Professional Boxing at Westport

Grey River Argus, 13 September 1948, Page 8

Professional Boxing at Westport

There was only a fair crowd at the Theatre Royal to see the professional boxing bout between Laurie Peterson (Christchurch) and Danny O’Keefe (Wellington). In the preliminary fights the crowd enjoyed'' some good bouts. Mr T. Phibbs was referee of these bouts, and Mr W. Comerford and Mr W. Phibbs were judges. In the main fight Mr A. V. Hawes refereed, and Messrs ,W. Phibbs and J. Porter were judges. .«* The first bout was between L. Chung, 9st 131 b (Nelson) and C. Duncan, 9st 81b (Westport). Both boys were doing a lot of sparring, and Chung caught Duncan with a straight left and an upper-cut, but Duncan fought back. In the second round Duncan went in with lefts and rights flying, but Chung connected with a straight left which steadied Duncan. The last round was good, and Duncan, the fighting type, rocked Chung who went on to out-box Duncan. Duncan had enough at the finish, and Chung got the decision. T. Hawes, lOst 21b (Westport) met A. Kitto (lOst 81b (Westport) in the next bout. Both boys stood exchanging blows when Kitto stepped back and caught Hawes with a left. In the second round Hawes rushed in and connected with left and rights to Kitto’s head. The third and fourth rounds were willing. Kitto, using his weight, forced Hawes on to the ropes with an onslaught of blows, the bout ending with Kitto the winner. M. Wendekind, lOst lib (Nelson) and R. Stuart, lOst 121 b (Westport) provided a good bout, and Stuart did all the leading and made the fight, while Wendekind stood off and dropped him. Stuart came up on the count of nine, and the last round was Wendekind’s. He had Stuart groggy, but Stuart got the verdict, which had a mixed reception. J. McPhee, Bst 61b (Brunner) met K. Griffiths, Bst 61b (Westport). Griffiths doubled up after an exchange of blows, and McPhee was awarded the bout. PETERSON BEATS O'KEEFE In the professional contest, which was a one-sided affair, Laurie Peterson, list lib, met Danny O’Keefe, list. There was nothing exciting in the first round. Feterson was connecting with his right, as a southpaw, and O’Keefe was dancing about and keeping out of danger. In the second round, Peterson rocked O’Keefe with a right and left cross. The third and fourth rounds were similar to the second. In round five, both men were in the centre of the ring exchanging blow for blow. O’Keefe landed lefts and rights to Peterson’s head, and Peterson, with his right, sent O’Keefe to the ropes. It was O’Keefe’s round. The sixth round was poor, with a series of sparring and clinches. In the seventh round Peterson went right in, but O’Keefe back-moved and used his left. Peterson took the blows on his glove, and with jabs with his right, and a left cross, steadied O’Keefe. Peterson won the round. Half way through the eighth round, Peterson landed a heavy left and sent O’Keefe on to the ropes. He slipped and it looked as though the blow told. O’Keefe appeared to be tiring. The ninth round was good, and the crowd appreciated the good fighting the two men were putting up. The tenth and eleventh rounds were similar, each man connecting with straight lefts, and sparring and clinching. _ The last round brought a good fight to a finish, and both men got a good hand from the crowd, the verdict going to Peterson.