Boxing.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1442, 17 July 1933, Page 1

Boxing.

SOUTH AUCKLAND TITLES.

Tournament at Matamata. The South Auckland boxing championships, which were decided under the auspices of the Matamata District Boxing Association in the Town Hall on Thursday, proved to be a most successful fixture which earned the complete approval of both contestants and the general public. Owing to the very large number of entries received the preliminary bouts had to be decided in the morning and afternoon, the finals being fought at night. Though the tournament as a whole was an unqualified success, it was unfortunate that owing to the luck of the sport the day-time bouts P proved to be the best of the tourney. In these the boxing was of a very high class, and the referee, Mr. H. G. Wilding, of Olcoroire, had to order extra rounds in four bouts before he could decide the winners. / The bouts held in the evening, which were refereed by Mr. N. McLean, of Auckland, were not quite as interesting on the whole as those of the morning, owing to the fact that in several instances the bouts did not go the full distance, and because ' injuries received during the day prevented contestants from appearing. . Despite this fact a full programme was submitted, a couple of exhibition bouts being staged to assist in providing nearly three hours’ boxing. In one of the exhibition bouts Harry Hughes, New Zealand champion, and holder of the Jamieson Belt for the most scientific boxer, sparred three rounds with Roy Bowler, of Hamilton, both boys giving an exhibition which pleased the crowd. Hughes announced his determination to turn professional, and his desire to meet any lightweight in New Zealand.

The Officials.

The major officials were as follows: Referees, Mr. N. McLean (Auckland) and Mr. H. G. Wilding (Matamata); time-keepers, Mr. N. L. Higginson and Mr. R. McCreadie; announcers, Mr. W. D. L. MacDonald and Mr. J. E. Cummings; secretaries, Mr. I. C. Abernethy and Mr. G. G. Griffiths; hon. surgeons, Dr. D. R. Abernethy and Dr. Horsley; stewards, Messrs. H. Stone, D. C. Waterson, T. McLeay, L. Flower, A. E. Wrigley, J. H. Hawes, A. Camp- * bell, G. Campbell and A. McLeay. Champions. There were no great surprises in the winners of the various divisions and the new champions are as follows: Paperweight (7.6). Roy Bowler, 7.2 i, Hamilton. Flyweight (8.0). A. McGregor, 8.0, Auckland. Bantamweight (8.6). —Trevor Williams, 8.6, Hamilton. Featherweight (9.0) —Ray Wilson, 9.0, Hamilton. Lightweight (9.9). —R. McLaughlin, 9.6, Aucklan^. Welterweight (10.7).— Clarry McKnight, 10.7., Hamilton. Middleweight (11.6). —J. Thornton, 10.12, Glen Massey. Light-heavy (12.7). —H. Hepburn, 12.7, Te Aroha. Heavyweight (any weight). C. Farmer, 11.10, Te Aroha. THE BOUTS DESCRIBED. All of the bouts consisted of three three-minute rounds with the exception of the first two divisions, in which the rounds were of two Paperweight. First Round.—Roy Bowler, 7.2£, Hamilton, beat T. Rogers, 7.4, Auck-

land.—Bowler proved to be a most game boxer with aggressiveness and ability to use both hands. Though Rogers made Bowler miss once or twice he could not equal his opponent’s speed. Though Rogers scored with in-fighting, the Hamilton lad was definitely superior.

Final.—Roy Bowler beat E. Stewart, 7.5, Auckland.—Both boys opened cautiously and sparred for an opening. Urged by the crowd Bowler scored with lefts to the face despite the fact that Stewart showed great cleverness in ducking. An even second round was followed by a lively final bout, in which Bowler used both hands with effect.

Bantamweight.

Final—Trevor Williams, 8.6, Hamilton, beat W. Carter, 8.45, Matamata.—There were only two competitors in this class. Williams proved the more experienced boxer of the two and gained a big lead in the last round. Carter proved a plucky opponent, but lacked condition, and relied too much on his right hand. Featherweight. Ray Wilson, 9.0, Hamilton, beat { M. Pullman, 8.8, Matamata. These { were the only competitors, ' and though Pullman was no match in allround cleverness for the Waikato champion, he put up a great exhibition which earned loud applause. Pullman showed that he had a good left, and he used this to advantage throughout. Despite his gameness Pullman found Wilson too clever, and the Hamilton lad rained in blows in the last round.

Lightweight.

First Round. Trevor Starnes, 9.6, Hamilton, beat T. McGovery, 9.7, Otorohanga. McGovery made the early fighting and landed heavily on his opponent with both hands. Starnes refused to be shaken, however, and proved to be the better boxer, coming back in the final round to win the bout.

R. McLaughlin, 9.6, Auckland, beat J. Walters, 9.9, Auckland. McLaughlin, the Auckland champion, proved to be in a different class to his opponent, and practically did as he liked with him. The towel was thrown in, but the referee ordered the boys to continue till the end of the second round, when he awarded the bout to McLaughlin. Final.—The final bout between McLaughlin and Starnes did not last teh seconds. The former caught Starnes twice with his right on the point of the jaw and was awarded the bout on a technical knock-out. Welterweight. First Round.—S. Pratt, 10.7, Hamilton, beat W. Wallace, 10.55, Whakatane. —This proved to be one of the best bouts of the day. Wallace, a stockily-built lad, showed a great capacity to take and give punishment, and he used his right to great effect on Pratt’s face and head. The Hamilton lad stood up to the onslaught in game fashion and gave almost as much as he took in return. Pratt showed a desire to mix it with Wallace, but he scored most heavily when he contented himself with boxing. It was only after an extra round that Pratt secured the decision.

