BOXING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 261, 2 October 1936, Page 12

BOXING

DE GANS BEATEN. POINTS VICTORY TO NICHOL. The return of boxing to public favour was again exemplified last evening, when the Opera House was the venue of a professional bout between the American coloured boxer, Roy de Gans, and Claude Nichol, tho Victorian heavyweight champion of Australia, there being a good attendance. Botli boxers hold a high place in the fistic world in their respective countries, and the Alanawatu Boxing Association deserves credit for giving local followers of the sport an opportunity of seeing tho two in action. The American lias had considerably more experience than the Australian, but the latter was more aggressive all through, and lie was awarded the decision by tho referee after the judges had disagreed. The verdict met with a mixed reption. Nichol sealed 12.7 and de Gans 12.2.

As a spectacle the bout was disappointing, though there was plenty of clever ringcraft on the part of botli fighters. Nichol tried hard to bring off a blow that would knock out his opponent, hue de Gang was too wily to be caught. The large amount of infighting was disappointing to the public, who wanted fireworks. The first round opened quietly, hardly a punch connecting, and there were calls for the fighters to do something. Both adopted more aggressive tactics in the second round, Nichol connecting with a blow to Gans’s face, but there was a lot of j close fighting that did not appeal to I tho spectators. Nothing of much mo- : mont occurred in the third round. 1 Both fighters were prancing round j tho ring, but close fighting was still the order. Tho crowd called to the boxers to fight in the fourth round, which was merely a repetition of the earlier ones, with hardly a real punch struck. The fight bceamo more willing in the fifth round, each connecting with rips to tho head. Do Gans connected with a right to tho body and Nichol was getting in some telling blows with both hands when the gang sounded. The sixth round was confined to close infighting, and some hard body punches, both boxers scoring with | good hits. Do Gans scored with a left to the face in the seventh round, and Nichol retaliated with a bom- : bardment to his opponent’s body, i Both scored with punches to the face jin the eighth round, and Do Gans got ! a quick left to the face that re- | sounded. Nothing of a serious nature happened in the ninth round, the constant repetition of close fighting not finding favour with the crowd. The tenth commenced with Nichol landing a perfect right to the face, and both worked in some uppercuts that found their mark. The eleventh round saw some real whirlwind fight- : ing, and the crowd sat up and took ; notice. De Gans got in a quick lelt ; to tho face and Nichol rammed home a nasty rip that shook the American. In the twelfth De Gans rushed Nichol to the ropes, but the Australian covered himself well and was not punished. Nichol connected to the jaw as the gong sounded. In the thirteenth round ►De Gans brought off a hard left to the face and a few seconds later Nichol, who was doing most of the leading, retaliated with a similar punch. The fight became merry in the fourteenth session, both boxers opening out and indulging in some hard hitting, but no damage was done. De Gans sprang a beautiful right to the jaw and another to tho body. Nichol retaliated with a left to the body and a jab or two to the head. The final round was disappointing, close fighting being the order, and the verdict went to Nichol on points. THE PRELIMINARIES. Aiidgets.—Georgo Cook (Feilding) 5.2 v. Neville Hastings (P.N.) 4.8: Hastings was the more finished boxer and although Cook made most of the attack in the last round, the Palmerston North boy’s success was well received. Featherweight.—D. Coughlan (P.N.) 8.12 v. W. Porter (Shannon) 9.2: Porter did practically all the fighting and, though Coughlan got home a few times in the last round, the match was Porter’s all tho way. Featherweight.—J. Aitehison (Shannon) 9.0 v. H. Norris (P.N.) 9.2: The Palmerston North boy was too scientific for his opponent, who left his face open to receive a severe punishing. Tho verdict to Norris was a popular one. Featherweight.—J. O’Neill (Palmerston North) 9.3 v. J. Collins (Palmerston North) 9.2: This was a whirlwind bout, which ended in the second round, through O’Neill fouling Collins, who was declared the winner. Both boxers made matters very willing while it lasted. Welterweight.—lT. Christensen (Palmerston North! 9.11 v. J. Johnstone (Palmerston North) 10.8.—Both hoys went for knock-outs and left their guard open. Johnstone mixed it with wrestling at times, but the award went to Christensen. The officials were Alessrs E. R. Wimsett (president). J. P. Evans (referee), G. Watehorn and J. Louisson (judges), H. Bennott (announcer), J. Purves (stage manager). N. D. Stubbs and W. Crystal! (time-keep-ers) and Jack Purves (call steward).

Before tho start of tho professional contest, Joe Hall, the featherweight and junior light-weight champion of Australia, and Harold Reeve, who meets Roy De Gans in Pahiatua shortly, were introduced from the ring, both getting a warm reception.