SHORT-LIVED BOUT

Evening Star, Issue 25768, 15 April 1946, Page 8

SHORT-LIVED BOUT

PATRICK BATTERS GALTAUX NEW ZEALANDER HOPELESSLY OUTCLASSED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 14. Vic. Patrick, light arid welter-weight professional boxing champion of Australia, made an auspicious first appearance in the New Zealand ring at j'etoiie Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon, when he made a human punching bag of Vic. Caltaux. With a fierce, two-fisted attack, he battered the Aucklander into such a state of utter helplessness that the referee, Mr L. Stewart, stopped the contest after the third round Had lasted 2min 42sec. Galtaux, who was substituting for Jim Griffin, who had developed a cold during the week, only arrived from Auckland by the train on Saturday morning. On top of this he had to sweat about 71b off his weight, as Ern. McQuillan, Patrick's manager, had previously made it plain that he would not allow his charge to enter the ring with any boxer weighing above 10.7. There was only one man in it when the pair shaped up to each other. Their weights were: Caltaux 10.7, Patrick 9,9£. The Australian, who looked a picture of physical fitness, made up for the disparity in weight by an advantage in height and Teach. Coolness personified, the Australian showed fine balance, and every time he hit there was the full power of his body behind the blow. Caltaux launched an attack at the opening gong, but Patrick met him with flicks of the right glove which he often straightened up at the last moment till there was power behind these blows. It was, however, his left hand which carried most dynamite. The perfectly-balanced Australian brought' his left over at great speed both straight and hooked. Each time they landed Caltaux winced. Caltaux tried side-stepping, but the Australian followed him so relentlessly that he had to resort to getting in close, where he again met his master. Caltaux emerged from the fray with a damaged left eyebrow. It was all Patrick in the second round. The Australian opened a fierce barrage with both hands, which took heavy toll of his opponent's stamina. Caltaux, as game as usual, scored with both hands to the head, but these blows did! not appear to have the slightest effect on the Australian. A vicious left hook put Caltaux down for a count of one, and another straight left to the head had the Aucklander dazed at the end of the round. Patrick went for a kill in the third round. Moving fast, the Australian made a human punching bag of his opponent, and had him so completely at his mercy that the referee stepped in and declared Patrick the winner to prevent further unnecessary punishment. The crowd of about 3,500 was compensated by a spirited showing made by the preceding professional contest over 10 rounds between Bobby Fuller. Australian lisht-weisht. and Alf. McMnllnn /Hurt .Valley}, which u-Piit the full distance and ended in the referee. Mr L. Stewart, giving tb<> decision to the Australian, a verdict, which met with a mixed reception.