BOXING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 July 1924, Page 3

BOXING.

CEiNTRE CHA Al RIONSH I? CON-

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The centre championships were continued on Satin day afternoon and eoneluded on Saturday infill. There was a line' a Hernia nee- of schoolboys in the afternoon, and there was a good attendance in the evening. It has to be said that the sport* offered warranted a larger attendance of the enthusiasts. The semi-finals were got off in the afternoon, and some fine boxing was witnessed. The bouts between Lapps and Black and Charles and de Cleene werp both very goocu and caused great excitement amongst the spectators. Black showed himself a very scientific boy. and later Verc-oe showed exceptional form in disposing of the Mercer brothers. It seemed to us that Charles was a trifie lucky to get the decision over de Cleene. The light-heavy contest between Evatt and Tomsitt was also a good one, and the farmer, who is only 16. shows prominent form. The following are the details of the semifinals: — FEATHERWEIGHTS. P. Vereoe (Marlborough) 8.11 J, beat I>. Mercer (Hawera). 9.0. The former, who is a really husky boy, carries a rare punch in his rights and easily held Mercer. The latter skied the towel in the second round. T. Papps, 8.10. V (Maste rton), lost to P. Black (Wellington). This was a very good bout, and showed both boys up as good f boxers. Black dealt out heavy punishment at times, hut Papps also scored well. Earlv on Black landed several lefts to the face, which shook Papps a bit. Papps scored some good rights to the body, but lacked defence. P. Vereoe' (Marlborough), B.ILV, knocked out E. Mercer (Hawera), 9.0. The former was" too superior to his oppoinent from the jump, and landed a solid left on the mask, followed by a right swing to the iaw, which made Mercer take the count. MIDDLEWEIGHT. V. Brosnari (Hawera), 11.4, beat O’Keefe (Manawatu). This contest was of short duration. Following weightv left and rights from Brosnan, O’Keefe skied the towel. LIGHTWEIGHTS. Charles (Wellington), 9.13, heat de Cleene (Manawatu), 9.134. This was another good contest. For the first two (rounds both boys clinched rather much, but both landed solid punches. De Cleene had the more power, but landed less frequently. Charles was clever at evading his opponent’s right. In the two last rounds de Cleene stood off more and landed solidly with both hands. Charles had not the same strength, and was lucky to get the decision. LIGHT-HEAVIES. Evatt (Wellington). 11.11, beat Tomsitt (Wanganui), 11.121. The former, who is only a schoolboy, showed the greater cleverness on defence, and also hit straighter. Tomsitt was closely puzzled with his opponent’s ducking tactics, and left himself quite open for a straight left. Evatt landed on the face frequently in each, round, but Tomsitt was not- idle, and mixed it with great willingness. The bout was quite a good exhibition. FLY-WEIGHTS. Hoskins (Wanganui), 7.6 beat Willis (Hawera) 7.9-j-. In the first round Willis held a slight advantage, which he maintained in the second by means of a straight left. Hoskin made a mistake in leading so much with his .right. He was the stronger boy, and took the lead in the last two rounds, and gained the decision. AT NICHT. The bill of fare on Saturday night was very choice, and it is quite likely that Hawera will not see such highclass boxing again for a long time to. come. There was some really scientific work shown, and clinching was not conspicuous in any of the bouts; certainly the welter go between Duggan and Walden saw a. good bit in the third round, and Bay ward clinched Crowley at every opportunity. Otherwise the hoys boxed very well, and eschewed wrestling and rough house work. The go between Black and Vercoe was the event of the evening, and “fans” got a fill of hard work by both. hoys. C>in hitting and clever defence was shown, but Vereoe packs the harder punch in his right. If he was a little more certain in his work with the left lie would give his opponents more trouble. Black came inside the swings very cleverly, and used his short arm punches very ably indeed. The decision m the Hunt-Evalt bout was given by the referee, as the judges disagreed. The latter confirmed the good opinion formed by his work in the afternoon. As on the first night, the arrangements were very complete, and everything went as merrily as a marriage bell. There were no jars of any kind, and the various officials are deserving of all the commendation bestowed upon them by competitors and public alike. Messrs Dawson and Stevens, as socortarics, were the right men in the right place. Messrs Guise, Staples, Watehorn, Parris, and Foley were the judges; Messrs Foden and Russell timekeepers, Mr O’Dea announced, while Mr Earle Steiva<rt again proved himself a, thoroughly capable referee. The; following are the results : BANTAMS. R. Hayward (Hawera), 8.1, beat Nesbitt (Manawatu) 8.0. Both boys were full of ginger, but lacked precision in hitting, a good deal of effort being wasted on thin air. The last two rounds were willing, but Hayward was the huskier, and gained the decision. Final. —Hayward. 8.1, beat J. Crowley (Wellington), 7.131 J. The former carried the fight to his opponent right through, but did not manage to do much damage. Crowley was content to wait, and showed a certain amount of cleverness in defending, but did not land a really effective blow. Hayward got the decision. LIGHT-HEAVY (FINAL). W. Hunt (Manawatu), 11.9.1. beat G. Evatt (Wellington), 11.11. This was a good contest, tint. Hunt was much the stronger man. Evatt- again displayed much cleverness in evading punishment. The first two rounds we/e even, luu Hunt landed two hefty rights in the third which rattled Evatt. The fourtli round was fairly oven. Hunt got the referee’s decision, the judges disagreeing. WELTER. A. Duggan (ITawera), 10. A. lost to W. Walden (Manawatu), 10.74. This was a very stiff struggle, but Walden, who was the taller and had the longer reach, proved i ho hotter, man. Duggan adopted bis usual aggressive tactics, but was rather wild in bis hiding Walden did the better work, and sin.ok Duggan badly once or twko. The first two rounds wore even, but Walden went ahead in the last two. and ,anded left and right with effect. MIDDLE-WEIGHT (FINAL). i A’. Bros nan. 11.4. beat R. .lohan- : sen (Alastevton). 10.7 A The farmer wbe the beter man, stud dealt out a

