GRIME WINS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 303, 9 December 1929, Page 6

GRIME WINS

NARROW MARGIN OVER LECKIE A SPLENDID BOUT. LARGE AUDIENCE AGAINST DECISION. By a n-'.rrow margin of points, Billy Crime, cne time triple champion of Australia, gained a decision over Johnny Leckie, of Napior, featherweight champion of New Zealand in a 15-round professional contest in the Napier Municipal Theatre on Saturday night.

The decision, however, met with the disapproval of the very large audience, who booed and hooted lor a few minutes.

Leekie’s weight was announced at 9st. lib., and Grime’s as Ost. 4Jlbs, but when the two met in the ring the difference appeared to be of a much wider margin. The Australian was much broader, having heaviei legs and arms than his lighterlooking opponent. Both men weie very fit, and were not the least distressed when the final gong went. Mr. Earle Stewart, of Wellington, was referee.

For much the greater part of the fight Leckie was the aggressor, using his left in lightning fashion. The Australian, in the infighting, was more than a match for Leckie, and using his right to advantage was a source of trouble whenever they came together. Grime resorted to close range work all through the fight, never failing to bring into play the tactics in which he had -he superiority. The pace never slackened and all through the contest tin ills weie provided. It was apparent from the beginning that the bout would go the full distance. During the last four rounds Grime made the pace and Leckie was obliged to be alert to keep out of range of his dangerous right Despite the Australian’s gain in the last few rounds the crowd were of the opinion that Leckie still had a margin of points at trie finish and when the referee held up Grime’s hand a demonstration took place.

OPENING ROUNDS. In the opening round Leckie led out with an unplaced left to Grime’s head. After finding their feet Leckie continued to use his left which Grime could not always succeed in evading. Getting at close quarters Grime drore Leckie to the corner with his jabbing right, where the latter slipped momentarily Both men missed with short jabs, but Leckie soon was hack raining blows to the Australian s body. Breaking away from infighting Grime launched a heavy right upper swing which just missed Leckie s chin as the gong went. In the second round Leckie again led with his left, with Grime using his right whenever they came to elose quarters. Grime, in the infighting, shot out a number of nasty jabs which he concluded with a heavy cross swing. At this stage Grime was warned for holding and Leckie was again quick with his left to plant it into the Australian’s face wline the latter was crouching. Lecirie followed on with body punches and a few jabs that he had to take when they were at dose range Ltegie amply made up with a stinging left to the face. ’

Again Leckie was the aggressor when the gong brought them from their corners. Grime, rising from a crouch, shot out several severe jabs to Leekie’s face and shoulders. Whiie on the ropes Grime was obliged to stop a right to the head. Rising from the next crouch Grime met a discomforting volley to his head from Leekie’s right, but when at close range he quickly retaliated with a number of jabs to the face. Grime then missed with a left swing, and while laying back against the ropes Leckie shot out his right to the head in quick succession. It was a splendid round with the advantage in favour of Leckie.

LECKIE CONNECTS WELL. In opening the next round Leckie got home twice with his right. Ducking, Grime stopped another from Johnny to the side of the head. Leckie now connected freely with ins left; although light hits, they were clean and gained points. Grime was warned for leaning on his opponent, and Leckie gained further with a left to the face. Leckie came again, bat Grime kept him off with his left. Again in the fifth round Leckie made early use of his left, working Grime into the corner, the Infer again getting clear with infighting, jabbing Leekie’s head freclv, besides connecting to the body while Leckie was on the ropes. Ducking, Grime missed from a heavy left swing which Leckie followed with a strong nppci cut that missed by a fraction. Early in the sixth round Grime was warned for holding. Keeping Leckie off with his left he made qtuck use with his right. Leckie. retaliating. had to take a cross right to the face. Considerable infighting followed in which hoth made free use of short arm jabs. Earlv in the seventh round Glime was sent to the ropes with two hard rights, and after further ducking his

head wag a target for two rights and a left from Leckie. The Australian, when at close range, handed out three or four heavy jabs to the head Leckie followed up and landed heavily to the head and body. ' GRIME AGGRESSIVE. The eighth round saw Leckie still very willing, but Grime became the aggressor and from a clinch shot out his right twice to the New Zea lander’s face. Grime continued to do damage with his right when at close range, forcing Leckie again to the ropes. Leckie succeeded .n connecting to the head with a straight right but had to take three heavy rights.

