BOXING Patrick Knocked Out For First Time In Career

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1947, Page 4

BOXING Patrick Knocked Out For First Time In Career

(Rec. 11.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Knocked but for the first time in his career in the fight with the American negro, Freddie Dawson, at Sydney Stadium last night, Vic Patrick, the Australian lightweight champion, is in hospital. His doctors report that his condition is not seriQUS. They are treating him for concussion, a badly cut left eye, and cuts about the face. Patrick was badly hurt and had to receive medical attention for five minutes before the police and seconds carried him from the ring. After consultation the doctors decided to admit him to hospital. By that time a great crowd of supporters, who came from the stadium, surged outside the hospital, and fans were still arriving by taxi, private car, and on foot. A crowd of over 14,000 saw the fight, for which each boxer will receive about £2OOO.

Some correspondents are suggesting that this will be Patrick’s last fight. Aged 27, Patrick has had 51 fights, of which he has won 42 by knockouts. Dawson said he fought the 10 rounds under the impression that the fight was a 15-round one, instead of 12. His object was to wear Patrick down and win in the last few rounds.

Patrick punches as hard as any lightweight in the States,” said Dawson. “I am told he is not as good as he was 18 months ago. I can’t comment on that, but I know the punch with which he knocked me through the ropes in the 11th round was the hardest I have been hit with.” Dawson took the first three rounds, The fourth, the fifth and the sixth favoured Patrick, the seventh went to Dawson, and the eighth was even, though Patrick’s eye was bleeding. Dawson shaded Patrick in the next two. In the eleventh round, Patrick, though tottering, broke through and knocked Dawson through the ropes for a count of six with a left io the chin. Two rights by Dawson early in the twelfth dropped Patrick. He rose at the count of eight and went down again under another right to the face.