SENSATIONAL BOUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20525, 8 April 1941, Page 8

SENSATIONAL BOUT

BOXING IN SYDNEY STRICKLAND K.O. MANAGER EXPLAINS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) SYDNEY. April l. For a moment or two there were possibilities of an ugly scene at the Rushcutters Bay Stadium last night. Maurice Strickland of New Zealand, who had been knocked out by the American, Carmen Barth, falling into the ringside seats, re-entered the ropes and rushed Barth, who retaliated. Seconds intervened, and the boxers were forced to their corners. The contest ended in 2min. 20sec. of the second round, and may have ended earlier but for the leniency of the .referee, Mr. J. Wallis. Strickland was knocked through the ropes after the first minute, and his head struck the ed<?e of the ring. As he lay entangled, the referee imposed the count but stopped at nine seconds as Strickland began to struggle to his feet Strickland backed to the western side of the ring and, as Barth connected, Strickland went through the ropes and landed in the ringside seats. Strickland appeared to be incapable of rising, and the referee, without giving the count, declared Barth the winner on a knock-out.

Strickland collapsed after being assisted to his dressing room. He was examined by the Stadium doctor and ambulance officers, and later was able to leave the stadium. His manager. Mr. J. Crowley, said that Strickland complained that he hurt his head when he went through the ropes the first time, and was dazed when he came back into the ring. Barth said in the dressing room that the punch which sent him down in the first round hurt him. and he was determined to finish Strickland if he could before he struck further trouble. Strickland Forces Fight There appeared a likelihood of the engagement ending early in favour of Strickland when Barth was floored for seven seconds in the opening round. Strickland’s upright stance made him tower over the crouching Barth. He advanced on the American. who backmoved from his outstretched left. A few light lefts landed on Barth’s face, then a heavy right cross connected and Barth was down.

Strickland pursued his opponent around the ring and drove a left to the solar plexus. Barth fought back with body blows as he stood in a corner. Another right unsteadied Barth, who crouched as Strickland’s right hit him. Strickland was scoring with quick lefts and rights, and Barth was covering against the attack at the bell.

Barth retreated from Strickland’s leads as they began the second round. He hooked a light right to the ear, and launched an attack which failed to trouble Strickland. Then the unexpected happened as Barth crowded Strickland to the ropes on the southern side. He hit the New Zealander hard on the jaw with a left hook and, as Strickland lay outside the ropes, he would have lost there and then on a knock-out had the referee completed the count. A few moments later, however, Strickland was again knocked through the ropes. “I can’t make it out at all,” Strickland said later. “I knew I had Barth’s measure in the first round when I nearly knocked him out. In the second round I ran into a fluke punch which sent me through the ropes. 1 felt my head hit something solid as I fell.”

The referee explained that he had stopped counting Strickland out at nine the first time the New Zealander tell because he thought Strickland was caught in the ropes, and decided to give him a chance to disentangle himself and get to his feet.