C. McKnight, 10.7, Hamilton, beat Max Adler, 10.05, Te Aroha.—ln the early stages McKnight scored heavily and proved the superior boxer of the two. Adler showed fine staying power, and gradually wearing his opponent down came so close to winning that an extra round was ordered. In this McKnight kept his opponent off and won by superior footwork.

In the evening Pratt was unable to continue, so that McKnight met G. Hagan, 10.2, Matamata, in what proved to be the final. The Matamata lad lacked experience, but showed great gameness. He secured warm applause by bustling Mc-

Knight with heavy right crosses in an attempt to secure a knock-out. The Hamilton boxer, though forced on the ropes on several occasions, proved too scientific for his opponent and won the bout. It was a clean, open fight, and both boys were warmly applauded at the finish. This was Hagan’s first appearance in a ring. Middleweight. First Round. C. Kelly, 11.0, Te Aroha, beat J.' Stewart, 11.4, Piako. —Kelly, a novice, proved a strong fighter, who came back at his more experienced opponent gamely. Stewart led in the early stages of the bout, but was slightly at a loss to deal with Kelly’s forcing tactics. In the extra round which was necessary Kelly’s stamina gave him victory by a narrow margin.

A. Munyard, 10.13, Auckland, beat C. Currie, 11.1, Turua. Currie proved to be the more aggressive boxer at the start, and had the Auckland boy worried. Later, Currie’s stamina failed him, and Munyard, the better boxer of the two, won the last round fairly easily. J. Thornton, 10.12, Glen Massey, beat L. Wilson, 11.0, Te Aroha.— Thornton, a rugged boxer, displayed an imperturable temperament and gradually wore Wilson, a novice, down. Relying largely on a heavy right cross, Thornton scored a popular victory.

Semi-final. —C. Kelly beat A. Munyard.—Kelly forced the pace in the early stages and used both hands to advantage. Munyard covered well, but was at a loss to deal with his opponent’s forcing tactics. Early in the second round Kelly landed heavily with both hands and had Munyard in trouble. The referee awarded the fight to Kelly to save the Auckland boy punishment. Final. —J. Thornton beat C. Kelly. —Thornton quickly proved he was the stronger fighter and he scored at long range. Kelly evened matters somewhat in the close work, but Thornton replied with right and left swings to the face. In the second round Kelly was warned for holding, and Thornton used his right with effect. Thornton continued to show aggressiveness and scored with a straight left, Kelly getting right and left swings home at the bell. In the final round both boys showed gameness and made matters willing. Thornton used his left with effect and Kelly scored mainly with a right swing. Thornton piled up points with his left, and caused Kelly to miss badly towards the end of the round. It was one of the best bouts of the night, and Thornton secured a popular victory. Light-hea,vy weight. First Round. W. Payne, 11.9, beat J. Ross, 11.10, Hamilton.— Payne showed to advantage in the early rounds, using his greater height and reach to advantage. Standing off he scored well with both hands. Ross showed grit and improved towards the end of the second round. In the third round he lured Payne to mix matters and scored heavily. An extra round was ordered, which Payne won by standing off and using his reach. H. Hepburn, 12.7, Te Aroha, beat T. Chandler, 11.8, Waitakaruru. Chandler made the early fighting, but halfway through the round Hepburn steadied him with a left to the face. Chandler tried in-fight-ing and scored with both hands. Both men warmed to their work, but it was soon evident that Chandlei was not in the form which had won him championships. In tne second round Hepburn immediately used a straight left tq which Chandler had little reply. Chandler tried his famous left, but it lacked speed and force. The round was definitely Hepburn’s. The final round saw both contestants willing. Chandler repeatedly walked into Hepburn s left and seemed to be unable to counter it. Chandler then tried rushing tactics, and swung wildly in a desperate effort to make up leeway, but Hepburn held the advantage throughout and won easily. As Payne was also in the final of the heavyweight division he scratched from this final and Hepburn thus secured the honours.

Heavyweight.

First Round. C. Farmer, 11.10, Te Aroha, beat J. Ross, 11.10, Ham-

ilton.—Ross showed he was an improved boxer, and met Farmer’s rushes unflinchingly. Using both hands with effect he generally countered Farmer’s right swing with ability. To Farmer’s boring tactics Ross used an upper-cut, and for the first two rounds there was little between the contestants. In the third round Farmer showed superior strength and fitness, and connected early with a solid right to the face. Following up his advantage he scored with both hands and definitely won a fine contest.

Final.—C. Farmer beat W. Payne, 11.9, Te Aroha. Payne used his height and reach with effect in the early stages and connected cleanly with both hands. Farmer then bored in and landed a very heavy right to the jaw which made Payne groggy. Farmer followed up this advantage with similar blows which found their mark, and Payne’s towel was thrown in, the referee awarding the bout and championship to Farmer.