BOXING

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1933, Page 12

BOXING

FRANKLIN v. CARRK

fPEK I’BESH ASSOCIATION.]

MASTERTON, March 10

lii a ten rounds professional feather weight boxing match to-night, J Franklin (Gisborne) 8.10 defeated E Carrig (Masterton) 8.11. The bout went'the full distance, but Franklin was clearly superior and lie punished his opponent severely.

PETERSEN v. PETTIFER

LONDON, January 27

Jack Petersen, the British champion, retained his title at Olympia last night by knocking out Jack Pettifer, of King’s Cross, in the twelfth round of one of the most dramatic fights ever seen for the heavy-weight championship. The champion must have been aching from head to heels when he finished off this thrilling contest. His left eye was bleeding freely: and, though he was well ahead on points, his father, who was seconding him, must have felt, the deepest anxiety whether he would find the strength to hold off his opponent for the full 15 rounds. Petersen had had a bad eleventh round. His strength appeared to have been spent. There was no longer any snap or danger in his blows. But in that twelfth round, while his giant opponent was bearing down upon him, he flashed a right to the jaw with a leap from the heels. All his remaining power was in that blow. Pettifer fell like a heavy sack. His knees buckled, and he crumpled to the floor. He rolled over at the call of eight, and then started awkwardly (o climb to his feet. Instinct roused him, for he was still unconscious. lie was two seconds too late. Pettifer represented London—a big ungainly giant, standing 6ft. 7?>in., discovered as a “prospect” in the kitchen of a London hotel. He weighed nearly 17st —four stones more than the man he challenged. And if he moved slowly and awkwardly, and was by far the slower thinker, he had courage and a relentless spirit which at one time seemed likely to carry him to victory.

The brains and speed of Petersen nearly finished the fight within two minutes of the opening. Petersen leapt in. tried a couple of fast hooks without success, and then drove in a lightning right to the jaw. The giant tumbled to the floor and the crowd rose and shouted, thinking it was all over.

But Pettifer was no sooner down than he was clambering to his feet again. That was the first hint we had of the amazing display of courage that he was to make. He fought back —and fought well enough to take the champion out of his stride.

In the sixth round he attacked Petersen with amazing heartiness. He had the champion puzzled and worried, and followed him round the ring with a two-handed attack which seemed to take the sting out of him. After that one never expected a knockout. Petersen contented himself with scoring points, using a fine left. And as he tired Pettifer gained strength. He was actually dominating the fight when, like a bolt from the blue, that punch shot home in the twelfth round —as fine a punch as one can recall from a tired outweighed man. in rhe whole history of boxing.

PETERSEN’S TRAINING

Petersen is trained by his father, who has unorthodox views. He does not believe in road-work. or. indeed, any intensive work during the day. but relies on actual boxing in the ring at about the same time in the evening as Petersen is due to appear at his engagements. This is followed by scientific massage, and throughout the whole period of training there is a psychological treatment on accepted lines. PETTIFER’S CLOTHES BILL. Jack Pettifer, boxer, did not appear at Westminster County Court the day following the fight, to answer a claim by Vivian Richfield, tailor, Piccadilly, for £4 10/-, balance of account for a suit of clothes. The Registrar remarked: “We could hardly expect to see him here to-day perhaps,” and made an order for payment in seven days.

PETERSEN ACCEPTS £6,000 OFFER.

LONDON, January 30

Jack Petersen, the British heavyweight champion, yesterday accepted the offer of £6.000 for three fights in South Wales. The dates have been oasy to fix. They are May 8, June 26, and August 21. The select ivu of I’clersen’s opponents. however, is ;i less simple matI er.

The champion recently disposed of one strong challenger—Jack Pettifer, who was knocked out at Olympia last week. Other prominent heavy-weights who may be offered matches with Petersen under bis contract are Jack Doyle, the haid-hitting Irishman, who is now training under Descamps in France. Walter Neusel, the German, who beat George Cook last week, Reggie IVleen. the former champion, who is anxious io “come back." and Larry Gains, the British Empire champion.

BLIND IN RING

LONDON. January :’>o

Bobby Turnbull, the Scottish featherweight. became temporarily blind during a twelve rounds contest with Peter Price. of Worcester, at the Stadium Club, London, last night. The eighth round had not long been in progress when Turnbull cried, “I can't see! I can’t see!” He turned his back on his bewildered opponent, anil his seconds, realising that something was wrong, threw in a towel. The Scot was led from the ring and given medical attention. After 20 minutes he recovered his sight. ”1 think 1 must have been hit by the Pace on my opponent's glove,” he said, in an interview. “I could see only a shadow. It was a terrible ordeal.” MATT WEEDS IN COURT. LONDON, January :to. Matt Wells, the boxing referee, appeared <ll Tower Bridge Police Court j yesterday to answer a summons for! an alleged assault on Mr Robert Guiness al the Ring. Blackfriars, on Sunday of last. week. The summons was dismissed and Mr Wells was granted I”’> 3/- costs. Complainant said that he was a pro-

fessional backer. He saw Mr Wells in a dressing-room at the Ring, and told him a decision he had given after a tight was tin arranged verdict. The Magistrate: Do you mean a dishonest verdict? —Yes. “Wells dashed at me, held my arms down to my side, and fractured my cheekbone with his head,” added Mr Guiness. “There were minor injuries to my mouth." Replying to Mr Edmond O'Connor, I for Wells, complainant said that he had been in the habit of attending the Ring on Sunday afternoons, but was not. reprimanded by the attendants for his conduct. He had a bet of a few shillings on the fight, in question, imi denied having had a bet of ,£2 to !.'I with a. man whom Mr O'Connor called into court, or striking Wells in the mouth. He did call Wells "a crooked ■ ." Complainant agreed that ho had no medical evidence as to whether his cheekbone was fractured. Wells said that he had been a boxer from Ittott to 1920, and had been lightweight champion of England. Since 1921 ho had been a licensed referee, lie had never been convicted of any I

I offence and had never in his lite [struck anyone he had not been paid to strike. Guiness called him ‘‘a crooked -—” and struck him in the mouth. He (Wells) warded off another blow and hit back.

Albert Jacobs, Bedford Row, Commercial Road, said that he won a bet with Guiness on the tight in question. Guiness paid him, and, saying he would kick Wells, made off towards (he dressing room.

The Magistrate said that he was hound to accept the evidence that Guiness, angered at losing a bet, as the indirect result of the referee’s decision, lost his head and temper and indulged in threats, which he proceeded to carry out, at least so far as striking Wells in the mouth.