FEATHERWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3491, 29 October 1926, Page 7

FEATHERWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

HOLDER WINS ON FOUL. [Per Press Association.] BLENHEIM, Last Night. Lin Robinson 3.0 (Gisborne), holder, defeated Dick Vercoe S.I3J (Marlborough), challenger, In a 15round bout for the professional featherweight boxing championship of New Zealand, and a purse of one hundred guineas. Vercoe seemed slow in the flrij rounds, but kept dodging round the ring, the champion meanwhile steadily mounting up points, especially When at close quarters. Robinson . won practically every round, hitting cleanly and showing sound defence. In the third round, both men tripped and fell. There was not much incident till the eighth, which was willing, the men exchanging blow for blow. There was some wild hitting, but Robinson continued to score right and left swings. Vercoe then livened up, and the: tenth and eleventh saw the fastest exchanges of the contest. The champion scored more freely, both in the in and out fighting, but apparently swung of? his balance in a clinch, and went to the mat for four. Vercoe was aggressive In the’ twelfth, and commenced to swing his left to the head and body, and seeking an opening for a knock-out. The champion was now slowing down, and Vercoe clinched in a corner. When the referee ordered a break, the challenger struck a blow which landed on Robinson’s arm. The referee ordered the men to their comers, and disqualified Vercoe, and awarded the fight to Robinson. Vercoe, seen afterwards, said he didn't hear the referee order the break, and the blow was struck ini over-eagerness.