BOXING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 307, 11 December 1931, Page 3

BOXING

OPEN-AIR CONTEST AT NAPIER HUGHES CAINS DECISION OVER LECKIE. SUPERIOR DEFENCE. Superior defence and a more rugged style of boxing gave Archie Hughes, of Australia, the verdict on points over Johnnie Leckie, of Napier, in a 15round professional boxing contest staged in the open-air on McLean Park, Napier, before an attendance estimated at 1500 last night. The bout throughout was a fast and interesting one between two scientific and experienced men. There was a fairly considerable amount of in-fighting which does, not always appeal to the majority of boxing enthusiasts, but there was in it, owing to the Australian’s style, an clement which is often lacking—that of the possibility of a surprise, due to Hughes’ persistent use of a vicious uppercut. The contestants were very evenly matched, and although there was not much between them Hughes held the advantage over a majority of the rounds, and the decision in his favour did not warrant the reception it received from a certain section of the spectators. The score card of the referee (Mr J. D. Donovan) showed that the first round was a draw; Hughes won the second, Leckie the third, Hughes the fourth, the fifth was drawn, the sixth was won by Leckie, the seventh by Hughes, the eighth was drawn, the ninth and tenth were won by Hughes, the’ eleventh was drawn, the twelfth was won by Hughes, the thirteenth by Leckie, the fourteenth by Hughes and the fifteenth drawn. The weight of Hughes was announced at 9st 51bs. and that of Leckie at 9st. They appeared to be well matched physically, Leckie being the slighter of the two. Lighting, seating, and a host of other matters in connection with the staging of such a contest were thoroughly thought out, and provided for in a manner which could not but reflect credit upon the energy and ability of the secretary (Mr T. W. Hereock) and his committee, who so ably assisted him. The duties of referee for both the amateur and professional contests fell to Mr J. D. Donovan, while the judges assisting him were Messrs T. A. Heath and C. L. Thomas, all of whom performed their work most satisfactorily. Mr J. Harris was as efficient as he always is in the capacity of announcer. Music and the various announcements in connection with the contest were broadcast on the grounds bv Messrs C. >B. Hansen, Ltd. During the evening the opportunity was taken by Mr T. A. Heath, president of the association, to hand over to Mr R. H. Milburn a cup donated by the association to the Napier Boys’ High School for the most scientific boxer at the school’s boxing tournaments. In doing so Mr Heath said that the association had presented the cup with the idea of fostering amateur sport. lu the past the boys of the school had shown w-onderful sportsmanship, some of them never having put on a glove until they stepped into the ring at the tournament. The cup had been given to encourage training and to develop the fine sport of boxing. The

cup this year had been won by H. L. McPhee. In returning thanks Mr Milburn said that the cup was one of the many trophies presented to the school by the Napier Boxing Association and the gentlemen associated with it. The school was fortunate in having a body such as the association interested in the school, and a debt of gratitude and appreciation was due from the school for the interest which was taken in it. THE BIC BOUT DESCRIBED. The bout commenced with Leckie the aggressor going for the body. They went to close quarters where honours were even, Hughes endeavouring without success to connect with an uppercut on several occasions. Hughes found his mark with a right swing to the body. Leckie landed a smart blow to Hughes’ face which hurt, but on following it up he could not penetrate the Australian’s smother. Another period of close work followed, Hughes endeaouring at every opportunity to get in his uppercut, Leckie, however, replying with smart jabs to the face and body. . t «. Leckie connected with a good lett at the opening of the second session and with the going remaining open Leckie went in with more solid lefts to the face and body. In rushing in to Hughes the Napier boy had once to stop a hard left to the solar plexus. A brief spell of open fighting as the gong went saw Leckie poke a nice lett into his opponent’s face. The third round opened with Leckie’s customary left lead, but it could seldom penetrate the smother which was always ready to meet it. Hughes’ rushes were often met by Leckie’s left. A thrill came when Leckie led a left which Hughes successfully ducked, th c Australian then coming in with a right hook which caught Leckie off his balance and sent him to the mat for the count of one. Leckie came up again, but the round ended, a few seconds after without further incident. ROUND FOUR. Round four opened with Leckie' forcing matters with his left, but Hughes connected with some good uppercuts at close quarters. A left and a right to Hughes’ face made the latter rush his man to the ropes, where the Napier man successfully countered most of the Australian’s solid leads, in which the uppercut was always prominent. On coming out to the open again Hughes found, a gap in Leckie’s defence for a good right and’ a light left to the body. Leckie put in a solid left to the Australian’s face at the opening of the fifth round. Hughes forced Leckie to the ropes, where a couple of lefts went, in to Leckie’s body. Further clinches saw Hughes come up with uppercuts with both gloves, three of them coining in quick succession on one occasion, but Leckie took them while backmoving. Leckie, however, managed to get home with his right cross, but it was not delivered cleanly. The sixth round opened with Leckie aggressive. He caught the Australian with a solid left to the body which made Hughes come in close, but he was well watched. The pace quietened for a time, Leckie scoring with beautifully clean straight lefts. Hughes rushed Leckie to the ropes, where another right took Leckie on the face, but on coming into the open Leckie again scored with long range lefts to tlio face, followed by more lefts and rights to the body. LECKIE THE AGGRESSOR. Leckie took up the running at the beginning of thc seventh set-to, getting Hughes with his left. They came in close, where the-Australian pummelled the local boy's body with long range lefts and rights. He was continually rushing Leckie to the ropes. Both his right hook or right cross and uppercut often caught his man. Leckie replied with long range lefts, one of which shook his opponent. The eighth round opened with Leckie making a bee-line for the Australian’s body with his left, following . this up by sending Hughes to the ropes with a splendid left downstairs. The Na-

