INTERPROVINCIAL BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 26087, 29 April 1947, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL BOXING

OTAGO DEFEATS WEST COAST LOOSE PUNCHING AFFECTS STANDARD* The enterprise of the Otago Boxing Association in bringing a W est Coast team , to Dunedin was rewarded last night by an attendance of about 1,500 in the Town Hall. The quality of the boxing was indifferent, and did not reach representative standard. The contests were at all times interesting, hut with the exception of one bout there was litle clean punching, timing and distance being palpably at fault. The Otago team won four of the seven contests, and the surprise of the tournament was the defeat of 1. Dickison, the Otago representative taking part in a punishing bout of four three-minute rounds (the others were of three two-minute rounds) with F. Tuck, a clever boxer, elusive and self-possessed. This match served to emphasise the value of straight punching A satisfactory aspect of the tournament was that all The contestants were fit and that the Dunedintrained amateurs were perhaps equipped with a better knowledge of ringcraft THE BOUTS. M. McGeady (6.12), West Coast, who defeated R. Hinds (6.11) , Otago, on points rather easily, demonstrated that he is a polished boxer. He led with both hands, revealing a sound straight left, and using the ring'well, MeGeadv won all three rounds. J. Porter (8.13), West Coast, defeated M. Whitfield (8113), Otago, on points. Both scored with solid right punches, but the taller West Coast representative had the edge,, on Whitfield in all the rounds, judging his distance better and showing superier ringcraft Whitfield crime in close and scored frequently with left and right jabs, but Porter piled up points with inside rights towards the end of the contest. Porter, incidentally, was the first representative of the Police Youth Club, recently formed in Westport, to fight outside that town. It is hoped to launch a similar club soon in Dunedin. R. McDonnell (8.7), Otago, defeated S. Gladstone (8.7), West Coast, on points. The winner unleashed a barrage of inside rights in the first round, and Gladstone was downed for three. The difference between the two was mainly in the strength. of their punching. McDonnell, making his first tournament appearance, won handsomely, but the loser fdught back gamely in the third round, and also scored with his right glove. Ji Morris (9.5), Otago, defeated, W. B. Eder (9.3), West Coast, on points. The third round consisted of a “ slugging ” match that met with the approval of the crowd although there was little clean or decisive punching. The decision was a close one, for Eder did most of the leading, although his judgment of distance (and consequently his punching) was at fault. R. Keen (8.9), Otago, defeated J. Findlay (8.6), West Coast, on points in a contest , characterised, more by action than scientific punching. Keen did the forcing in the first two rounds. Findlay could have used a straight-left punch to better advantage. K. Anderson (8.5), Otago, defeated B. Tuck (8.6). West Coast, by the closest of margins. Tuck stood well over Anderson for most of, the. bout, and impressed with his straight left tfnd also with body punches close in to his opponent. Anderson for the most part, however, was the cleaner puncher and had a better idea of ring craft. The hard-hitting I. Dickison (10.6) met his match in F. Tuck. (10.44), the West Coaster adop’ting the correct tactics for a smaller boxer and keeping close in to his opponent, who found Tuck an elusive target. Tuck was behind on points in the first round, but from that stage he,ripped in a series of short rights to the body, that wore down ,Didkison’s assertive style. Dickison tried to keep the West Coast boxer away so that he could bring his straight left and right hook into play, but Tuck kept leading and closing in. Dickson was in trouble from three short right jabs in the third round, and although he finished strongly Tuck was the more aggressive performer and deserved the decision. OTHER CONTESTS. The following • are the results of bouts (each of three two-minute rounds) between competitors from Dunedin gymnasiums:— , I. Mitchell (10.10) defeated P. Gourley (10.8) on points, Mitchell doing most of the leading, and his work generally being cleaner; J. Beale (9.9) defeated G. Larkins (9.11 i) on a technical knock-out in the second round, the bout being stopped after Larkins had been pushed (more than punched) to the canvas; P. MeCoombe (8.5) defeated L. J.' Keen (8.10) on a technical knock-out in the first round, Keen striking his hand after falling to the canvas; J. Anderson (10.54) defeated N. 1 Ross (10.4) on points in a vigorous, lively bout, characterised by left hooks and right crosses by Anderson, and quick retaliations by Ross with both hands, especially in the last round; B. J. Perry (10.3 i) defeated K. MeCoombe on points. This bout provided a first-class exposition of hard punching. MeCoombe was the more compact boxer, and his work was generally cleaner, but he was down for a count of eight in the, first round from a right cross, and agf-:n for nine near the end of proceedings. Perry unleashed a classic right uppercut from close in, MeCoombe b.eing badly dazed when the gong sounded; IR. Chooque (11.2) defeated G. Bowman (11.2) on points in a dull bout-, neither boxer punching effectively, timing being the main trouble. The referee for the Otago-West Coast contests was Mr V. Parker, and the judges were Messrs iR. M. Morris and S. Paris. The, other bouts were refereed by Mr Paris, and the judges were Messrs \. E. Edwards and S. Brown.