KEEN 14 BOUTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22622, 27 April 1948, Page 3

KEEN 14 BOUTS

UP TO SIX ROUNDS ALL-AMATEUR LIST VISITORS' SUCCESSES Meriting- much lietter support than was indicated by the partly filled Opera House last evening, 14 contests provided some two and a half hours of spirited action in the all-amateur tournament conducted by the Gisborne Boxing Association. Leading exponents from __ the Gisborne, Tc Karnka, Wairoa, Napier and Hastings districts contended _ the honours, the ■ visitors taking a liberal proportion. Hastings boxers gained the verdict in three of five limits contested with Gisborne representatives, while the only two from Wairoa were successful 'against Gisborne and Te Karaka opponents respectively. Napiers sole representative lost on a technical knock-out to a Gisborne opponent. This was the only bout in which the full number of rounds announced was not completed- One bout ended in a

draw. The divisions ranged from paper to middle-weight and in almost _ all cases the pairs were well matched. The spirit, of sportsmanship was evident, in every bout and many of the boxers gave indications of thorough training and appreciation of the principles of forceful attack and ofiicient defence ,\ popular receotion was accorded Sir Patrick Duff. Ilieh Commissioner for the United Kingdom, who was in atlend an co with the Mayor, Mr. N. IT. Hall, and was formally introduced by (he announcer, Mr. G. J. Jetine. The referee throughout was Mr. Artie Tleeney, Messrs. W. L. G. Mason and V. Davy were judges of the first eight encounters and Messrs. H- KSwan and J. Ilccncy officiated during the remainder. . Appreciated selections were given by the Gisborne City Band under the baton of Mr. W. T. Light on. In the following detai's the contestants are Gisborne district representatives except where otherwise indicated . „ „ I). Neal, 7.10. heat X Clough, 8.2. on points over three one-and -a-half minute rounds. Clough had the advantage m height and reach, but was not as sraeedv as the lighter boy, Both woic willing to fight, but the decision went to Neal for better use of the left lead. T. Grogan, 5.8, heat .1. Egan, fi.O, on points over three one-and-a-half-mmute rounds. This lively pair provided plenty of action with Grogan ns the more' aggressive earning a slight margin, ft. Ke.-lan, 11.9, heal B. Evans, 11.0, on points over three one-and-a-ha!t minute rounds. Evans scored with both hands to the face in the opening minute, but Kcelan used weight and height to advantage in rugged counters and inflicted punishment with a swinging right. Evans was game and also connected often in a willing last round but had to cede the verdict. J. Penny, 10.85, beat B.Garlick, 10.10, on points over three two minute rounds. Penny’s 'eft lead to the iiead took the early points. The shorter boy, Garlick weaved under the attacks and made occasional counters to the body. Penny’s right to the jaw was also a punishing agent in the concluding phases and his pace ensured a clear verdict. B. Aitken, (Wairoa), G. 9, beat M. Bell, G. 7, on points over three one-and-a-hnlf-minute rounds. Bell made the fight mainly in the first two rounds and used straight punches, the Wairoa boy, from an open stance, being inclined to over-arm action. Aitken also had a tendency to use an open glove, but took a narrow decision for aggression in the last round. B. Weeks, (Hastings), 10.15, heat f. Kerr, 10.55, on points over three twominute rounds. Kerr’s right to the face was notable in the first round. Though he found evasion difficult, Weeks fought back gamely in the second session which was very spirited. Weeks used his left effectively in the concluding two minutes and received the decision by a small margin. 11. Underdown, 10.15, heat B. Duckworth (Napier), 10.10, on a technical knock-out in the first round. Scent ingly the more experienced boxer, Underdown showed better style and was on top with telling left leads in the first minute Duckworth retaliated with his right, but was distressed with a painful wrist before two minutes had gone and the referee awarded the decision to Underdown. The bout had been announced as of three two-minute rounds.

B. Buckingham, 10.9, beat D. Hollis, 10.0, on points over three two minute rounds. After a tame opening session Hollis attacked with both hands alternately to the head and body in ihe second. Buckingham countered willingly and got ahead with his right despite a number of hay-makers. He was consistently aggressive in the last round and took the points. F. Phelps, (>.O. and ,T. Leahy, 5.11. boxed a draw over three one and-a-half-minute rounds. Two rounds of wary sparing left nothing to choose. Following friendly advice from the referee, Leahy was aggressive in Ihe last session, but again the action was practically even T. Theodore (Wairoa), 10.2 J, beat L. Greatbaek (Te Karaka), 10.2, over three two-minute rounds. Theodore nad an advantage in height and seemed also in better condition. He held the initiative mainly, and used his left effectively though Greatbaek fought furiously with both hands. The last round was fast with Greatbaek making a dogged resistance, but with no chance of securing the verdict. T. Mclntyre, 8.31, beat R. Weeks (Hastings), 8.3, on points over three two-minute rounds. Mclntyre was the stronger fighter and caused trouble with his left lead to the body followed by the right to the face in the opening round. He occasionally reversed the placings and also had to accept some telling straight lefts from the Hastings boy. The latter took a hard right lo the jaw and remained on one knee for the concluding six seconds of the second round. Weeks was full of fight at the start of the last round, but could not keep the pace and Mclntyre’s margin of points was pronounced. B. O'Shaughncssy (Hastings), B.llf, beat B. Kay, 8.1, on points over three two-minute rounds Kay forced the pace at the outset and the Hastings boy repeatedly went into a close smother, but got back with an occasional right. O'Shaughnossy started the o(Tensive in the second round, but its concluding minute found Kay again in command. The pair traded blow for blow in hectic exchanges of the third round whicn concluded amid applause and a considerable portion of the gallery expressed disapproval of Hie verdict. P. Graham, 9.11 J, beat B. Butler (Hastings), 19.0, on points over four two-minute rounds. Butler left himself open and had to take Graham's de liveries with both hands fo the head in the first round, but countered with his right to the mid riff and did not seem distressed. Butler’s left went to Ihe face several times in the second round though Graham also scored and gained points for guarding. Two-handed barrages by both marked the third session with Graham's left gaining a slight advantage. Butler fought well in the remaining session, but could not equal Graham’s speed and boxing skill and the verdict was popular. Jack West ha 11 (Hastings). 9.1 i beat Bill Lc Prou, 9.3 t, on points over six two-minute rounds. Westhall’s left to the body and Le Prou’s retaliation with the corresponding hand to the lace were most notable in the quiet opening round. The tempo increased in the second in which, though the blows appeared to lack sting, Westhall frequently snaked his left to the head and body. Le Prou was more aggressive in the third round and sent in solid deliveries to the body, but accepted punishment tn doing so. The round ended in a number of clinches. The next round was slower with Westhall connecting the more often. Le Prou made up ground with a swift left hand attack in the fifth though he again had trouble in guard in? The counters to bis head. Westhail's left to the face was the dominating factor in the decisive sixth round and though Le Prou also scored he could not get the verdict.