BOXING TOURNAMENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 July 1923, Page 5

BOXING TOURNAMENT.

COASTERS SCORE TWO WINS.

THE FINAL RESULTS.

(Per Press Association.)

, ASHBURTON, July 26. i- The South Island Boxing Champion ?s ships concluded to-night, the result 3- being : 1. —Flyweight—it Semi-final. —J. Leckie (Dunedin x beat Ennis (Timaru). d Final. —Leckie (Dunedin) beat N , e Kiely (Greymouth). This bout wa a the best of the whole tournament, am d created great excitement. d —Bantams — Final.—T. Griffiths (Dunedin) bea e W. Weston (Timaru). d —Featherweight—e Semifinal. —R. Fulcher (Dunedin; ,£ beat N. Moulin (Ashburton). 1 Final. —Fulcher beat T. Armstrong (Christchurch). I —Lightweight— Final. —D. Pascoe (Greymouth) beat v T. Harris (Dunedin). ’ —Welters—i Semi-final. —L. McDonald (Dunedin) f beat A. Thompson (Christchurch). . Final. —AlcDonald beat J. Nelson (Greymouth). —Middleweight—- ! Final—L. O’Neill (Greymouth) beat W. AlcPhail (Ashburton). —Light-Heavy.— Final. —Swinard (Oamaru) won by . default, his opponent failing to medi- ■ cally pass. —Heavyweight— Final. —A. A. McCormick (Ashburton) beat J. G. Leckie (Invercargill). SOUTH ISLAND TEAM. ASHBURTON, July 26. The following is the team selected to represent the South Island at the New Zealand • championships - Flyweight—J. Leckie (Otago). Bantams —T. Griffihts (Otago) and AV. Weston (Canterbury),. Feathers —R. Fulcher (Otago) and 11.I 1 . Armstrong (Canterbury). Lightweights—D. Pascoe (Greymouth) and T. Harris (Otago). Welter. —L. AlcDonald (Otago) and J. Nelson (Greymouth). Middleweights —L. O’Neill (Greymouth). Light-heavyweight.— J. G. Leckie (Southland). Heavyweight. —A. AlcCormick (Canterbury). THE BOUTS DESCRIBED. .y (Special to “Star.”) ASHBURTON, July 26. In 'the final of the flyweight, Leckie led vigorously and followed up quickly. Kiely forced the fight with partial success, but he seldom escaped

equal punishment in his' opponent's counters. Both boxers led in a spirited manner, facial blows predominating, but Leckie had slightly the better of the deal. The last round was very even, but Leckie enhanced his chance of success by leading well and following up successfully. McDonald beat Nelson (10.2 g This was a splendid bout. After a lot of preliminary work, both connected with straight lefts to the jaw. in the second round McDonald plugged away solidly in the close work and Kept his opponent very busy stalling pff heavy clouts to the jaw. Nelson countered frequently with the same tactics, honours being fairly even. In the last round McDonald led slightly on points. He kept cluse into Nelson, and kept his opponent so busy defending that he was unable to become aggressive with any great success. It was the best bout of the evening. Pascoe (9.7) defeated Harris Harris waded in briskly at the stare and had the best of the opening exchanges. Pascoe, however, soon settled down and righting close in connected with some good straight lefts. In the second round there was a lot of hugging on the ropes, Pascoe occasionally breaking clear and connecting with both gloves to the head. In the final round Harris stood his ground well and endeavoured to lead, but Ins opponent worried away a/id secured tne verdict by landing some awkward hooks to the head. In the middlweight class, O'Neill did most of the leading, and sent in some solid body punches which shook McPhail. O’Neill continually put in powerful blows with both hands. McPhail showed great weakness m defence. With few exceptions, the Coaster did all the leading in the second round, and if he had followed up at any time McPhail would not have seen the distance out. O’Neill swung some heavy punches to the body m the last round. McPhail was hopelessly outclassed, neither having the physique nor ringcraft to stand up to his clever opponent. NOTES ON THE TOURNEY. (Special to “Star.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, July 26. The special writer in to-night’s “Star” has the following notes on the first night’s bouts : — In the flyweight class, Kiely and Howell put up a bout that was brimful of interest from beginning to end. Kiely has a nice style and made the best use of his superiority in reach. Howell was tenacious and was on his man all the time, but many of his blows went amiss through Kiely’s back-moving. At the end of the second round there was little to choose between the pair, what there was being in Kiely’s favour. In the final session Kiely made the pace a cracker and put the decision beyond doubt in tJio first half of the round. 1 In the welter class the bout between Nelson and Smitheram was a fast and furious battle. The Oamaru representative hit from all directions, and waded in in great style up to the end of the second round, Nelson steadily scoring points in the lulls between the storm of blows. Half-way througii the first round Nelson connected with a well-timed right swing that caused Smitheram to reel about the ring. Nelson did his best to finish him off, but met with unexpected resistance, and a Hew seconds before the end the Oamaru man turned the tables by rocking Nelson with a tremendous haymaker, then came the gong with Nelson the winner. FIRPO TO MEET DEMPSEY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, July 25. Tex Rickard announces that Dempsey and Firpo have signed an agreement, but he refuses to disclose the time and place of the bout. The sporting authorities, however, agree tint the fight will probably take place on September 3.