BOXING TOURNEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 244, 14 September 1932, Page 10

BOXING TOURNEY

MANAWATU CHAMPIONSHIPS

NEW TITLE HOLDERS.

Tho Opera House was the scene of some spirited boxing last night, when the Manawatu Boxing Association held its annual championship tourney, eight titles being competed for. Save in one or two classes, there was a pleasing number of aspirants for the titles and, with tho attractive prospect of representing tho local association at tho New Zealand championships at New Plymouth confronting them, competition was all the keener. Only one of last year’s winners-—T. Holden—defended his title and did so successfully. ' Two of those who did not figure, Tex Oxley and J. Cossill, havo both gone over to the professional ranks in tho interim. At tho conclusion of the tourney the trophies and certificates were presented to tho successful competitors by the president, Mr E. It. Wimsett. Tho title-holders for 1932-33 aro as under: Flyweight.—B. Edwards (Palmerston North). Bantamweight.-—L. G. McLaughlan (Palmerston North). Featherweight.—T. Holden (Palmerston North). Lightweight.—F. Hopkins (Palmerston North). Welterweight.—M. Candy (Palmerston North). Middleweight.—J. Ford (Mastcrton). Light-heavy.—H. Reeves (Pahiatua). Heavyweight.—H. Reeves. Tho officials responsible for the excellent manner in which the tournament was conducted were: —Referee, Mr Jim P. Evans; judges, Messrs J. Louisson and B. McGrath; timokeepers, Messrs N. D. Stubbs and H. A. Hamilton; announcer, Mr J. M. Pearson. Following are tho detailed results: ’ FLYWEIGHT. (Title holder: C. Warne.)

C. Walker (Taihape) 7.11 v. “Tiger” Edwards (Palmerston North), 7.8. Walker displayed clever footwork, but did not always escape without reply. Although Edwards was lacking in directness, he played a nice straight left on occasions, following it up with a right swing, and he had the better of the exchanges in the closing stages of tho second round. The local lad carried all the fight in the final round to gain a well-merited victory. It was announced that Walker had never previously been in the ring and his showing indicates better things for the future. BANTAMWEIGHT. (Holder: C. Warne.) Semi-final. —11. Childs (Palmerston North) 8.4 v. L. McLaughlan (Palmerston North) 8.1. —Both lads displayed nice footwork and speed, but McLaughlan’s deliveries carried the greater danger and Childs was content to take the. count to nine on one occasion as the result of a hard rip to the body. McLaughlan had his opponent on the retreat in tho second and pinned lrim on the ropes. Condition told in the final round and McLaughlan took the decision. Final. —L. McLaughlan v. P. Sutton (Feilding) 8.4. —It was free hitting from the commencement, but after a nice opening, Sutton lapsed, allowing McLaughlan’ to carry the fight and gain the verdict. However, he came hack strongly before the close. McLaughlan led all the way in the second. Both boys were beautifully fit, but McLaughlan lrad tho measure of his opponent who, however, displayed great possibilities. FEATHERWEIGHT. (Title holder: T. Holden.) T. Holden (Palmerston North) 8.12 v. G. Downes (Palmerston North) 8.12 —This was the only bout in the class and the champion got down to business quickly, forcing his opponent to cover uj> repeatedly. Holden’s lightning lefts found his opponent’s face rejreatedly, but Downes was fighting hack gamely. Downes was largely on the defensive, hut when pressed, he came back with hard rights and lefts and he had tho champion smothering up in turn on occasion. Speed and experience won for Holden and although a section of the crowd was with tho younger aspirant, the points margin was well defined. LIGHTWEIGHT. (Title Holder: T. Oxley.)

Semi-final.-—B. Goughian. (Palmerston North) 9.5 v. J. Wilson (Marton) 9.6. Although tho finir went into clinches repeatedly tho exchanges were heavy, Goughian swinging a nasty left. Tho Marton lad was last, ibut Goughian commenced to force matters more in the second and there was little between them when they came up for the final. ’Tlio local lad forced matters and, although fie was made to miss repeatedly, he ran out the winner. Final.—ls. Coughlan (Palmerston North) 9.5 v. F. Hopkins (Palmerston North) 9.8. The latter used his left to advantage, hut his connections lacked the weight of his opponent’s. Coughlan commenced to force matters in the second round, but repeatedly rail into straight lefts, and was made to miss frequently. Hopkins continued the same tactics, but with less effect, although lie was employing his right to better advantage. Hopkins outboxed Goughian in the final round to win. WELTER-WEIGHT. (Title Holder: L. Riley.)

