LIVELY BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 25745, 19 March 1946, Page 3

LIVELY BOXING

MIDDLE-WEIGHTS IN ACTION ENWRIGHT TOO FAST FOR ROBERTSON When Henry ißobertson, the Auckland middle-weight, hit the canvas last night for a count of five in round 11, after he had been slammed with a hefty right to the head by Bill Enwright, of Invercargill, the crowd of over 3,000 in the Town Hall expected the knock-out that Enwright had been striving for from the sixth round. It said a lot for Robertson’s physical condition that he even managed to fight back and last the full distance of 12 rounds, lie was a different boxer from the one who fought and won his previous fight here a fortnight ago, but although he turned on a virile, aggressive performance, he was overshadowed by Enwright, whose display was notable for the power and speed of his punches. It was an interesting and clever contest, and Enwright, making his first professional appearance in Dunedin, impressed with his aggressive leading, his ringcraft, and a devastating right swing, which Robertson also employed, but did not time so well. The Auckland boxer absorbed a lot of punishment, and was beaten in at least nine of the rounds.

From the ‘beginning of proceedings it was apparent that the battle was going to be on a willing scale. The taller Invercargill boxer, who has won three of his four professional contests, two of them by a technical knock-out, stood over Robertson from the beginning, but was disconcerted by his opponent’s crouch. Several uppercuts with the right glove fanned the air, and when he missed with either glove Robertson was very alert and moved in fast and usually found an opening. Enwright won four of the first five rounds, the fourth ending with honours easy. The sixth and seventh rounds were also indecisive, but from that stage Enwright was clearly on top. Robertson also had ideas about a quick ending to the fight, but his work was not as finished as the punching of Enwright, who scored, many points with flashing lefts and rights to the head in the eighth and ninth rounds. Robertson did not take this punishment lying down, but leapt into action immediately and _ attempted to find a target with his right swing. He did not time these dangerous punches as well as Enwright throughout the contest, slugging them in from too far out. The tempo quickened in the tenth round, and Robertson was badly rattled with a battery of withering blows (hat forced him into one of many clinches that punctuated" the bout. IRobertson countered Enwright’s straight left _to the head with several battering rights at the Beginning of the critical eleventh round, during which- referee V. Parker warned the Invercargill boxer for not promptly breaking from a close exchange. The right to the face that had floored IRobertson 'Nad been followed with a smashing left to the side of the jaw. There was a tense moment as Robertson pluckily fought back and showed what a tough specimen he is. Enwright desperately tried to administer the coup de grace, but two vicious left uppercuts were wide of the mark. He then resorted to his left and right punches to the face and chased Robertson into a corner, ifiut the Aucklander came out of an ordeal still standing, and it appeared nothing short of a poleaxe would drop him. Probably lie realised that the chance of attempting to finish off Enwright himself was as remote as a win on points, but the fact remained that he was on the defensive in the final round and was quite content to last the distance by coming in close to the Invercargill man and literally hanging on. Both boxers were accorded a vociferous reception by the crowd for a lively, punch-packed contest. Enwright weighed in at 10.11 § and Robertson at 11.1. INTERESTING PRELIMINARIES. There were six good preliminaries, lasting an hour before the major contest. The referees were Messrs R. Fulcher and S. Paris, and the judges were Messrs A. G. Edwards and R. Bagrie. The judges of the professional contest were Messrs R. M. Morris and C. E. Brown. K. Anderson (7.3) defeated D. C. Hunter (7.31) on points. These lads were in the “ midget ” class, but their size did not match their spirit, and they turned on quite a fast exhibition, and came in for a round of applause. Anderson was the more experienced. K. McCoombe (9.11) defeated V. J McKay (9.9) on points after three rounds notable for the amount, of punches to the head by both amateurs. McCoombe, who has a useful left, did more of tlie leading.

R. Moreland (10.0) outpointed J. Ramsay (9.7). Moreland was too strong for Ramsay, punching harder and more efficiently.

I. A. Diekison (10.2) outpointed R. AlcDonald, of Mat aura (10.5). In the second and third rounds Diekison outclassed the Southland boxer, standing well out and slugging McDonald with both hands. Diekison is an improved welter-weight. J. Anderson (10.5) defeated L. AlcPhee, of Oamaru (10.4 J )| by a close margin. AlcPhee swung his punches, and Anderson (who probably was awarded the decision because his hitting was more orthodox), was engaged in some lively exchanges. This was a fast and lively contest, i I. Cruickshanks, of Auckland (11.2), defeated J.* AI. Foreman (11.1) by a technical knock-out in the last round. Cruickshanks piled up a lot of points with some very severe punching in the second round. A lovely right cross shook Foreman in the last round, and a succession of left, hooks had him floundering. Cruickshanks is a hard puncher. K. Skinner (13.10) defeated T. Pethybridge, Merchant Navy (12.6), by a technical knock-out in the first round. Skinner hit very hard, and appeared to be anxious to end proceedings quickly. Pethybridge was distressed when he went to his corner, and it was subsequently announced he had sustained a facial injury—possibly a broken nose.