RUGGED BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 22989, 21 June 1938, Page 5

RUGGED BOXING

A WELL-MATCHED PAIR POINTS DECISION TO OSBORNE Though conceding 5J)b Bert Osborne, light-weight champion of Australia, gained a points decision over Lcs. Adams (lOst), a leading New Zealand welter-weight, from Ashburton, in the professional boxing contest of 12 threeminute rounds, staged in the Town Hall last evening, after a willing bout in which clever in-lighting was predominant. Though the decision met with a mixed reception there was little doubt that the award in Osborne’s favour was fully merited. Both men were of the stocky tvpe, with Adams having the height advantage. This was more than neutralised, however, by the cleverness displayed by the Australian in the close work, where his superior quickness gained for him a great many points. Though he attempted at one stage to hold Osborne to long range exchanges, Adams failed in his purpose, and was forced to adopt the same tactics that the Australian employed, and come to close quarters. This was the factor that led to his defeat, for though he made a creditable showing in this department, he was shaded by Osborne. Adams used as his most effective-blow a punch that was neither a left hook nor a straight-out uppercut, but a combination of the two; however, he seemed unable, to connect with it with any certainty, and his straight lefts were definitely more of an asset against his speedy opponent. Osborne, on the other hand, revelled in body punches with both hands, as he snapped these through with great facility whenever the opportunity was. offering.

Adams had a most effective counter in a fast right cross, but unfortunately he was unable to gauge his distance, and even when his blows did laud they carried little sting. Osborne slightly shaded him in this department also, though he concentrated more on body work, with’ a flashing left hook and right cross. Missing was frequent with both men, however, owing to the speedy defensive weaving. One feature was the excellence of the Much of Osborne’s in-fighting was made abortive by the covering-up tactics of the rugged Ashburton man, while Osborne had the edge in the distance mills. It was a fast bout, but not a particularly spectacular one, owing to the similarity of the types of boxers, but there was no lack of willingness in mixing. In conjunction with the professional bout was the preliminary portion of the novice and open amateur tournament. As is the case, with the majority of these contests, there were some bright and willing bouts, the combatants showing a great inclination to come to close quarters and swap punches. Also, some promising talent was brought to light. Chief of these was a semi-final of the open bantam-weight division, in which Bert Buckley (7.12) was defeated by Neil Leckie (8.4) after a willing fight. This was over three 3min rounds, as compared with the three 2min rounds of the novice bouts, and was productive of a clever display of two-handed boxing on the part of Leckie that carried the day in the face of Buckley’s hit-or-miss tactics. Leckie proved too good in every department for his opponent, who seldom landed an effective punch. Buckley’s wild swinging was no match for the straight work of Leckie, who won comfortably. Mr J. Kilmartin acted as master of ceremonies, while the referee of the professional bout was Mr D. Paterson. He and Mr R. Fulcher controlled the amateurs, while the judges were Messrs S. Paris, W. Wilson, D. Morris, and S. Browne. Time-keepers were Messrs T. Long and W. D. Allen. NOVICE CLASSES. FEATHER-WEIGHT. R. Ferguson (8.13) beat T. King (8.13) on points. R. Greaves (8.9) defeated G. Smart (9.0) on a technical knock-out. —Semi-final.— R. Greaves (8.9) defeated T. Devlin (8.13) on a technical knock-out. LIGHT-WEIGHT. G. David (9.7) boat A. Latta (10.0) on points. A. Crawford (9.9) defeated T. M‘Kay (9.7) on points. G. Donaldson (9.13) beat A. Grundy (10.0) on points. i

BANTAM-WEIGHT. J. Bailey (3.6) boat CJ. Donovan (S.O), on points.

WELTER-WEIGHT. B. Miller (10.3) beat D. Anderson (10.7), on points. D. Brown (10.0) boat J. Turnbull (•]().0), on a technical knock-out. J). Foord (JO-5) boat N. Barton (10.0), on points. OBEN DIVISION. ■—Bantam-weight.— N. Leokie (8.4) beat B. Buckley (7.12), on points. PROFESSIONAL BOUT.

Osborne concentrated on working in close in the first round and scored with smart rights and lefts to the body, slightly shading Adams in this department. In the long-range exchanges there was little between the two, Osborne’s two-handed, quick punching off-setting Adams’s reach advantage, while clever weaving and footwork kept him out of trouble. In the second round Osborne displayed clever use of a short left hook, and stood Adams off neatly several times, revelling in the close. Osborne took advantage of the close again in the third to send an early Ixirrago of rights and lefts to the body. The pair swapped left hooks to tho body. The Australian did the cleaner Work, connecting heavily with a sharp, well-timed left just before the gong. Adams was not getting the range; Osborne’s guard was very sound. Adams lauded a smart heavy right to the jaw at tho opening of the fourth, while quick ducking caused Osborne to miss. Adams was flashing over a right cross repeatedly, but was unable to judge his length. Round five saw Adams trying to keep Osborne at a distance, but the shorter man bored his way in, and fought strongly to the body. Adams still appeared unable to connect with his right crosses, but several straight lolls sent Osborne back. Close work was the order in the sixth, but Osborne was working more smoothly, while Adams did not get tho same amount of body behind bis blows. Repeatedly the round was marred by holding. However, the pair were setting to with a will; there was no lack of incident, despite tho great amount of in-fighting. Osborne stood off and launched a’ series of lefts to the head and rights to the body in the seventh. Several quick uppercuts missed narrowly, then ho slipped right jabs to the body, and scored easily.- Adams was not m the same class in the close work, but persisted in trying to get in. W hen ho did, his punching was, as before, slow and uncertain. , , , , Left and right hooks to the body and head gave Osborne an early advantage in tho next round, while Adams’s left hooks lacked sting. A smart left and rio-ht to tho head by Osborne— then down below. Osborne was beginning to pile up tho points, but missed badly with right-handed uppercuts. Adams connected with a heavy right to the jaw early in the ninth, and followed it up with a series of left hooks to the body. He swung some nice lefts and rights’to the head, but Osborne retaliated with a heavy left to the head. Round ten began with fast close mills, but the defence of both men was sound Adams swung a left uppercut that shook Osborne, but missed badly with another immediately after. Osborne scored easily with a swift two-hapded attack to the body early in the second last round. He next landed ft heavy left, and Adams retaliated, but. Osborne again was to the fore with fast body work. Adams connected with rangy lefts and rights. The final round was willing, and just before the gong Osborne swung a heavy right cross that steadied Adams.

WINS FUR JOHNSON AND CALTAUX [Per United Pkess Association.) AUCKLAND, Juno 20. The Auckland Boxing Association staged two professional contests at the Town Hall to-night, and in neither case did they go the scheduled distance. The first was between Don Johnson, of Auckland, lOst 31b. and Johnny Dean, of Louden, 9st 51b. There was too great a disparity in weight, and Johnson held the upper hand throughout, being a more rugged and harder puncher than tho Englishman. The latter took a great deal of punishment on the ropes in the fifth and sixth rounds, and there were cries from several parts of tho house for the referee to stop the bout. When tho ofi'c cial in charge, however, did pull Johnson away and hold! his hand aloft, Dean came out fighting and appeared to be nob distressed. This contributed) largely to a hostile demonstration by Dean’s supporters. In the second match Vic Caltaux, of Auckland, lOst 71b, proved too rugged a fighter for Jack Davis, of Hastings, also lOst 71b. The referee intervened in the fifth round after Davis had been knocked down five times.