BOXING.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 1 February 1924, Page 2

BOXING.

HAWKE’S BAY BOXING ASSOCIATION. LAST NIGHT’S TOURNAMENT. The Hawke’s Bay Boxing Association put on a good sporting programme at the Hastings Municipal theatre, in a series of interesting amateur contests* as well as the professional fight between Bert Brown, of Palmerston North, and .Roy Overend, of Hastings, which provided as brilliant, well-matched and exciting a pugilistic duel as one could wish to see. .and which certainly deserved a much larger house than assembled last night to witness it. When Mr. J. L. Landels announced that Brown had come on short notice to replace Maddox, the visiting boxer was loudly applauded. The arrangements were excellent and Mr. J. 1).-Donovan, who acted as referee in both the amateur and professional events, did his duty impartially. The following gentlemen acted in other official capacities: — Official seconds, Messrs. El. Hitchcock and J. A. Anderson; announcer, Mr. J. Landels; clerk of scales, Mr. A. Apperly; timekeepers, Messrs. Kessell and Garland; M.C., Mr. E. Limbrick; judges, Messrs. J. Macklow and T. Heath. THE PROFESSIONAL EVENT. Bert Brown (Palmerston North). 8.13, v. Roy Overend (Hastings), 8.12. Ten Three-minute Rounds. The Hawke’s Bay Boxing Association may fairly congratulate themselves upon the fact that in staging the contest between Brown and Overend, they presented the best fight that was ever witnessed in Hastings, and there were ringside enthusiasts present at last night’s mill that asserted the match was the best, from every point of view, that they had ever seen in New Zealand. Both lads were as keen as mustard and from the start the pace was a cracker, which the crowd thought the boys could not keep up and which must end early in a knock out or the collapse of one of the parties. The spectators were amazed, however, to see the antagonists give a vivid' and fierce display of Iboth boxing and fightr mg, clean and full of game on each side through each round to almost the end of the last, when the referee (Mr. J. D. Donovan) intervened. The intensity, of course, eased up at intervals, but it quickly flamed out again as the two gamecocks went for each other, both out for victory, and the excitement never flagged because the spectators were in constant suspense, as the punches were endowed with such potentialities that the fight might be finished at any instant, from the first, in the twinkling of an eye. So the people were constantly on the u/mpj ih a glorious condition of uncertainty. .Overend is a born fighter, capable" of taking punishment like mother’s milk and he carries in hi§ fists some very convincing arguments, but in the case under review he was unable to land his particular processes of reasoning under the exceedingly clever cover opposed to him by the Palmerston lad, who, under shelter of smothers, got close to his man and, in retiring, sent'lightning swings to the face. The visitor set to work from the start, against a tough proposition, with a trusty left and, as early as the first rbund, he sent a right to the solar plexus, followed by a left swing to the head, which made an impression. The Hastings boy got in smashing blows occasionally but. for the most part, the southerner took the attacks on an effective smother, except one. now and again, which sent some business home to the rilbs.

Nevertheless Overend kept up his encl of the stick very well and the fighx hung in the balance until the eighth round, when Brown attacked furiously and landed some heavy wallops, which, however, seemed to have no effect and the honie product retaliated in kind. Overend let go a right swing which caught the visitor on the side of the head and. in reply, Brown sent a powerful left swing to his opponent’s jaw, which sent him down, but he rose again quickly feeling very groggy and Brown followed up his advantage and was about to finish off his work when the gong saved the Hastings boy. Overend wanted all the rest he could get and he should have taken the fullest advantage of the count.

In the ninth round Brown was making for the spot he scored on in the eighth round and again and again he landed with his left on Overend’s jaw or neck whilst, to vary the proceedings, both were seeking to dispense the z dope, with, however, no success. Towards the M close Brown was swinging his left to the side of Overend’.s jaw, followed by lofts and rights to the head, when" the gong intervened. In view of the fact that Brown was making consistently for the jaw with his left one would have imagined that Overend would put up a more serviceable guard instead of allowing the visitors’ blows to get inside his defence, and the fact that he did not do so argues that he had not recovered from his experience in the eighth round. In the final encounter Brown rained lefts and rights and lot loose a disastrous left swing which sent Overend down to arise plainly shaken. Brown, who was taking no chances, waded in to complete his conquest, and Overend went down once more but. when he stood up to it ngnin, the referee stopped the fight and awarded it to Brown, amidst applause for both contestants. Brown, who came on short notice to fill a gap in the hill, caused by Maddox not being well, was also much exhausted at the conclusion of the fight, which was a gruelling bit of work from start to finish. Mr. J. D. Donovan discharged his, duties as referee both capa/hly and conscientiously.

THE AMATEUR BOUTS.

A Wilmot (Hastings) 7.13, met F. Richardson (Napier) 8.0, in five 2-min-ute riunds. Wilmot had a distinct advantage in reach and a vigorous set-to took place between him and a veritable tiger cub who fought furiously all the way. In the third and fourth rounds Richardson fought well and effectively hut’ Wilmot was declared the winner on his generalship, amidst applause and some booing. Richardson put up a plucky fight and there was not much between the pair.

V. Spooner (Hastings) 7.8, met L. Wells (Hastings) 7.12, in three twominute rounds. There was little to choose between the lads, but Spooner put up his points ip the second round and was aclaimed the winner, a decision, however, which did not find favour with a section of the audience. J. Townsend (Hastings) 8.6, v. Wai Stevens (Hastings) 8.1, four two-min-ute rounds. Townsend wept out for what he wanted from the start, making some effective whirlwind onslaughts on Stevens’ calmer methods. In the third round, Townsend nullified most of his opponent’s efforts ny smothering and he let loose some damaging swipes, full of force. The last round saw both boys at close quarters and. when the gong went, the honours were given to Townsend. H. Law ton (Hastings) 11.6 v. J. O’Keefe (Palmerston North) 11.4, 4 2-minute rounds. The Palmerston boy attacked in the first round and also dia some missing. In the second round, a heavy swing irom Lawton sent O'Keefe on to the ropes and, following u p he sent O’Keef© to the floor for nine. When he rose, O’Keefe was clinging and he was evidently beaten when the good old gong came to his rescue. In the third meeting, the visitor seemed to have pulled himself together ana, though the Maori forced the pace, lie was unable to send in the deciding factor. In the final round, Lawton caused his opponent to miss badly, but he either did not try, or was unable to push the advantage he secured in the second round. Lawton was acclaimed the winner, amid applause. W. Steevens (Hastings) 10.0 v. F. Gallien (Hastings): three two minute rounds. Stevens went in hot and strong against a game adversary and won all the willing way. Gallien stood up to his man all through. J. Walden(Palmerston N.) v. V. Parker (Timaru). three 2-minute rounds. Both waded in, and in-fighting was frequent, but? the referee kept the bout as open ag possible In the second round, the boys were both aiming at the K.O. and "there was nothing outstanding in the last, at the conclusion of which a draw was declared; which was met with loud applause and some slight dissent.