Semi-finals.—D. Smith (Mnsterton) 10.7 v. 13. Downes (Marion) 10.6: The latter forced matters in the initial round, but when stung Smith came back spiritedly. Smith made better use of his superior reach in the second, but ran into a left swing which sent him to the mat. The Masterton lad took the count to nine and although he ran into some other hard ones, he weathered the storm. Smith made it willing in the final round and finished the stronger, but could not make up the leeway. M. Candy (Palmerston North) 10.5 J v. W. Munn (Palmerston North) 10.1 J : Canily followed his

customary aggressive tactics and had his opponent down for nine in tho opening round. Later, a hard right had him groggy and the referee brought the bout to a premature halt. J. Plank (Feilding) 10.7 v. M. Candy ( Palmerston North) 10.5 i : Both were cautious, Candy being much more subdued than usual, hut he was carrying tho attack before the closo. Plank stepped in with a smart left and followed up with a right, hut tho blows were light. Although the bout never attained great heights, Candy was the aggressor and gained tho victory.

Final.—Candy v. Downes: Candy went to the attack immediately and tho Mnrton lad was on tho rotreat practically throughout. The same order prevailed in tlio second, hut things quickened up in the final, Candy, however, maintaining his advantage to the closo to gain a clear-cut victory. MIDDLEWEIGHT. (Title Holder: L. Riley.) Semi-final.—lt. Nairn (Marton) 11.0 v. J. McMahon (Taihape) 11.0: The exchanges were heavy, hut somewhat wild in a vigorous first round. Nairn got home with heavy artillery in the second, hut McMahon replied in kind and they slogged away too to too to the great delight of the crowd. It was willing to the end and botli were very tired, at the conclusion. Tho verdict went to McMahon.

Final:—McMahon v. J. Ford (Masterton) 11.5: Ford had tho advantage in height and reach and McMahon made the body his objective, hut he frequently ran into nice lefts. McMahon made Ford miss on occasion, but tho Masterton man’s stance proved awkward to him. Ford carried the fight in the second and outboxed his opponent in the final round, McMahon tiring, to run out a good winner. LIGHT-HEAVY. (Titlo Holder: J. Cossill.)

H. Reeves (Pahiatua) 12.1 v. H. Dillon (Taihape) 12.2. —Both aspirants swung heavy rights and lefts. Reeves missing badly with his uppercuts, although a heavy right seat Dillon to the mat. Reeves played his left, with an occasional right swing from tho hip, hut Dillon covered nicely and evaded serious danger. The final round was Reeves’s, and he brought tho bout to a close by giving tho k.o. just before the bell sounded. HEAVYWEIGHT. (Titlo Holder: J. Cossill.)

Semi-final.-—A. Thurston (Taihape) 12.5 v. J. Adams (Marton) 12.11: Although having tho advantage in weight, Adams lacked the reach of his opponent. Nevertheless, lie carried tho attack in the opening round. Thurston woke up in the second, but tho effort was spasmodic. The final saw Thurston on the floor twice in close succession and tho referee called the bout off. Filial.-—Reeves v. Adams: The former followed in oil his right, but his range was short on occasion. However, ho carried all the fight and continued to do so in the second. It was not a particularly interesting final, there being too much close work. Reeves, nevertheless, ran out a good winner.

WELLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. The "Wellington senior boxing amateur championships resulted as fellow : —Paperweight, T. Bridge; flyweight, F. Finnegan; bantamweight, H. Dunn; featherweight, L. C. Higgs; lightweight, J. Donoglme; welterweight, M. Peiclii; middleweight, J. Mansfield; light-heavyweight, , M. Strickland (lyy default); heavyweight, M. Strickland (by default). Higgs received the medal for the most scientific boxer.