BOXING

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1937, Page 11

BOXING

EDDINGTON DEFEATS RAYNER

[per press association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, June 21

The Rakaia Boxing Association held another tournament last evening, in I the Town Hall. There was a large attendance. The chief attraction was a professional bout between Clarne Rayner, of Blenheim (Ost 81b) and Dug Eddington, of Timaru, (Ost 121 b.). The bout went the full 12 rounds, the decision going to Eddington after a bright and fast exhibition of boxing. Eddington carried the fight in almost every round, and Rayner was on the defensive for-a large part, of the bout. Tn ringcraft and in-fighting, Rayner had the advantage, but not sufficiently to turn the points in his favour.

BRADDOCK v. LOUIS

NEW YORK, June 20

A message from Grand Beach says James Braddock, who will defend the world heavyweight boxing championship, against a challenge from Joe Louis, ran three miles, but cancelled a final ring work-out. He attended church and shook hands with scores of admirers. He will leave for Chicago to-morrow and will be kept in seclusion until he weighs in before the bout on Tuesday.

At Kenosha Joe Louis reduced his final work-out to two rounds with a sparring partner. He shadow-boxed one round, and' punched the bag for a. few minutes. The challenger was unable to evade many rights to the jaw, but rain before the work-out made the canvas slippery and treacherous.

Louis, in an interview, said: “I am prepared for a long fight but it will be a short one if. I can make it.” A special train has been arranged for the trip to Chicago on Tuesday. The former world champion. Gene Tunney, who will witness the fight, predicted that Louis would win easily because of his youth and punchingpower. He said Braddock was game, but he had been out of the ring for two years, and even at his best he was never a great fighter. Dempsey, disagreeing with Tunney, predicted that Braddock will win. He said: I expect the champion’s ringexperience and fine condition to carry him over the rough spots. I do not consider Louis,a hard.man to beat.