BOXING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 September 1927, Page 3

BOXING

NAPIER ASSN.’S SUCCESS GRIFFITHS DEFEATS CARR. CARROLL AND LECKIE DRAW. Boxing enthusiasts rolled up to the Municipal Theatre. Napier, in full force last evening, when the Nanier Boxing Association staged four good bouts. Undoubtedly the association, per medium of the boxers, gave full value for the money, as all four fights were of a clean and excellent nature. The programme included two professional bouts, one of which was the matching of Tom Griffiths (Dunedin) and Jimmy Carr (Millerton), who provided one of the best fights seen in Napier for some time. The Dunedinite was given _the verdict on points, but the tussle was o good hard one. The other ten-round .ght be tween Leckie (Dunedin) and Carroll (Wanganui) was almost as good, and ended in a draw. In. the amateur bouts. Knuckev Hastings) defeated Drieberg (Napier), while Crichton (Napier) accounted for Mitchell (Te Pohue), GRIFFITHS’ POPULAR WIN. The “star’’ bout of the programme was the meeting of Tommv Griffiths (Dunedin) and Jimmy Carr (Millerton). The former turned the scales at 8.10, and not only had to concede the West Coaster 51b but a little in reach. The opening round was mainly sparring, the Dunedinite getting in a left swing which Carr replied to with several blows to the body. In the next round Griffiths landed a straight left and neatlv dodged several body blows from Carr. The pair were giving a god display, and in the next round Griffiths was the more aggressive in that he kent tapping his opponent’s face, while in the close fighting hammered awav just under the heart. Carr pre ferred the ribs for his body punishment. Griffiths, towards the close of the round had piled up a few points, as nearly every lead connected. In the fourth round the West Coaster was more aggressive, and quickly landed a few good bodv blows. Following this up. he got home with a straight left, to which the Dunedinite replied to by connecting with a right swing. In the fifth round there was nothing interesting, but the next onen ed with plenty of close work. Carr's rushes were more determined, and he occasionally broke through the defence to get in a few jabs. Two good swings also improved his position considerably. The next round saw Griffiths take “stock.” and ais defence was unimpeachable, while he frequently got home with his left. A couple of half-arm lefts were his re ply to a stinging right swine to his body.

The eighth, round opened like the first one, Griffiths being content to administer a few jabs now and then, while Carr was content to spar. The crowd veiled encouragement to Carr, who to make un an apparent leeway in points, but the Dunedinite continued his policy of keeping his opponent at bav with straight lefts, and at the end of rhe round looked very fresh. The final round opened' with in-fighting, but after breaking. Griffiths sent home a straight left, followed bv a right hook that had Carr feeling shaky. The verdict for Griffiths was popular. THE EVENING’S DRAW. In the first of the professional fights Mark Carroll (Wanganui) and Hector Leckie (Dunedin) were pitted together, both tilting the beam at 9.1. Carroll had a slight advantage in reach, but his stance levelled! off both fighters. In the first round the southerner was aggressive, and found a nice opening to send the river-man half through the ropes, and

at the same time open up his eve with a dandy straight right. Though shaken by this, Carroll made amends in the second round, both coming together and slogging it in windmill fashion. Carroll scored well with his body punches, while he neatly evaded several rights from the southerner, who led on the third round, in which he kept tapping at Carroll’s head. The Wanganuite retaliated by judicious body blows, the right hand administering good punishment. In the next round the pair came to clinches frequently, and both put in a num ber of good jabs, but Carroll found a good opening for a left hook. A similar blow caused Leckie to haul in for a bit, but he evened it up with a straight left, that for the first time tok the smile off the riverman’s face. In the next round Carroll was his usual self, and connected with a couple of lefts, but the round closed quietly. In the seventh the fight cooled down, being practically all clinching. In the next Car roll cut Leckie’s left eyebrow, and both made the bout bright with a few good blows to the head. Towards the close of the round Leckie was tiring, but in the next the Dunedinite showed he was not done, as he made the pace. In the final round Carroll’tried to use his swings, but Leckie held off. A iab set the Dunedinite’s nose running, but this was returned twofold on the call of the bell. A draw was the decision, and it was popular, though many thought Leckie should have been given the fight. KNUCKEY v. DRIEBERG. The ball was set rolling bv Knuckey (Hastings) and Drieberg (Napier) mixing it in four rounds. The Napiei- lad turned the scales at 9st, thus having a handicap of 6lb over his opponent. In the opening round the Hastings boy was the more aggressive, getting in several blows to the body, but this was counteracted by nippy footwork. In the second round Drieberg landed a good straight left, hut Knuckey came back with a couple of hooks to square up matters. In the next round they mixed 1 it well, but Drieberg received the worst of the encounter, and fell back to his defensive position. Early in the final round Drieberg drew blood, but Knuckey was very aggressive, and made all the fighting. His win was popular. MITCHELL v. CRICHTON. After the interval the preliminary to the principal fight was the match ing of D. Crichton (Napier) and M. Mitchell (Te Pohue). The seasider weighed 9.10. and though shorter than his opponent had an advantage of 41b. In the opening three minutes the pair mixed well, the country lad using his left to good advantage. but Crichton evened up matters

in the second round when he landed a few good hooks. Crichton was again aggressive in the next round, but Mitchell stood his ground well, but Crichton gained a few points. Tn the final flutter Mitchell endeavoured to cat'ir up the points, and: the nair gave a gocd display. However, the decision went to Crichton, and there was a difference of opinion amongst the spectators.