DONOVAN WINS

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 March 1930, Page 5

DONOVAN WINS

AFTER GOOD FIGHT THRILLS FOR CROWD [PEP. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, March 29. Tommy Donovan, the New Zealander defeated Pete Sarron, the American, on points in their fifteen rounds professional boxing contest at the Kilbirnie Stadium this afternoon. There were about 17,000 people present. The large crowd was pleased with the men’s display, and the decision of the referee, Mr Earl Stewart, met with general agreement, although the men were evenly matched. - There was bright sunshine for the contest, and a cool breeze was blowing. The weights were announced as follows: —Sarron 9st lib, Donovan 9st. The first round opened with a flurry of blows and Sarron slipped on to the floor. Sarron then came over with a right that sent Donovan down, but he was up in an instant. The fighting was full of incident. Both men seemed to be very eager.

In the second round, Sarron slipped

in and hooked his left to Donovan’s head. Sarron then cut loose with both hands to the body, but Donovan replied with a couple of snappy punches to Sarron’s solar plexus. In round three, Donovan sprang in, and Sarron. slipped as the New Zealander sent over a left. Donovan also slipped a moment later, when Sarron rushed in, and both men then fell to the floor. Donovan was now very confident, and whenever there was a semblance of an opening he was not afraid to go in.

During round four, Sarron repeatedly crouched, going down, nearly to the floor, seeking for an opening for an upper cut, but Donovan blocked him. In this round, Donovan was the aggressor, and he aroused his supporters by crowding Sarron on to the ropes, and tearing in to him with both hands. Sarron allowed Donovan to do the attacking. In the fifth round, Sarron appeared to be slapping on the pace, and he punished Donovan severely about the body, and the New Zealander was slowing up when the round ended. Up to date, Sarron always seemed to have had something in reserve, while Donovan was fully extended. In the sixth round, Sarron commenced to take the lead in the infighting. Donovan’s eye was bleeding profusely, but he still was fighting strongly. So far there had been no suspicion of unfair punches on the part of the American. There was little incident of note in round seven.

In the eighth round, there were frequent bouts of vigorous infighting, in which Sarron was the heavier puncher. The round, however, ended with honours even.

DONOVAN’S GAMENESS. In the ninth round there was a good deal of long range fighting, in which both men were missing frequently. In fact there was but little clean hitting throughout this round although it was fast. During round ten, Donovan roused the spectators by landing a left swing to the side of the head, and then there was great excitement during a fierce exchange of punches in Donovan’s corner, which was interrupted by the gong. In round eleven, the crowd were surprised at Donovan’s showing. They were now cheering him. Sarron, however, then came in, cutting viciously with both hands to the solar plexus, and Donovan hung on until the referee broke them. He seemed unable to cope with this attack. In round twelve, Sarron appeared to be a little anxious, and he was again putting on a sprint, but Donovan three times drove the American off with beautiful lefts to the face. Sarron landed one low punch during an exciting bout of infighting. In the thirteenth round, Donovan sent Sarron back with a straight left. Sarron missed with a vicious upper cut just before the gong went. In the fourteenth round, Donovan’s crouch was worrying Sarron, for the nuggety New Zealander presented few openings. They were now going as well as at the beginning of the contest. Donovan was now making the pace, and he followed up with a left to the body. It was vigorous going. Throughout round fifteen the crowd were on their feet, as both men tore in. It was a great finish to a strenuous contest. At the gong, Donovan was declared the winner. They carried him out of the ring shoulder high. Both men received a great ovation. A return was made to the system of the referee being sole judge of the contestants there being no official judges outside the ring, and all of the referee’s decisions were accepted by the spectators without the slightest apparent dissent.

SARRON’S HAND INJURED. WELLINGTON, March 31. Mr. Aldridge, secretary to the New, Zealand Boxing Council, has received overtures from Otago and Auckland, both offering to stage a match between Donovan and SaiTon. The former has promised to box in Dunedin. Sarron intends to have his left hand, which has been giving him trouble, ever since his contest with Leckie at Wellington, medically examined, and if the verdict is adverse, he will leave immediately on his return to the United States. If medical opinion declares the hand fit to stand boxing, Sarron will be quite willing to • meet Donovan again. Sarron does not put this forward as an excuse for his defeat on Saturday, but it is known the doctors’ order after the fight with Leckie, was that he was not to use the injured left hand again for at least three months. TARANAKI PROFIT. Profits totalling about £7OO were made by the Taranaki Boxing Association from the Sarron-Donovan fight on March 15. The receipts were £1,935 and the main expense was the purse of £440. The association expressed appreciation of the service of its secretary, and decided to vote him a bonus of £75. It was also decided to write to

the referee, Mr R. Meale, of Auckland, expressing entire satisfaction with his work in the ring during the bout. COAST SEEKS MATCH. The executive of the West Coast' Boxing Association has entered into negotiation with Donovan and Sarron for a match in Greymouth, and to-day the secretary, Mr F. W. Baillie, telegraphed to Mr G. Aldridge, secretary of the N.Z. Boxing Council, asking approval of the contest being staged, after the next meeting of the pair, 1 in either Dunedin or Auckland.

CARNERA’S LATEST WIN. NEW YORK, March 29. A. message from Denver, Colorado, states that Primo Camera, weighing 2751bs knocked out McAuliffe (207£ lbs), in the first of a scheluded ten rounds bout with a straight right to the jaw. McAuliffe made the mistake of wading in to the Italian’s blows. He fell twice for the count of eight before being knocked out. PEARCE DEFEATS MONSON. SYDNEY, March 30. After a hard-hitting bout at the Stadium, J. Pearce (lOst. 131 b) knocked out Ted Monson (list 21b) in the 12th round. A FIERCE ENCOUNTER NEW YORK, March 28. The Irish boxer, McLarnin, scaling 142 lb., took a ten rounds decision from young Jack Thompson, the San Francisco Negro, who weighed 143 lb. The Irishman, however, was forced to weather one of the most furious storms that he has ever faced in his career. The Negro unleased a terrific attack in the fifth round, splitting MeLarnin’s nose across the bridge, after which McLarnin became almost blinded, and he landed several blows close to the foul area. McLarnin recovered after this, and took the decision.