The house was delighted at the manner in which Leckie opened the ninth round, connecting very freely. He showed wisdom in not rushing at Grime’s waving head. Grime got his right into action in two direct bits to the face, which he followed up with a right swing, catching Leckie off his feet. This was Grime's ronnf Grime continued his crouching tactics, during which Leckie got in rather cleverly. Both were warned for clinching. Leckie was now pay mg more attention to tho Austro lian’s right, which had caused him concern at different times and he finished the round by shooting in a well placed left to the face. Early in the eleventh round Leckie drove home a heavy left to Grime's face and almost immediately afterwards he launched a k.o. swing which Grime evaded. Again Leckie used his left well when the Australian forced, but Leckie cleverly avoided danger.

THE CONCLUDING SESSIONS. The twelfth round saw both very fit. An even exchange of clean hits took place. Grime was looking for something to do with his right, get ting the liest of the close range work He continued to force, but Leckie stood up to the attack well. In the corner Leckie got in with his leit to the face, but Grime forced strongly, having the advantage.

In the fourteenth round Grime, falling from a clinch, stopped a left to the face, but in cleverly stepping aside avoided a dangerous right. Although the Australian was forcing Leckie made him miss badly. Grime rushed his opponent to the corner where he rained punishment as the gong sounded. Leckie opened the last round aggressively, but falling from an early clinch his face was a target for Grime's right, which he shot in with rapid succession. Leckie continued to force matters, returning the punishment extended to him. In the final clinch when the gong sounded Grime was administering punishment with his right. Grime was declared tho winner bv Mr. Stewart amid a storm of protest. Three cheers were given on the stage for the contestants. The professional contest was preceded by four amateur bouts, which pleas cd the house immensely. The duties of announcer were carried out by Mr J. Harris while Messrs P. Olliver and S. Glendining acted as judges. Mr Earle Stewart, of Wellington, refereed all bouts, including the professional

J Townsend 9.5 beat R. Hutchinson 9.7. The bout opened in whrilwind stylo, with Townsend being very agressive. Frequently he had Hutchinson over the ropes, where be handed out stinging punishment with both hands. The next round opened briskly with Hutch inson lighting plmkily as he was forced back to the ropes. A heavy left and right to the face had the effect of steadying Townsend. In the infighting Hutchinson showed further improvement. The next round again saw Townsend first out to drive bis opponent into the corner, but the latter, fighting strongly, did a lot of nasty jabbing with both hands to the face. Townsend succeeded in issuing a heavy straight left to Hutchinson's face, w’ith which the latter evened up with a left to the chin. Just before the gong Townsend scored well with some stinging punishment at close range. In the last round Townsend fought like a tiger. Bouncing off the ropes ho handed a heavy right to Huttchinson’s head, B’.’t the final gong found Hutchinson still full of fight. Townsend received the judge’s decision, F. Bennie 9.3 beat Whittaker 9.7. Bennie, who made his first public appearance, volunteered from the audience to take Tasker’s place in the bout, the latter, not being available. The bout caused considerable amusement. Both men showed very little idea of the art, but had the house rocking with laughter at their unorthodox methods. Bennie was the most aggressive, and during bis rushes Whittaker caught him twice by accident with his left. The gong was a blessing to Whittaker. In the second round Whittaker’s wild swings never did any damage, and not having any guard Bennie hit him when be liked, but he was now tiring and Incite 1 energy even to do that. In the next round Whittaker’s face proved tc be a fine target and after du'hing nt his opponent a few times regardless of danger he resorted to hanging -n, being almost tired out. The last round was also amusing, Whittaker attempting upper cuts, hut without any idea of judgment. Both men wore pleased when the last gong went. The judges gave a popular decision to Bennie.

Williams 9.2 beat Eddie 9.5. In the opening round Eddie made the pace a cracker, and for a while got all over Williams, who appeared to be taken by surprise. Eddie forced him to the ropes on one side of the ring and then across to tho other side. Eddie showed wonderful speed, but his swings were delivered without judgment. In the second Eddie forced tho pace, jabbing freely, only to find that his opponent’s guard was making all his work for nothing. Williams, ducking frequently, caused Eddie to miss badly. The gong found Eddie forcing his opponent into the corner where the latter, however, was taking good caro of himself. “Come on Celtic” was the cry from the house when the men came together again. Williams connected freely to Eddie's face, when the latter made a risky attempt to get inside his opponent’s guard. Williams now indulged in a few cross swings which perplexed Eddie. The last round raw tho men going for the decision, but both were missing badly. Eddie bad his forcing upset by a couple of left swings wnich he found the guard not of the nature to allow him to reetaliatc. Williams was given a popular decision. A. Seastrand 9.0 beat R. Houghtun 9,5 This bout proved tc be a one sided affair, and with Houghton tiring early Seastrand did just as ho liked. From the opening Seastrand was the aggres sor, and although his opponent had a big advantage in reach it was of no avail to him. Towards tho end of the first round Houghton promised big things with upper Swings, but they went begging. In the next round Seastrand, rushing his opponent, had him down and nearly through the ropes. Houghton vainly tried to use bis right. Tho smaller man, in get ting inside of Houghton's reach, rained blows to the body. The third round saw Houghton ready to cry enough as Mis energy seemed to be expended. In the last round Sea strand aid as he liked. Houghton put up a hopeless battle, being always ready 1o fall into clinches, in which the jabbings he received failed to arouse any fresh spirit. , Both men were relieved when the last three minutes were up. Seastrand gained the decision.

