Amateur Boxing Titles Decided : Excellent Bouts

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1949, Page 8

Amateur Boxing Titles Decided : Excellent Bouts

, The West Coast Boxing . Association’s annual amateur championship tournament, which was held in the Sturge Street Hall last night .was a success. About. 600 persons packed the hall to witness the championships which were held in conjunction with the Marist School tournament, and they were treated to a satisfying blending of action and scientific boxin §- . . , While the championship bouts were the main attraction, the . “Marist Midgets” took the spotlight with sotae whirlwind, ndn-stop boxing. It was a long programme but the bouts took place on scheduled time and without delays. Exhibition Bout The programme was brought to a dose with an exhibition bout between M. Tuck, New Zealand middleweight champion, and B. Eder, of Brunner, who reached the semi-finals in the welterweight division at the last New Zealand championships. Their footwork and general glove work were an education to the younger boxers. Among the younger boys, B. Curtain, O. Stqpforth and C. Hibbs showed more than average promise. But of the lighter boys perhaps the best performance for the whole night was given by G. Findlay, whose footwork, straight punching, and persistent attacking made him a favourite with the crowd. M. Preston and 11. Phillips took part in one of the most closely contested bouts of the night, Phillips never faltering in the face of his heavier opponent’s, attacks. It was a good bout, fought at a solid pace. The Marist school championship was won by P. Conaghan who shaded K. Morgan in a disappointing bout, both boys being cautious with neither keen to mix it. Morgan opened with a flurry in the last round, but Conaghan was not perturbed. Team For N.Z. Tourney The West Coast team to take part in the New Zealand amateur championship at Wellington will be chosen from those seen in action last night. The team will be selected at a meeting of the Greymouth Boxing Association in the near future. Results were as follows: — C. Curtis 8.8 beat J. Rooney 8.2:— Rooney’s excellent body punching in close, combined with a good left hand, gave him a lead in the first round,- although Curtis ripped home two or three scoring punches to Rooney’s body. slowed up Rooney in the second round with three right crosses and then whipped down below with a left. Rooney seemed to be in trouble, but put in some Clever punching in return. Both tired in the third round, Curtis punishing:) Rooney, head and body. There not much between them, Rooney was the more scientific—in fact as clever as any of the contestants last night—but Curtis was the more dangerous punchei- and bored in all the time.

D. Bartlett 11.2 beat J. Munden 11.10 (T.K.0., first round): —Munden got in first with two solid punches, but Bartlett, much taller than Munden, retaliated smartly and with heavy punches sent his opponent down for the count of four. Munden rose gamely, but was groggy and right on the bell Bartlett sent him sprawling through the ropes with a right cross to the head. Referee Croft stepped in and raised Bartlett’s arm as the winner. - n M. Ord 11.2 drew with W. Pemberton 10.13:—In one of the best bouts, perhaps not from a scientific viewpoint, Ord was a shade lucky to come out with a draw. Pemberton took advantage of Ord’s weak defence up top, scoring frequently to the head, whereas Ord put his faith in heavy rips to the body. A better left hand, and right chops to the head, put Pemberton ahead. In the final (third) round Ord got home a right cross to Pemberton’s head and dropped him for two. Pemberton was not to be denied, however, and Ord was doing the back-pedalling at the finish. Ord frequently connected to the body. S. Gadstone 9.1 beat M. Kelly 10.0 (on points):—Gladstone’s experience and clever covering work, stood him in good stead. Early, he hunted Kelly to the ropes, scoring to head and body with a double-handed attack.’ Kelly fought back, and his punches carried some weight, but Gladstone generally was too clever. B. McGrath 10.6 beat J. Bell 9.9 (on points):—Bell did well in the first round, although some of his punches went round McGrath’s neck. McGrath stood off, a right flush to Bell’s face being a good point-scorer. McGrath was the better body puncher, and he hurt Bell in the second round. McGrath won comfortably, Bell missing badly at times and holding on.

M. Burke 10.0 beat P. McGrath 10.10 (on points):—Lean and smart, Burke had McGrath puzzled with his long reach and dancing footwork. Burke repeatedly escaped McGrath’s onslaughts, being quite an impressive winner without giving signs of a dangerous punch. P. Conaghan 9.7 (Greymouth) beat K. Morgan (Cobden) 9.7 (on points): —The final for the Marist School Championship, this was a disappointing bout. Both boys “foxed” around, scarcely half-a-dozen good clean blows being landed over the three rounds. Conaghan, by virtue of good defence work, held the advantage on points. He caught Morgan with a couple of punches to the head in thh last round, which was confined to much aimless punching -by both boxers. J. Rathbun 9.11 drew with M. Scott 10.1:—In the topweight class —Scott scored frequently with leads to the head, but Rathbun fought coolly and rallied half-way through .the bout; He finished strongly and pasted Scott’s face with lefts and rights. Other Bouts Results, of other bouts were:— R. Murphy, 3.9, drew with P. Blanchfield, 3.10. M. Rathbun, 7.9, drew with J. Guerin, 7.10. J. Morris, 4.4, beat R. Eathorn, 4.6, on points. M. Bowden, 4.8, beat K. Curtis, 4.7, on points. B. Curtain, 5.8, beat G. Mundy, 5.6, on points. . . C. Hibbs, 6.3, beat B. O’Neill, 6.8, on a T.K.O. in the third round. O. Stopford, 5.3, beat E. Eathorne, 5.3, on points. M. Preston, 7.10, beat. H. Phillips, 6.9, on points. N. McAra, 4.2, beat J. Costelloe, 4.3, on points. ... A. Mahifika, 5.7, beat A. Coutts, 5.5, on. points. B. De’Vonport, 4.7, beat J. O’Donnell, 4.8, on points. G. Findlay beat B. Bowden on points.