WON ON A FOUL

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1929, Page 8

WON ON A FOUL

TIIOMAiS DIMFEATS HAY. MLEVEXT.II JIOUN I) SENSATION. WMLS UMAX ALMOST KNOCKED OUT. AUCKLAND, Nov. 27. Brought from Australia to Now Zealand at tlio expense of the Northern Boxing Association, Billy Thomas beat Artie Hay, of Hastings, in his first appearance at the Town Hall last evening. The contest ended under sensational circumstances in the eleventh round when the 'Welshman was awarded the fight on a foul. It was an unfortunate ending.

One of the features of the match was the splendid recovery staged by Thomas in the interval between the ninth and tenth rounds. In session nine Hay landed solidly with his right to the jaw, and the 'Welshman was groggy for the greater part of the round. Three times the visitor was sent to the canvas, twice for long counts, and the crowd began to reach for their hats. Thomas was still or his feet at the gong, however, and when he came out of his corner at the start of term ten his brain had cleared, and he was able to box his

man. UNFOB'TUNA T M END INO. At the time of the unfortunate ending in the eleventh round Hay was going after a knockout, and it looked more than likelv that he would get it, for the Welshman was again showing signs of the punishment lie had taken. The round had not been going long before the pair came together near the ropes. There was a scuffle, and Thomas appeared to be half thrown and half pushed to the floor. The Welshman struck his head heavily on the hoards and then lay on his hack. % No count was commenced bv the referee, Mr Dick Alcaic, and there was uproar as all eyes were focussed on Thomas. The Welshman was able to stagger to his feet, but was apparently in no condition to carry on. After reeling about on the ropes ho said that he could not stand up, and the referee then raised the Welshman's right aloft as the signal that be had been awarded the fight oil a foul. The verdict was loudlv cheered.

In a statement to the Press Air Ale ale said that Hay lin'd thrown his man down, and that when Thomas had stated his inabiltv to continue he had no option hut to award the Welshman the fight on a foul. Hav himself was very disappointed. “I don’t understand it. I hit him a solid right clip to the. jaw,” he said. HAY THE HEAVIER. Tlio weights were announced as Hay list, Thomas lOst 131 b Thomas early showed himself quick on his feet, but he emerged from a mix-up in. a corner with blood streaming from an old cut above his left eye. Both used a straight left, but neither could land anything solid with, liis right. Thomas boxed nicely in term two, showing an excell net defence. Several times he slipped tlio New Zealand welter and middle-weight champion’s left leads, while twice his quick footwork had Hay floundering on the ropes. At times the visitor took his turn at attack, but his punches were not as heavy as Hay’s. A couple of right crosses won Thomas points at the gong. There was not a great deal doing in term three. Hay landed solidly to the body in close, but the Welshman played his right to the heart with good effect. Hay became more aggressive in round four, rushing his man to the ropes. The visitor’s defence, however, kept him out of serious trouble. AT idway through the round the referee instructed Thomas not to hold, and the crowd roared its disapproval, for both looked to blame. Hay again rushed his man just as the gong sounded. Realising that Thomas was boxing well, Hav came out of his corner for the fifth round in whirlwind style. Always on the look out for an opening with his right, ho was on the aggressive for the greater part of the round. STORM OF PROTESTS.

There was a storm of protests from the galleries in round six when Thomas, after being thrown to the floor following a clinch, was warned. Hay continued to force the fight, but the Welshman's good defence stuck to him, and he took his turn in attack when he landed both hands lightly to the head. Hay got his man cornero<l at the start of round seven and hooked his right hard to the head. Hay appeared to hold his man, and when AU Aleak: again reprimanded 'ljjiomas there was some ironical cheering. Near the end of the round Thomas went to the canvas and gave the impression that he had been hit low. Owing to the position of the referee at the time it was impossible to see from the Press table what did happen, although Hay said afterwards that he had no idea why Thomas went down. After a few seconds Thomas was able to box on. Hay got hinv-elf into further disfavour in the eighth round when he almost swung his man off his feet. Thomas showed his pluck in session nine. Early in the round Hav got a nice right cross to fhc jaw.

and another right to the same place half a minute later put Thomas down for five seconds. No sooner was lie on his feet that he was sent down again, this time for eight seconds. As he got to his feet he reeded backwards and only the ropes kept him from falling again. Hay stood off for a second or two, but when the

referee took no action lie went into Iris man and Thomas paid his third visit to the canvas. It looked as il the match was over, but Thomas was HD again at seven, and at the end of the round he was actually fighting back.

There were no thrills in the tenth round, Thomas boxing liis man. The unsatisfactory ending (that took place ih term eleven lias already been described. It looked as if Hay would have stopped his man before the finish. Probably ' a return match will be necessary to clear the air.