BOXING CHAMPIONS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 July 1928, Page 8

BOXING CHAMPIONS

TARANAKI’S TITLE-HOLDERS. TOURNEY CONCLUDED. FAST, WILLING DISPLAYS. Til© final .Pouts of the Taranaki amateur ■boxing ciiamipioiislLips provided keen sport lor a big attendance ol patrons at the Strattord Towu Hall ou Saturday ■evening, fast open exchanges marking the majority or the contests with but little to choose between the willing contenders. Seven competition bouts and an exhibition bout made up an interesting programme, the star feature of which was the meeting in the flyweight final of the Hawera boy “Mick” Spavin, wlio far the past two years has been the paperweight champion, and D. Roebuck of New Plymouth, a clever brother of the Dominion flyweight champion, N. Roebuck. ■The pace kept by the youthful pair evoked continuous applause from the spectators, but while each was popular tiie decision was earned by the tiawcra boy by his forceful display throughout, 'llhe trophy for the best losing fight of the tourney was awarded Roebuck for his exhibition in this bout. The tournament committee again combined well with the secretary of the Stratford Sports: .and Pastimes Club, •Mr AV. A. Brown, in the administrative work. Principal among the officials were Mr AV. It. Foley, as referee, and Messrs A. Nelson and O. Roebuck, as judges, Mr Roebuck’s position being taken by M. P. Ritchie during the bouts in which the Roebuck boys were engaged. In thanking the public for its generous patronage, the president of the club, Mr R, Masters, suggested that with a view to sustaining interest in the sport a series of tourneys should be arranged at intervals taking place in succession in the various centres of the province. As the result of the tourney the provincial title holders are now as follow : Flyweight.—“ Mick” Spavin (Hawera. Bantamweight.—N. Roebtick (New Plymouth).) . featherweight.—T. Donovan (AA aitara). „ ~V T . Lightweight.—T. Donovan (AVaitara).) _ , . ~T T . AVelterweight. —L. Dombroski (Waitara). „ , . Tight heavyweight. —A. troodwin (Oakura). , Heavyweight.—l/. O’Keefe (Mid- ! 11 list). In .addition to the competition Shuts ail exhibition three rounds were sparred by I?,. Hayward ('Hawera), 8.10 and TV Childs (Stratford), 8.1. FLYWEIGHT FINAL. “Mick” Spavin Beat D. Roebuck. Taking the aggressive at the outset of the iiyweight final “Mick” Spavin (Hawera), 7.10 bored into the clever New Plymouth, boy, D. Roebuck, 7.8, and scored with forceful lefts and rights to the head. In comparison the attack of the northern boy lacked sting and he was frequently compelled to seek refuge in a complete smother. The round was decidedly in Spavin’s favour. Roebuck took further punishment gamely in the second session and made use of liis left in reply, but the Hawera boy scored two to one and increased his lead on points. The third two minutes were the most willing of the bout and Roebuck gave his best, but was tiring before the Hawera boy’s sustained attack when the gong sounded and the verdict went t-o Spavin. The ovation given the pair marked them as the most popular contestants of the evening.

BANTAMWEIGHT FINAL. N. Rloebuck B©at S.. Niehol. Rapid action marked the meeting of N. Roebuck (New Plymouth), 8.1, and S. Nidiol (Eltliam), 8.2, for the bantam title. Roebuck was responsible for the majority of the leads in the first round but found the Eltliam boy very elusive. The second round found Roebuck ripping his right to the body, but the left was almost invariably taken on Niehol s glove. Occasional flashes with the left swinging upward by Niehol were accorded applause from the gallery, but the final few second saw him penned in flie corner before a hurricane attack. Roebuck continued as the aggressor m the last round and received an mimistakeab'e verdict though Niehol’s plucky showing was recognised by further applause. FEATHERWEIGHT FINA L. T. Donovan Beat G. Coombe. T. Donovan (Wiaitapa), 9.U, and G. Coombe (T'angarakau), 8.11, showed in some very smart exchanges m the opening of the featherweignt final though the margin on points went to Donovan. Frequent clinches marked the second round, in which Coombe received the greater share or punishment. His continuous grin despite tire lepeated lefts hashed home by Donovan made Coombe popular with the gallery, but lie was unable to keep the pace of his vigorous opponent and in the third round the verdict went to Donovan on a technical knock-out. LIG HTWEIGHTS FINAL. T. Donovan beat A. Duggan

