IN THE RING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 96, 6 April 1934, Page 14

IN THE RING

“COME-BACKS” SOUGHT Tommy Donovan and Hume MONDAY’S BOUTS AT NAPIER (By “Ringsider.") Next Monday evening two wellknown fighters in Tommy Donovan and Cyril Hurne will stage “come backs’’ under the auspicis of the Napier Boxing Association. Both are featherweights, the former being one-time New Zealand champion and the latter, holder of the Wellington provincial title. The return to the ring of these two will arouse interest in New Zealand fight circles. Donovan, the “fighting fireman," has been matched with Joe Franklin, who is the “King-pin" of the lightweight division just now, and the journey is over 15 rounds. With two such fighters in action, the bout should prove one of the most entertaining and exciting fights seen in the district for some time The Wellingtonian, Hurne, will make his come-back drive against the exHastings, and now Gisborne, amateur, Waugh, who will be making his debut in the professional ranks. This bout will be over six rounds. The southern is scheduled to meet the New Zealand champion, Clarrie Rayner at Blenheim at the end of the week, this bout to be over 12 or 15 rounds. With the usual crop of lively amateur preliminaries to this ‘‘doublestar’’ attraction the N.B.A. may confidently anticipate generous support on the part of the public on Monday evening. Doctor’s Unusual Action. The intervention of a doctor in telling the referee to stop the fight was an unusual incident in connection with the recent Sullivan-Pren-dergast contest at Invercargill. In the rules there is no mention made of a doctor being empowered to interfere with the progress of a bout. A police officer may, but otherwise the referee is in sole charge. The incident was the climax to tho professional preliminary bout to the Nicol-Lister title contest, Hilly Sullivan, the Hastings heavyweight, defeating Frank Prendergast on a t.k.o. in the tenth round. There was not a dull moment in the whole bout, according to a southern report, and there was some terrific punching by both men. Sullivan proved far too solid in every way for the lighter Invercargillite and wag the only one in it after the fourth round. Prendergast was down twice for nine and the hout ended sensationally in the final round when a doctor at the ringside told the referee to stop the fight. Prendergast took his punishment very gamely and received a great ovation at the finish Sullivan very sportingly refrained from dealing out as much punishment as ho might have and it was a refreshingly clean and open fight which completely eclipsed the main bout for entertainment In the heavyweight title bout Ray Nicol successfully defended his lightheavyweight title against Harry Lister, of Greymouth. The bout went to the full 15 rounds but apparently was a dull affair until the last three rounds. There was a sensation in the final round when for the first time in his career Nicol was put on his hack, a terrific left to the jaw putting him down for the count of nine. Lister made a great effort to win but failed on points, the margin, according to southern reports being very narrow'. Fitzgerald Again Beats Franklin. The return meeting of the Australian, Jack Fitzgerald and the Gisbornite Joe Franklin at Westport failed to attract a big attendance. Commenting on the bout the “Westport News” states: —“....Franklin’s aim from the start was to bore in, in an effort to secure a knockout. And while his efforts did not secure the desired results, he gained the plaudits of the crowd with a great display of doggedness and gameness. .. Fitzgerald gave a fine display < f defensive boxing and his impenetrable guard proved a source of annoyance to his opponent, w’ho failed to land few solid blows during the contest, ... At the end of the contest Fitzgerald had a comfortable lead on points and the referee’s verdict was well received. ’ ’ Future Fixtures. April 9—Donovan v Franklin; Hurne v Waugh, at Napier. April 9—Archie HugbcsjV Jack Fitzgerald, at Auckland. April 11—Palmer v I’itzniaurice. at Nelson. April 14—Hurne v Rayner, at Blenheim. April 20—Franklin v McKay (lightweight title), at Gisborne. April (sometime) —Hawes v Rayner (Feather-weight title) at Christchurch. (Feather title), at Christchurch.