Amateur Boxing At Opera House

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 280, 27 November 1945, Page 5

Amateur Boxing At Opera House

There was au excellent programme of amateur bouts at the Opera House last night prior to the professional fight.

Bob Gifkins and Brian Barlow, two paperweights, opened proceedings. Barlow made a really good showing against a more experienced opponent but Gifkins won by a fairly comfortable margin. Gene O’Brien, 9.7, and Don Ducket, 9.7, were next. Both were willing and O’Brien, with cleaner hitting took the first round. Ducket, standing square on to his was not often iu position to do any effective hitting. O’Brien kept beating Ducket to the punch in the second session and he was well ahead when the third round started. O’Brien continued to pile up points with his left and he ran out au easy winner.

Fred Robertson and Dave Tennant (Rougotea), two welterweights, met at even weights. Wild cats had nothing on them and they were cheered to the echo at the end of the first round. It was the same in the second round and leather, some of it landing, was flying all the time. Early in the third round Robertson, following a couple of uppercuts, dropped Tennant for eight. Tennant weathered the storm And was going as well as Robertson at the gong. They got an ovation and Robertsou won on points. Bill Andrew's, though outranged, fought through to victory against Bill Clifton, of Kongotea, who would not make use of what looked ns if it could have been a nice straight left. W. Waghorn beat Sid Chapman by a technical knockout, Chapman having to retire in the first round with an injured nose.

Merv Strawbridge w r as matched with Les Murray and Murray hurt Strawbridge with a dandy left rip in the first round. Ho did not follow it up and Straw'bridge was giving as good as he was getting towards the end of the round. Strawbridge outboxed Murray in the second round. It was the same in the third but just at the end Strawbridgo hurt Murray with two rights and Murray, just at the gong, rocked Strawbridge with a left hook and a short right. Strawbridge was the winner.

More than 14,000 couples have been divorced in the United Kingdom so far this year, says the Daily Telegraph. The number hns already passed last year’s record of 12,350 divorces. Two thousand petitions are pending in London alone.