. Aitken was the taller and rangier, but ho was slower than llayner to get going in the first round, the former champion forcing the fighting from the start and scoring with short rights to the head and body. Aitken took a while to get his distance, and llayner connected with an inside right to the jaw and lefts to the herd and body. Aitken missed badly with a right uppercut, .but he was "timing his punches better towards corners, and the round ended with a lively exchange, llayner slamming lefts and rights to the head. It was definitely Raynor’s round. Aitken met llayner in midring in the second round with n stinging left to the chin. The men moved to close quartets, there was a flurry of gloves, and Aitken sunk a hard loft hook to the solar plexus, Rayner appearing to move right into _ the punch. He doublet! up, claiming a foul as he rolled over on the canvas. The referee. (Mr Don Paterson) applied the full cosnt, and before a decision was given llayner was carried from the ring to undergo an examination by tho

association’s medical officer (Dr Evans). The doctor was unable to find any trace of a foul blow, and the verdict was awarded to Aitken by a knock-out in the second round, the Wellington boy thus gaining the feather-weight crown. RALPH AITKEN BEATS BUCKLEY. A professional preliminary, listed for 10 rounds, was provided by the Dunedin feather-weight, Charlie Buckley (8.13|) and Ralph Aitken (8.10|), of Wellington. Aitken, who is a cousin of the new feather-weight champion, was making his first appearance as a professional and after a fast and willing mill emerged a winner by a technical knockout in the seventh round. The bout opened at a great clip, Buckley having the better of some close fighting and getting in solid punching at long range. Aitken was a bit short with his punches, but he opened out towards the close of the round, employing a good left and right in a grandstand finish. It was Buckley’s round. There were some lively rallies in the second session, and Aitken started to score with a solid inside right with one of which he clipped Buckley on the chin. This roused Buckley and he connected with both hands in straight work to the head. Aitken wasted fewer punches than his opponent, and was going well at the end of the round, though Buckley had a shade in his favour. Aitken was beating Buckley to the punch in the third session, and connected tellingly with straight lefts and inside-right counters to the head. Buckley slipped several punches over his shoulder, and came back well, but Aitken was doing the cleaner work, and he caught Buckley on the chin as the round ended. This was Aitken’s round. The fourth round was definitely in favour of Aitken, who used both hands in good straight work. Buckley being short fairly often. The Dunedin boy rallied well in the fifth round, forcing the fighting from the gong and plying a good left. Aitken packed a wallop in his right, however, and connected with inside rights to the chin, and a left hook. Aitken was boxing very smartly at the start of the sixth, but both boys took a breather, Buckley being inclined to hold and stalling for the gong. The Wellington boy used both hands very effectively in the seventh round, and a solid inside-right to the jaw steadied Buckley. Aitken followed up very fast, and another inside-right put Buckley down for a count of eight. He was very sick when lie got up, and the referee (Mr R. Fulcher) stopped proceedings, awarding the decision to Aitken on a technical knockout. Mr R. S. Glendining was the M.C., and Messrs T. Long and S. Brown were the timekeepers.