gocd-dc.nl of punishment. Johansen seemed to thrive on the deal, and iought back with vigour. His Mows lacked the strength of his opponent’s. Bros nan landed right swings, which shook Johansen, but in the fourth round a great deal of clinching took place, neither landing a blow tiro whole round. Brosnan was mi easy winner. IJGHT-WEIG HT (F IN A L) . P. Charles, 5).13, lost to R. Beveridge (Taranaki), 9.9:!. ’ 'l’his was a good exhibition, and greatly pleased by the vimful. work put in. Charles was the cleverer in smothering, lud quite lacked the power shown by Loveridge. The latter is a good buy, uho wants some good teaching and plenty of work to develop his resources.’ •Charles held his own for the, first couple of rounds,, but Lovendge’s strength and punching powers manifested themselves towards the end, and lie finished a goon winner. Charles did not show the goed form expected after his first display. FLY-WEIGHTS (FINAL). V. Hoskins (Wanganui), T.d.C beat C. Woods (Wellington), tloskins, who had the great advantages of height and reach, proved too good for his sawn off opponent. Woods out. up a game fight, but lacked the height necessary to give, bun a chance of landing, a decent biow. Both are very promising, and have a fair idea of the game. FEATHER-WEIGHTS (FINAL). R. Black (Wellington) 8.13, beat P. Vereoe (Marlboiroiign), 8.11.1. This was the liont of the evening, and was the best amateur event seen in Hawera for many a day. Certainly the writer, with a fairly long experience, cannot remember seeing a better bout, and it was a good deal better than most of the professional contests staged in recent years. The following are the details of the rounds: — In the first round Vereoe landed two mighty lefts to the side of the head Black landed a right to the body. A ercoe landed a right behind the ear and missed with a left. Black landed left and right to the ribs, and Vereoe a right under the heart. A light left to .the face was blocked and a clinch followed. A solid right from Vereoe under the heart had sting in it. The round ended with a clinch. The second round opened with lefts front each. A left from Vereoe to the side of the head followed. I/eft leads from both missed, but a right from Black landed. A clinch followed. Lefts from Black went home, and a left from Black to the body was countered by A r ercoe. A right from Black landed on the side of the jaw. A right upper-cut front Vereoe missed and Black ducked a left lead. A clinch followed A right from Verr-oe to the ribs was followed by a left from Black to the face. A right swing to the ribs from A r ereoe missed, and a left from each was well blocked. A right from A'ercoe to the ribs followed. A right upper-cut from Vereoe missed and the round ended with Black rushed to the ropes. A right from A’ercoe to the side of the head opened the third round. A left from Black landed under the heart, and left leads from both were ably blocked. A right front A’ercoe to the ribs and then a clinch. A 7 eroce ducked a left lead and in-fighting followed. Th ree rights from A’ercoe found the side of the head and Black was rushed to the ropes. Rights and lefts from both boxers landed and Black ducked a wicked right. „ When the fourth round opened -Arercoe led and Black stopped. A right front both boxers found the side of the head. Black ducked a left lead from A’ercoe, and roughing on the ropes followed. A left from Black found the jaw and a right from Arercoe missed. A right from Black was countered by a left from A’ercoe. Left leads from Vereoe missed and two lefts to the face from Black followed A left lead from Vereoe missed.and Black moved inside a right. A loft lead from Black missed and Black cleverly evaded a right hook. A right and left from A r efcoe missed and the limit closed. Black being proclaimed the winner. HEAVYWEIGHTS. C. Mcßae (Wellington) 10.0 beat L. McGuire (Hawera.) 11.4. This was no sort of an exhibition, as Mcßae was too tall and strong for bis opponent. He landed with both hands when and w lie re lie pleased. Mcßae should prove a tough opponent for any aspiring heavy-weight to tackle. ■Belore the last bout Mr. O’Dea presented the winners and runners-up with gold and silver medals respectively. The derision of the judges to present Reroy Black, of Wellington, with the medal for the most scientific boxer at the championships, was enthusiastically received. Air. O’Dea, on behalf of the Hawera Boxing Association and the visiting delegates, presented the secretary of the Hawera Association with a case of pipes and a watch. He said that if there was one officer that a boxing association wanted it was a good secretary, and he felt sure .that no association could have a more faithful or better secretary than Air Fred Stevens. The committee left him most of the work, and lie was indeed worthy of their trust. Lusty cheers and the singing of “For he’s a jolly good fellow” followed. Afr. Stevens returned thanks, and concluded a few happy words by stating that he hoped to have the pleasure at some future time of nutting on a tournament which would show a larger profit. A vote of thanks was also accorded the visiting delegates and the orchestra.