Brilliant Finish Gave Collins The Decision

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

Brilliant Finish Gave Collins The Decision

Duncan Outpointed in Fast and Clever Fight

Joe Collins, of Palmerston North, fought brilliantly in the last two rounds to take a points decision over Jack Duncan, of Auckland, in the 10round professional welter-weight contest in the Palmerston North Opera House last night. It was a thrilling finish to one of the fastest bouts ever staged by the Manawatu Boxing Association. Collins appeared to be “on his toes” before the bout started and Duncan, out to enake it interesting for Collins, never gave him time to settle down. Duncan, though being beaten to the punch, kept after his man all the time, and although he “trailed” on points at the end of the seventh round, it appeared in the eighth as if he had Collins “where he wanted him” and as if Duncan would more than make up the leeway over the closing stages of the fight. Collins, however, came out in the ninth and outboxed and outfought the Aucklander. It was the same in the last round and Collins won by a clearcut margin.

Duncan weighed 10.5 to Collins’ 10.3 and he had a longer reach. Duncan came out fighting and Collins snapped a couple of lefts to his face as he came in. Duncan got close in and landed a stiff left to Collins’ face. They moved in and “mixed” it and Collins ripped home a couple of good rights, taking a straight left in return. They were punching hard and Collins was short with a right which grazed Duncan’s chin just before a grand first round ended.

Collins was making good use of his left at long range and of right hooks and rips in close. Duncan kept boxing in and scoring with lefts, and with right rips. Collins was hard to hit, always being ready to move aside before slamming home a left or a right. He landed one good short right to the side of the head and was setting himself for another when Duncan snaked a steam-packed left to his face. In the third round Duncan vrae out to land a fight-winning punch. Duncan kept boring in but Collins boxing brilliantly, never left an opening. He kept Duncan guessing and scored with a variety of punches. The pace slowed down a shade in the fourth round. There were several clinches early but, half-way through tho round, Duncan feinted and then moved in and landed a dipping right to the side of Collins’ jaw. It was the best punch so far. The spectators sensed more to follow as Duncan moved in and slammed a right to the body. Collins, however, went after Duncan and was just short with two vicious rights. Collins opened hostilities in the fifth with a left which sent Duncan’s head back. Duncan was setting himself for another right but Collins kept beating him to the punch. Duncan did lan-l one good left but Collins got him with a left rip, then “nailed” him with a right upper cut, both hands, and then with another right, all good punches. Duncan kept him off for the reßt of the round with his left. It was Collins* round easily. Duncan came out in the sixth to square accounts. He landed a short right chop and then rushed Collins to the ropes. He could not keep him thero for Collins fought him off w r ith a left rip aud a right to the chin. Duncan retaliated wuth a left to the face and a right to the body. They exchanged lefts and Collins then connected with, a solid hook w’hich did not travel far. He followed with a left to the body and just before the gong he landed a right to the body and a left to the face.

The seventh opened with an exchange of short punches to the bead. There w T as plenty of pow’er in them. Duncau then moved in but Collins stepped aside and hooked him on the chin. He left himself open after the punch and Duncan hooked a short right to the chin. Duncan went after Collins and caught him with a left to the head. Collins moved inside the next one as the round ended.

Duncan easily took the eighth round during which he had Collins worried all the w r ay. There was a short and sharp rally to start with and from that on Duncan never let Collins have a “breathing space.” It w r as a different story in the ninth and the tenth during which Collins went in under Duncan’s rights to conic up hitting viciously with both hands. Collins opened the tenth round with a left to the chin, followed by a right. Duncan was trying but he was being beaten to the punch. Half way through the round Collins landed a well-timed right cross. It w*as the best punch of the fight and Collins was quick ta follow it up. Duncan was outgeneralled and out fought for the rest of the round and the fight ended as a left from Collins whizzed past Duncan ’s jaw.

The referee for the professional bout was Mr. G. Watch or n aud that for the amateur bouts Mr. Ces Matson. The judges were Messrs. E. Arnott and Jack McMahon, the announcer Mr. R. R. Morton, the stage manager Mr. J. Purves aud the timekeepers Messrs. W. J. Sherer and J. Clark.