LECKIE SENDS DONOVAN TO SLEEP.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 May 1930, Page 3

LECKIE SENDS DONOVAN TO SLEEP.

TARANAKI’S HOPE HELPLESS BEFORE JOHNNIE’S COMEBACK. NAPIER, Last Night. By technically knocking out Tommy Donovan, of Waitara, in the twelfth round, Johnnie Lcckic, of Napier, retains the feather-weight title of New Zealand and proves that his form is equal or better than when ho was in Australia, The contest was fought in Napier last night before a record house for the town. At the end of the twelfth round, a beautiful right cross sent Donovan to the floor simultaneously with the sounding of the gong. When he came up for the twelfth, he was still groggy and in half a minute another right cross sent him down for the referee to stop the contest and award it to Leckie. Donovan was no match for Leckie in speed and the Napier boy had a considerable lead on points, winning ten rounds of the twelve. The wireless description of the fight was listened to with keen interest was listened to with keen interest on Saturday night. There was a big demonstration when Donovan went down. The referee commenced the count but the gong interrupted. The Taranaki man was still dazed when he left his corner for the twelfth, although his seconds worked feverishly over him. It was obvious that his chances were gone and Leckie lost no time in putting on the finishing’ touches. He pushed Donovan onto the ropes and the referee intervened. While the knock-out blow was delivered by Leckie's right, it was with his left that he did most of the punishing during the contest. Donovan seemed defenceless against them. The fight went with such speed in the opening rounds that it was thought the pair would not last as long as they did.