BOXING AT WELLINGTON

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 15

BOXING AT WELLINGTON

DOUBLE PROFESSIONAL BILL (Specially written for the ‘ Star ’ by W. G. Parris, New Zealand amateur welter-weight champion.) There was almost a capacity house at tho Town Hall on Thursday, June 17, to see tho double bill arranged by the Wellington Boxing Association. Tho evening commenced with several willing amateur preliminary contests, which put the spectators in a good humour. DUNN WINS CLOSE DECISION. The first of the professional bouts was between Henry Dunn (of Moera) 9.6 and Stan. Smith (of Wellington) 9.12. Smith forced matters from the opening gong, and whether ho .landed his blows or not did not seem to worry him very much. Perhaps that was just as well, because Dunn’s clever footwork and snappy straight punching made him appear at times as if lie were shadow-boxing. This was the order of things jfor tho first few rounds in particular. However, Smith is nothing if not persistent, and attacked constantly with hooks and swings, but often ran into beautifully-timed straight lefts. Occasionally he’cornered his elusive adversary and battered away mightily at an almost impregnable smother. Then Dunn would come back with some snappy punches, and at the end of the fourth round he looked a sure winner. Dunn had a clear lead on points, and increased it during the next two rounds, although Smith still made the pace. Dunn was cornered at the end of tho sixth, and felt two of Smith’s hard rights to the body and a jarring right uppercut to the mouth. The seventh and eighth were lively sessions, with Stan still on the aggressive and Dunn not quite so elusive as formerly—the heavier man’s incessant attack had taken tho edge off his speed. Dunn seemed to he tiring in the ninth, but Smith was as pugnacious as ever. He ran into two straight lefts, but then landed some heavy body punches. Stan, seemed almost as fit as ever, and Dunn was now tiring rapidly. When the tenth round opened Dunn stood and mixed matters to the accompaniment of much cheering, and heat his man to tho punch, but the rugged and fit Smith was only too eager to exchange punches. The battle was now to his liking. It was a good fight, and Smith’s showing over tho last four rounds was so good that many people disputed the decision in favour of Dunn. However, the decision was quite correct, and the bout a very good one ■ indeed. This _ was Dunn’s fourth contest as a professional, and he has won them all. CLEVER DISPLAY. The main bout was between Neville Mudgway (of Waihi), 10.2, and Tiger Parks (an American negro), 10.2 J. Immediately these two entered the ring I was struck by their physical contrast —Parks, tall, beautifully built, and of ebony hue, and Mudgway not so tall or well .built, and very fair-skinned. I also noticed that Parks had about two feet of black insulation tape on each hand. Mudgway commenced hostilities by scoring a straight left to the body, and then Parks attacked with powerful left rips and hooks to tho body and head, Mudgway countering with straight lefts. Parks, taking the initiative, won the round.

The negro attacked in the second, forcing Neville to the ropes, and slashed away at him, but Mudgway, weaving very cleverly indeed, made Parks miss badly. Then Parks landed several potent short rights to the head as Mudgway attacked. Parks’s round. Mudgway was very cautious in the third, and landed light lefts _to the head, making his opponent miss with left hooks, but felt two powerful left rips. This session was even. The fourth round was clearly Mudgway’s. He attacked with well-timed straight lefts, and again made Parks miss with almost uncanny weaving. There seemed to be some difficulty in breaking the pair when they were.in clinches, and I noticed the negro was claiming Mudgway’s arms cleverly. In tho next Mudgway fell short with a vicious right, but followed through with a left rip to the body. Parks fought fiercely in spasms, and then tied up his man in the clinches. He looked very innocent when warned for not breaking. Mudgway won tho fourth round with driving straight lefts. The sixth went-to Mudgway by a shade. He used his straight left well to ward off Parks’s fierce attacks. Parks was being cautioned for his claiming tactics and refusing to break in the seventh, but, fighting spasmodically, he won the round.

Round eight was quieter. Parks had slowed up somewhat, but scored with two hard lefts to the body. He also hit Neville with a short “ rabbitkiller,” and thereby roused the ire of tho crowd. Mudgway landed a hard right to the head that hurt the negro. Honours were easy in this round. Mudgway won the ninth round, which was a lively session, and brisk exchanges caused some excitement. _ Parks was giving a great exhibition of the art (and it is an art) of claiming. Ho also landed another light “ rabbit ” punch. The tenth and final session was also Mudgway’s. and, although there were several lively bursts, the negro again offended by clinching and claiming, and ho looked Very tired indeed as the last bell sounded.

Mudgway gained the decision on points. This was a battle of tactics and a clever bout. Parks has very few equals as far as clinching is concerned. Ho is a good boxer, and would be well wortli while were he to discontinue his spoiling tactics.