THE SQUARE RING

Hawera Star, Volume L, 20 December 1930, Page 12

THE SQUARE RING

GLOVED GLADIATORS FAIRIIALL UNLUCKY To Fairhall goes the credit of milking the fight what it was, says the Wellington “Evening Post’’ m comnient upon last week’s bout, m 'winch Ted Morgan gained the decision over Tommy Fairhall, the Australian .we-lerweio-ht champion. Had v airhall stood ‘uff and waited for Morgan to come in there would have been no lio-ht, for the Wellington hoy over the <• renter part of the journey did anything hut lead. The Australian showed that he is by no means a back number and Ids' ringcraft was well up to his’ reputation. He was indeed unlucky to lose in his first start on an exceedingly doubtful decision, but Fair-j hall is a sportsman both out ot the vino- and in it, and he took the verdict i'n the right spirit. A return match between the pair should be a good bout. . . , . Confidence was written m large letters -over Fairhall as he staited oil, and in great contrast was Morgan s nervous expression, which bespoke plainly that the lad appreciated the importance (to him) of the occasion. Nor m the first three rounds did the Wellington boy have cause to feel any better, for Fairhall just walked after him and plastered him with leather. Vorv few in ‘the crowd then gave Morgan much chance of -seeing the distance out, and for the next, low rounds he was on the wrong end of most of the punishment. It has always been recognised that a ‘‘southpaw” boxer is open to a righthand punch, and by throwing his right hand whenever the opportunity was offered, and sometimes when it wasn t, Fairhall adopted correct and sound tactics. Time and again he landed with his right swing, and Morgan’s body half-way through resembled that of a lialf-boiled crayfish, so dull red had it become with the fleets of the Australian’s punches.

MORGAN OF OLYMPIC CLASS. Morgan’s efforts to reply to this attack with his well-known left were not particularly successful. Fairhall, shrewd and experienced ringster that he is, either blocked it or took the sting out of it on shoulder behind which his head nestled safely. Throughout Ins boxing career, one of the Wellington boy’s greatest assets has been his fighting heart, and it was only this that saw hint through the barrage that the Australian sent over. Certainlv there was missing from Fairhall's attack those snappy deadly straight punches which have been a feature of his previous boxing in New Zealand; but each match calls for its own methods, and Fairhall fought the only way possible against such an awkward customer as Morgan. Tiring slightly from his continued efforts at making the fight, the Australian slowed up a little about the tenth round. His swings began to lose a little or their earlier “kick” and accuracy, and although he continued to make all the fight he was not scoring so much, many of his blows going around his opponent’® back or back of the head and neck. Fie continued to plant them on the body and heart, however, and even in the last round he caught Mor-' gan there. The ’Wellington hoy stood up to the gruelling gamely, and gradually that left got going, and he began to gather in the points. it was exciting milling over the last four rounds, with Morgan now showing up well. After liis shaky start his recovery was splendid, and his condition and youth left him a fitter man at the finish than his opponent, who was all out in the last two rounds, but continued to throw blows from all angles. Morgan proved definitely that he is a boxer of the class generally expected' Olympic champions. Unfortunately he is' only a one-hand puncher, and without that great left hand he would get into a lot of trouble. It was not until late in the fight that he realised that a smart back move would leave Fairhall open to his left, and one suspects that the astute Sammy Chapman had something to do with these tactics which worked out most successfully.

TROWERN AND FAIR-HALL'. j Until last week’s bout between Morgan and Fail-ball the Wellington Boxing Association had not staged a professional contest for six months. In the meantme the “noble art” bad been temporarily eclipsed by another sport, but that the glove game still retains its popularity was shown last week. The association was rewarded with practically a capacity house, and during the progress of the bout the spectators left no doubt as to their enthusiasm. Arrangements are now under way for the meeting of the Australian welter-weight champion, Tommy Fairhall. and Reg Trowern, the popular Aucklander. It is hoped to stage the contest early in January, and with the first of the team of Americans which Mr Earl Stewart is busy engaging due about the middle of January, the local association will be kept busy in the next few months. DONOVAN AND LECKIE. For its Boxing Night tournament, the Manawatu Boxing Association has arranged an attractive programme, which has as its headliners the two featherweights, Tommy Donovan and Johnny Leckie. 'This will be the fourth meeting of the pair, and it is certain that Leckie will be all out to revenge his latest defeat. The hoys are fighting for the better part of C2OO.

ROBERTS NOT COMING. Advice has been received by the Otago Boxing Association from Mr Tom Maguire, the well-known Australian boxing trainer, that- Jack Roberts, a bard hitting light-weight, whose services were sought by the Otago Association, is not prepared to come across at the present time, as the trip might jeopardise the business position he holds. Mr Maguire states that “Bluey” Jones, the light-weight champion of Australia, (a disputed title), would ho prepared to come to the Dominion if

sufficient inducement were offering, and another good fighter whom he mentions as willing to come over is Jimmy Pearce, who is well in the boom just now. He has a decision to his credit against Wally Hancock, a former Australian welter-weight champion. NEW ZEALAND HEAVY-WEIGHT. Al.in Campbell, the New Zealand heavy-weight boxing champion, has been out of the game for many months with an injured hand, hut it is expected that he will he able to resume •operations soon after the holidays. H he is able to do so bis services should be. in demand, as there is a likelihood of Jack ’OM alloy coming across to engage in contests in the Dominion.