In Donovan’s second appearance of the evening lie was ceding the advantage in weight and reach to A. Duggan (Normanby), 9.12, in the lightweight anal. The leather's leaps from a low crouch let him in with tlie left to Duggan’s face which was soon streaming blood as some former scars were opened. In moving in to the attack, however, Donovan was punished by Duggan's left and the round concluded on even terms. The taller hoy’s leading was nullified in the second roun 1 when j Donovan got under the attack and kept action at close quarters where lie was able to score freely. The round went his way. Duggan was forcing the fight in the third round, but \Cass jarred with a nasty left which sent him io the mat though without serious- ef-t'eot-s. D'uring -the infighting •w’hieh followed the scorer was Donovan. He was a constantly moving target in the last round when Duggan kept him at a 1 distance and countered with telling effect. Better footwork and infighting earned Donovan the decision. WELTER WEI GHT SEMI-FIN A L. , 1,. Laurent beats E. W. Albnden. A suermsioH- of clinches fallowed the brief exchange of close-range" b!ow> which marked the opening of the welter semi-final between 1/. Laurent (Haweira) 10.8, and E. W. Allemlen (.Mahoe) 10.9. Laurent, swung with his night repeatedly, hut was made to miss badly and the Mahoe boy retaliated with the conventional left. The round finished with honours vealsy. Though steadied by a succession of iahs from Aillende-n when tlie second round commenced, Laurent came in to score in lead's to the head, with both hands and had his man groggy. The third found Laurent forcing the fight till A Hen den frts&hened and. took the honours of the round in

the fast exchange which concluded it. The last round was contested at a willing pace, during which a. slight margin had to he credited to Laurent for the way lie carried the fight to his opponent The verdict in his favour met a popu'air opinion.

WELTER WEI G 1 IT FINAL. - Droniboski beat Laurent. Drombroski and Laurent were cautious j.n the opening round of the welterweight final. A vicious right uppercut went in repeatedly from Laurent, hut failed to connect. Dombroski sought without success to use liis left, and few point-gaining hits were registered during the first two; rounds, which endi?d on even terms. The third round was lively. Dombroski going in swiftly and connecting with .several lefts till I.a.urent’s right swing steadied the attack. The concluding: moment of the round gave points to Laurent, but Dombroski. still had a little in liis: favour. Going strongly, Laurent penned Dombroski on the defensive during (the greater part of the final round, and seemed to merit the verdict, but the official tally of points went against him. The declaration of the award in Dombroskie’s favour provoked a hostile demonstration by a strong section of the spectators. MI DD LEAVETG HT FIN AL. L. Dombroski beat F. Griffen. The superior weight and height of E. Griffen (Ha worn), 11.4, told on L. Doinbioski (Waitaira), 10.2, in the opening exchanges .of the middleweight final. Griffen’s swift left twice staggered his opponent, and the Hawera man’s night was also used to effect, Dombroski -being kept mainly on the defensive. In the second session Dombroskii got .in a few telling lefts, but had to cede the margin of points. Dombroski made a fine bid to- recover from his losing position when, in the third round, he walked into Griffen, whose earlier dash was lacking. Dombroski took the honours ■■'■f the round. In the final round. Dombroski was a .shade faster and also was surer in gaiurding. The decision in Dombroski’s favour met with a mixed reception. HE AA 7 Y WEIGHTS. The light-heavyweight tirtle went to A. Goodwin (Oakura) by default from A r . Brosnahan (Tangarakau). L. O’Keefe (Midhiinst) won the heavyvoight title by default from P. Sexton (Tangarakau). DOMINION CHAMPION SHI PS, 1 IE PR ESENTA TIA 7 ES SELECTED. The selection committee met subsequently, and it was decided (that- if rimcls permitted the foil wing four men he selected to represent Taranaki at the New Zealand championship meeting commencing at Auckland on August \T. Tn ruder of selection they are:— T. Donovan, featherweight. N. Roebuck, flyweight. 1,. Dombroski, welterweight. A. Goodwin, light-heavyweight. Air C. Roebuck was appointed man’ger. The team includes, two New Zea'•'.nd title-holders in T. Donovan and N. Roebuck.

BARBER DEFEATS GRIFFITHS. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) DUNEDIN, July 29. Before an attendance. of about 1800, Tammy Barber (8.131) was given the decision on points in a 15-rounds bout with Tommy Griffiths (8.11-1). Barber •'inished very sit-rongly and. in the final round, put Griffiths down twice, on the first occasion for nine, while on the second occasion he was under the count ..on the ball sounded. The decision TU.NNEY MAY RETIRE. RUMOUR BUSY AVITH HIS NAME. (Australian Press Association—United Service.) NEW YORK, July 29. There are persistent rumours that Tunney intends to retire from the boxing ring and tour Europe, after which lie will marry. The woman’s name is not known.