CARNERA DISQUALIFIED

STRIBLING HIT AFTER THE CONG. THEIR SECOND INDECISION BOUT. 'United Press Association-Bj CableCopyright.! Paris, Dec. 7. Carnera was disqualified at the end of the seventh round for hitting Stribling after the gong went. Carnera weighed 287 pounds and Stribling 184$. Stribling did nearly all tho hitting in the first round, including a right to the jaw, which evidently hurt Camera. Stribling, fighting vigorously, hit Carnera twice in the stomach and then a left to the head and a right swing to the jaw. M hen the second round was opened Stribling ignored Camera’s threatening left and scored with punches to the jaw and drew blood from Carnera’s face. Stribling continued to score freely, but his blows mostly were poorly timed. Carnera began the third round more like a fighter, but his leads continutd futile. He landed a straight left, which nearly knocked Stribling off his legs. Stribling became wild, rushing Carnera and often missing altogethei. Carnera did, much better in the fourth with right and left to the body and a left to the jaw, but leaving his guard open Stribling landed twice to the stomach. Stribling was now letting Camera make the ’pace and landed a right hobk to the jaw. He won the round comfortably. Between the fourth and fifth rounds the referee cautioned Stribling about holding. ' CRUDE LUNGES.

Stribling in the fifth tried to make play on Camera’s right elieek, which was swollen and bleeding. Carnera made crude lunges, enabling Stribling to score two-handed on the body inside his guard. Camera’s nose also bgan to bleed. He got Stribling against the ropes, but tfie American easily ducked and got clear. Camera seemed weaker. Stribling now had a large advantage on points. Fierce clinching and wrestling opened the sixth. Stribling landed thrice and then dropped Camera with a right to the point. Carnera hung to the ropes and Stribling tried to finish him off, but Camera avoided him. Carnera landed a hard right to the jaw and Stribling hung on in order to recover. Carnera punished Stribling considerably to the bell.

Carnera returned to the attack lor the seventh, in which there was some clinching. Then Carnera floored Stribling and almost knocked him out. Camera's last punch was a right to the jaw, which the referee ruled was delivered after the gong. It should be understood that as soon as Camera floored Stribling the gong sounded, but in the pande monium following the blow nothing was audible. It seemed as if both men continued beyond the legal limit Another account says no doubt Carnera never heard the gong. He landed a blow just as Stribling broke

away, which floored him. Stribling rose and Carnera rushed him, evidently ignorant that the bell had sounded.

The seconds threw themselves upon the giant. He did not understand what was the matter and hurled them aside, trying to get at Stribling again, the crowd shouting and hooting. Carnera looked round puzzled and then the result was announced. The attendance was 25.000 and there was tremendous excitement. Stribling said afterwards: “No more fights for me with this man.” VARIED VIEWS OF CARNERA. “TEMPER MUST BE CURBED.” (United Brest association-By CableConyright.r (Received 9. 10.30 a.m.) London, Dec. 8. The newspapers express varied opinions concerning the gong incident, some think that Carnera was not guilty but others considering that the rrpng could plainly be heard. The “Sunday Times” states: “His seconds held the Man of the Mountains’ wrists for a moment. It appeared that he desired to attack he referee. Leon See He also seemed snxious to climb the ropes and ngage in a free fight with the crowd. His performance definitely places him beyond the championship class. His violent temper must be curbed, otherwise we must shelve him from boxing.”

TERRIFIC HITTING. (United Freer A ssoclalloD—By CableCopyright.! Sydney, Dec. 8. At the Stadium there was a terrific hitting contest in the lightweight championship Norman Gillespie (9.4)), the title holder, beat Jack Roberts (9.7). of Newcastle, the referee stopping the contest in the ninth round and awarding the decision to Gillespie, who floored Roberts and was himself floored several times in the bout, which was the fiercest for years.