WITH THE MITS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12902, 1 July 1936, Page 7

WITH THE MITS

SPECTACULAR BOUT Af^QAERA - ■-.p, PLUTO TOO CRAFTY FOR WATTY ROBERTSON. —• J ■ i i :i i BATTLE GOES FULL DISTANCE. WIN FOR VISITOR ON POINTS. Ihe prospect of a spectacular bout drew a very large crowd to the Opera House last night,' when the Gisborne Boxing Association presented a professional welterweight contest bo tween Cyril Pluto (-10.61), of Western Australia,’ and Watty Robertson (10-10) of Gisborne. The bout, which was fast*’and’exciting, went the full twelve rounds. In the first two rounds, the light was very even, while Pluto had "the best of the going until the ninth round when Robertson rallied brilliantly and put up a game light until' the final gong. -

Pluto was remarkably fast and evasive and showed that he had an effective punch in both hands, his' left to the body being particularly wicked, while his in-fighting was decidedly good. Robertson, too, did good work in the in-fighting, but his most effective punch' was his left to the face, although he also .landed some heavy swings with both hands.

The decision, which went to Pluto, was well earned and received the hearty applause of the gathering. Prior to the bout, the winner was challenged by two local boxers’. Messrs. Gus Fitzmauriqo and N. Costello. In addition to the main ' libut, five preliminaries' were ! staged.

At the outset Robertson took the aggressive, scoring well with, his left, but .Pluto responded with some lightning' attacks, landing well with both hands and showing remarkable speed in his footwork. Round two saw Robertson attacking until checked by a hard right. A good deal of clinching followed, the honours in the in-fighting being about even. Robertson continued io lead with his left, hut Pluto'showed greatskill in avoiding these blows. A brisk display of in-fighting opened the third session, Robertson break ing away and getting in a good right and left and, closing in, got in some effective jabs. Pluto delivered another whirlwind attack, with Robertson holding him off with punches to the body. Pluto, however, came in close again and delivered a series of sharp blows, which seemed to worry Robertson.

Round four saw Pluto still very col and boxing in with swings to the body, Roberston responding with his left. A melee, in which blows at short range were being freely exchanged, was interrupted 'by the gong.

Robertson landed a left and r ght at tlie beginning of the fourth, but Pluto came in with one of his' ferocious attacks and connected with a couple of good uppercuts. Throughout the round, Pluto continued to attack, delivering a barrage of'jabs and uppercuts. Pluto’ carried on with his offensive in the sixth session, Robertson checking him occasionally with his'left. Pluto now seemed to make more of his in-fighting than in early rounds and rendered any “get-togethers’ dangerous for Robertson. Pluto was still looking very fit in the seventh and, although Robertson got in some good lefts and a heavy right, he did not long keep Pluto on the defensive, and for the visitor found frequent opportunities to punish the local man with a left to the body. " Robertson attacked in the eighth With' lefts to the face, but Pluto seemed made. of. iron and kept on with' his tactics of steadily wearing his opponent down. Robertson ripped in a" beautiful left knocking _ Pluto into the ropes, but he was back-in-stantly as aggressive as ever. A wild exchange, toe to toe, opened tho ninth round, Robertson gottino- in some, good blows and carrying the fight to Pluto for a fair pait of the round.

Pluto got in some effective jabs in the in-fighting early in the tenth, but Robertson 1 stopped lu'm with a fusillade of similar punches. Koberthoix seemed to gain his second wind in this round and connected with several heavy swings and straight punches to the body. Robertson again scored with a good left and right to the Head in the eleventh and kept right after I lu-b, landing some good blows, despire pluto’s frequent whirlwind attacks and left hooks. The twelfth round saw the crowd all on thbir toes, as Roberston fd'C home some hard left swings and uppercuts, but Pluto was still amazingly fast on his feet and, back-moving smartly, eluded many of Robertson’s blows and got in some good uppercuts. The decision, which went to Pluto, was well received by the crowd.

AMATEUR CONTESTS JAMES BEATS' EDWARDS Tlte initial amateur bout was a light-heavyweight" contest between N. James (11.10), and B. Edwards (ll.iO). There:was : a fairly even first round, Edwards connecting with some lefts, and 'James responding With swings, several, of which went wild. A, willing mill opened the second session, James getting the best of. it until steadied by a.straight left. il/d----wards vids ’ aggressive m the third round, but James connect fed wi th right and "left swings and forged ahead Insecure the .decision.