BOXING

Grey River Argus, 12 January 1944, Page 2

BOXING

_ . . SYDNEY, Jan. 7. Ihe American tennis, .ace, Corporal Frank Kovacs, made his boxing debut in Brisbane recently, lasting only two rounds. ; Competing in the heavy-weight-novice class of American servicemen’s tournament, he was technically knocked out by a negro, Sergeant J. E. Hammond. He took heavy punishment .until the bout was stopped. Commander Gene Tunney, former world’s heavy-weight champion was referee. He received a good reception from 5,000 United States and Australian servicemen. . Kovacs had his first boxing lesson only a short time previous to appearing in the American servicemen’s tournament. . Sapper George Muir began his boxing career at Tuatapere. in Southland, and in 1934 he won the light-heavy-weight class in the international amateur contest between New Zealand and Australia. He had a notable record in England where he defeated several of the leading professional heavy-weights, including oames Wilde, the Welsh championHe also beat the heavy-weight champion of the British Army.