TARANAKI BOXERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 August 1929, Page 6

TARANAKI BOXERS.

AMATEUR. CHAMPIONS. NEW TITLE HOLDERS. The finals of the Taranaki amateur boxing <jhampionships. provided a further series <jf keen contests before a good attendance of spectators at the Ne\v Plymouth Opera House, on Saturday evening. Two of the best bouts of the evening were the finals in the welter and middleweight divisions, both of which titles went to South Taranaki exponents in the persons of A. Duggan, of Hawera, and E- Griffon, of Ina.iia, respectively. Griffen gained further distinction by also taking the St- heavy weight title and was the boxer to secure two championships. N. Childs, of Stratford, was awarded the trophy for the most scientific boxer of the tourney. The list of new champions is as follow :

Flyweight. —D. Roebuck (New Plymouth). Bantam. —N. Childs (Stratford). Feather.—A. C. Turner (Waitara).

Light.— L. Christiansen (New Plymouth). Welter. —<A. Duggan (Hawera). Middle.—E. Griffen (Inaha). Light-heavy.—E. Griffen (Inaha). Heavy.—’Stuart Byrne (New Plymouth). A willing pair of paperweights, Turner and Raltridge, both of Waitara, ■opened the evening’s programme with three fast action rounds, which roused the gallery to frequent applause. The competition bouts resulted as follow :

FLYWEIGHT

Filial. .Yl, SlifH'hy (Kltham). 6.7.1, had to code the advantage in height, weight aiicl reach to D. Boebusk (New Plymouth), 7.9, in the flyweight Anal. The former's head and footwork was clever, however, and he gave as good an he received in the first round. Sheeny also connected with light left leads in the second, but when Roebuck asserted himself he scored freely and took the points. The smaller boy was plucky but could not match Roebuck in the third round and the title went to the latter by a good margin of points, though lie had shown sportsmanship in not unduly pressing the smaller boy.

BANTAMWEIGHT. Final. N. Chikls (Stratford), 8.1, who won the bantam title by default, boxed th roe rounds with. It. Hayward (Ha.wcra), 8.10. A decision was requested and went to Cliilds. FEATHERWEIGHT. Final. Though, W. G. Coonibcs (Tanga,■rakau), 8.12, occasionally chased his opponent round the ring with a threateningly uprightecl right, the honours' in each of the three rounds of the featherweight final went to A. Turner (Wa.itara), 8.11. Frequent clinching spoiled the bout, though in the last- minute the pair swapped deliveries at Jong range. Turner, who had won each of nine previous amateur bouts, notched his tenth victory.

LT( * HTWEIG HT Semi-Finals.

W. G. Ooombes (Tangarakau), 9.12, showed 1 willingness to light L. _ Christiansen (New Plymouth), 9.111, in their opening round and rewived' plenty of support from, the gallery, though his furious swings seldom found a billet. Christiansen was the, more clever boxer and took tile honours' of the round. The second also went to the New Plymouth boy, who was the fightmaker. Coomibes was game and provided amusement during the final round, but was outboxecl and Christiansen received an unmistakeable verdict. The bye in the lightweight semi-finals was drawn by ltren r ton, 9.9, who ('ought it with A’. Mercer (Eltha.m), 9.2. tiie latter sotting up a willing pace. Final. Commencing the lightweight final at a. furious pace, Christiansen crowded Brearton, but the latter smothered up and weathered the first of the an-

nounoed four rounds of two minutes i each. Brearton gained confidence andj went, out fo make the- fight in the see-; ■and round, but was sent back by a; series, of left flicks to the fate, pmic-j tu a ted with right uppercuts from] Christiansen who, however, lacked the, force necessary for a knock-out. Points, in each of the first three rounds went to Christiansen, whose attack was supplemented with clever evasive tactics. He inflicted further punishment in the final and took an easy verdict.

WELTERWEIGHT. Semi-Finals. A. Duggan (Hawera), 10.6, who, in the first night had knocked’ his man in the first round, walked,ijito T. Smith (Tangarakau) 10.9, in the semi-final of tlie welter division. Duggan scored deliberately with both hands, and easily took the. first round points, though action was slow. Smith was dazed by i a succession of deliveries thirty seconds | after the commencement of the second i round and at the end of a minute the refere awarded the decision to Duggan. L. Dombroski (Waitara) who drew the bye in the welter semi-finals, boxed j it with W. Broisnan (Stratford), the pair providing a tame three rounds. ] Final. The final for the welter title between L. Dombroski and A. Duggan was also announced to be a lour two minute rounds. Duggan’s forceful attack andj terrific deliveries livened the opening thirty seconds, but Dombroski guarded well and evaded .serious consequences. Just before the end of the round, however, lie was caught on the balance by a right cross and went to the matwithout being troubled seriously, in the second’ Dombroski fell to another right, but sprang up as the referee counted lour. The third was fought at a vigorous pace. Both went through the ropes with Duggan on top. Dombroski was again floored, but only for three seconds. He was down lor six and again lor three in the final session and showed amazing fortitude in a last minute rally which roused his supporters' hopes, but short of a knockout. the verdict had to go to Duggan bv a, comfortable margin. .

MIDDLEWEIGHT. Final. A deceptive left lead employed by Furzi (Ti)corangi), 10.12, scored points against E. Griffon (Inailia), 11.3, in the first round of the middleweight final. Griffen’s outflying left and tricky head movement allowed him to even matters in the second round. The third showed little to' choose, except that Griffen allowed Furzi to make the fight. Gritfen lasted better in the fourth round and secured the points in the final minute. which swung ai narrow decision in his favour. *

LIG HT-HKA V Y WEIGHT Final.

E. Griffon (liiaba.), 11.3 and L. Walker (Patea), 11.6, proved a hard fLg'liting pair in t.he filial of the cruiser division. Walker, who held the Wanganui Association title, made telling use of a nasty right over-arm swing, but in quickness arid the approved use of the straight left, had to cede the honours to Griffen. The principal feature of the second round was the use of the left lead by Griffen, who repeatedly connected" without making serious effect mi his rugged, opponent. The Patea boy went all out in the final session, which proved hectic from gong to gong. Walker’s only ifnit. of offence, however, Was his right, whereas Griffen made swift use of both hands and had the measure of his man. Except for the possibility of a knock-out, the issue in Griffen’s’ favour was seldom in doubt.

HEAVYWEIGHT. The heavyweight title went to S. Byrne (New* Plymouth) by default. 1:0M INI ON CHAMPIONSHIPS. NOMINEES FROM TARANAKI. After the championship tournament on Saturday evening the selection committee consisting of Messrs. W. N. Stephenson, .T. Garcia and Dr. Church, recommended the following for nomination to the New Zealand championship meeting at Grevmouth oil August 29. 39 and 31 N. Childs (Stratford), bantam champion. E. Griffen (Inalia), middle and lightheavy champion. * D, Roebuck (New Plymouth), flyheight champion,

I A. Duggan (Hawera), welter chamJ pion. j Regret was expressed that Stuart ! Byrne, the heavyweight champion, had j not been seen in action. ! The committee of the Taranaki As- , sociation met subsequently, and it was • decided to nominate’ the four mentioned, all of whom, it is understood, arc available, but the actual number to be sent will be decided by the -association early this week. Had the tournament proved a financial -success ,n° difficulty would have been experienced in sending nil idle nominated men. but as a substantial loss will be faced over the tournament, the financial position lias to be reviewed before a final decision is made.