pier boy was doing much better, sending his left in too smartly for the Australian to counter. Hughes’ left had little behind it, and with the fight open Leckie went in with his left both to face and body, connecting far more cleanly and far more frequently than he had so far done during the bout. Hughes took the initiative in the ninth round for the first time, but the Napier boy met him and gave more than he received. Leckie successfully boxed his man for a time, but Hughes finally rushed him to the ropes, finding a mark for two right rips to the face. The fight was open for a time and in Leckie's favour, but another rush by the Australian with swinging lefts and rights sent Leckie to the ropes, and with the Australian still forcing Leckie went through the ropes, the count being to three. Leckie, however, had not been struck hard and he entered the ring again none the-worse. DODGED LECKIE’S LEFT. Hughes was dodging Leckie's leads when the tenth round commenced. The Napier boy was able to got in to the solar plexus with his right, but when Hughes rushed back he stopped some short arm jolts on the face. A period of quiet in-fighting followed, the Aus tralian catching Leckie on three occasions with his short right, the last occasion resulting in his being again sent through the ropes, which were very loose. Leckie was making play on his opponent’s body at the eleventh round. On coming in close Hughes knocked Leckie’s head back four times with his right uppercut, but there was not much force behind the blows. The remainder of the round was quiet. Leckie rushed the Australian all over the ring when the twelfth round opened, but when they settled down Hughes put in some lefts and rights which steadied his opponent. Hughes, after some clinching, disturbed Leckie with a swinging left, and when his man was on the ropes with three further rights to the face. In the open Leckie delivered a few clean lefts, but they were invariably by short lefts or rights to the body. LECKIE LEADS TO FACE. The “devii’s round” opened vigorously. Leckie causing Hughes to miss while lie got home with a series of left jabs to the face. Hughes in reply connected well with a swinging left and & a moment after, with a right, es had Leckie thinking with swinging lefts and rights to the body, and as the gong went had the Napier boy on the ropes, where the latter was able to get in a light right cross. The fourteenth commenced with a period of in-fighting in which neither had any particular advantage until the Australian got Leckie into a corner, where his right did good work. Further close fighting resulted in Hughes scoring heavily with both hands. In the final round Leckie boxed carefully at the opening, later sending in a few clean blows. Hughes was sent to the ropes and Leckie rushed in for a right cross, but the-Australian was too quick. Leckie caught Hughes right on the point and Hughes flew back at the Napier man, the latter flashing back. Leckie led another left but ran into the ropes where he spent a busy time keeping out of trouble. Hughes sent in a right, Leckie retaliating with a left to the face, th e round ending shortly after. The decision was in favour of Hughes, as stated above. THE AMATEUR BOUTS. McKay (ost. lOlbs.) beat Donnelly (sst lllbs). Both boys were not afraid to make use of their gloves, but many of their blows failed to find their mark. McKay, however, was the more accurate of the two with both hands, this earning him the decision. C. Rush (Ost. 81bs.) beat J. Taylor (lOst.) The first round was marked by a fair amount of holding, Taylor being the principal offender. When they camo out in the ■ in Rush did very well against his heavier and taller opponent, but Taylor's leads went home more often, particularly his left. There were some good exchanges in the second round, but after then the pace slackened, Taylor being the fitter of the two. Taylor brightened up considerably m the final session, but as far as his condition would allow Rush fought back. Taylor scored heavily to both face and body, but he missed badly sometimes. The decision favoured Rush. Bennie (9st 71bs) Beat Wylie (9st gibs) Wylie was very quick and flashed in some good lefts to Bennie’s face, followed by rights, but as the first round progressed Bennie seemed to get his opponent’s measure and replied with some solid lefts to the face, and with body blows. In the second round Bennie made the pace and on coming to close quarters he ripped in several short uppercuts which must have hurt. Wylie had difficulty in breaking through Bennie’s guard. Ins right meeting with more success than his left. Bennie was very cool in the final round, meeting his opponent’s ruslfes calmly and then boxing his way to close quarters. Bennie gained the verdiet of an excellent bout. Exhibition Bout. A good exhibition bout between Bennie and Hogg was staged, both boys giving a much appreciated and scientific display.