AMATEUR BOXING.

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1923, Page 3

AMATEUR BOXING.

WHANGAREI TOURNAMENT

PROVES MARKED SUCCESS,

That boxing has a firm hold in the North as a sport with a groat following of keen enthusiasts was shown by the really good attendance of spectators at the Town Hall last evening, when the Whangarei Boxing Association submitted an interesting programme of eight-fights and an exhibition spar. Some of those who came especially to Whangarei to see the contests had travelled long distances, as was indicated by the fact that there were six car-loads from Pukehuia, «n the Northern Wairoa. Some good contests were witnessed, noticeably those between the lightweights, Stewart v. Bauman and Bignell v. Carroll, and the welters, Dwyer v. Miller, while ',he exhibition spar between R. Trowern and E. Halford was one of the most interesting features of the evening, and the best exposition of boxing. The cruisenveight encounter between Cunis and Snowden was good to watch, though Snowden had not been well, and all were not satisfied with the bout or the way in which it was fought.

The executive of the Association has built up a reputation for running tournaments well, and last night light up to it, there being nothing wanting as far as arrangements and smooth lunning were concerned.

Mr R. G. Hosking announced a few changes in the programme originally intended, owing to the prevalence of sickness. Litt, Reeves and George •were the trio laid up, and good contests were substituted for their fixtures. The bouts were as under:—HEAVYWEIGHTS.

E. Hohneck (Hokianga), 14st 41b, v T. Wells (Whangarei), 12st 1 lib.

The first conflict after a steady beginning saw Hohneek score with a series of right body blows. Then in a mix up Wells more than held his own towards the close of the round. In the second set-to Wells, quicker on his feet, made the fighting for a time, but the proceedings were distinctly uninteresting at this stage. Hohneek missed badly in a mix-up in the third, and he did not look much of a fighter unril near the close, when his upper cutting got Wells on the defensive, and it was Hohneek's round. Wells, in tie fourth, scored well with a left to the ribs early in a stand-off go. When they did mix it Holineck, though hitting hard and scoring, seemed to be glad to stand away. Then Hohneek scored with three good leads and it was easily his round. The Hokianga man made it lively in tho earlier stages of the fifth round and kept it going fnirlv well until Wells dropped his gloves and was glad of the gong, having visibly tired. In the last round Hohneek scored steadily by leading, and Wells promenaded. Hohneek was declared the winner of the poorest heavyweight figrht. ever staged by the Association. All the same Wells must be credited with the fact that he substituted for F. Litt. FEATHERWEIGHT. T. Hawkins (Pukehuia), 9st .3 Jib, v. J. Pickles (Hikurangi), 9st 9 Jib.

Hawkins made the fighting: early arid both got into close work and kept it going, but Pkkles proved his oppon-

ert's equal, although Hawkins gained a bit towards the end of the round with right and left-half hooks. The second round was a repetition of the first, of what was a poor imitation of Stewart Smith's .stv'e of in-fighting. Pickles was scoring, however, steadily with upper cuts, and Hawkins showed the colour as a ma r k that they were connecting. The Pukehuia lad continued scoring .early in the third rouu 1 with uppers, and then when the pair stood off he made Pickles anxious to wres + lo again. The round was not productive of any good fighting. Hinv.r is was much more energetic in the fourth round, but towards the end he got one on the rebound from the ropes and he went to the ground, but was up when the gong went. Pickles jumped in with a left to the face early in the fifth a..d a willing exchange was in his favour. A loft poke to the facj made him jerk his head back, but he maintained the lead and fought gamely until, in the last, he made the fighting rirjht through and had his opponent twice on the ranvas. The decision in the light v:is rightly to Pickles. EXHIBITION SPAR, An exhibition bout between R. Trowern, who extended Purely in Auckland last week, and E. Halford of Auckland, who won the flyweight championship laft season and was runner-up this was quite a refresher, and the clcver footwork of both lads and their quickness in hitting, elusive tactics, and feinting, was a long way ahead of the ponderous effoits of the medium amateur displays previously given. Trowern undoubtedly showed marked progress, and the spar was well received by the P'vctntnrs.

lightweights

N. Stewart CWhangarei), 9st 81b, v. A. Bi'umnn Ost, 121b. This was one of the best battles of the night.

Stewart early adopted his aggressive tactics anil got a good many home in the firsr round, thoug'i Bauman fmght more opeiny and better than on some former occasions. In the second round there wa-i very little difference registered, although the cljaner hits were regii-lerorl bv Stewart. Punches with sting in them were the features of the

third round, with Bauman in the ascendency in the early stages, but then missing and taking a good deal of punishment, though it was probably his round. Both men meant business in the fourth, and in open fighting some weighty body blows went home and the round jvas brimful of interest, although Bauman was cautioned for wrestling. Thp fifih round saw similar tactics, with nothing much between the pair, and both scoring at times with heavy blows, though Stewart continued to do most of the leading. In the last round Bauman used his weight and forced Stewart to the ropes, but the latter came back with a clean clip to the jaw ar.d after a line exchange, ending in Stewart finishing with a left to the jaw, the popular decision was a draw. FLYWEIGHTS. E. Lacey (Whangarei), sst 3131b, v. M. Russ 'Kaikohe), sst 121b.

The two boys fought well in the opening rounds and the Kaikohe lad kept on leading with his left and scoring steadily, though Lacey responded with some lefts especially that scored. Lacey was the better tutored lad, up against a fighter, and he improved his position so much in the last round that the decision of a draw was well received. WELTERWEIGHTS. L. Dwyer (Otaika), lOst 121 lb v. E. Miller (Matapouri), lOst 7*ib.

Dwyer did not start very well,' but in the hard hitting contest that ensued he more than held his own until near the end oi the first round, when he seemed glad of a respite, [n the second round Miller fought the better in the hard hitting conflict, though Dwyer told his talc with vicious upper rights, some of which certainly missed, but the .'ud of the round evened matters up a lot. In the third the hard, straight leads and swings of Miller scored, and although Dwyer tried again with the upper swings he signalled to his seconds at the close of the round to throw in the towel. He was obviously distressed, and the verdict went to Miller. LIGHTWEIGHTS. S. Bignall (Whangarei), 9st 81b, v. J. Carroll (Auckland), 9st 131b.

There was very little fighting in the first round, which was even, but in the next Bignall made the most of the chances in the in-fighting and in that way he scored an advantage. In the third Bignall increased his le,id, and his elusive tactics were a long way ahead of his opponent's, though outside of hitting power, without which footwork is of no avail, Carroll was the better. The fourth round was similar, with too much holding, but Bignall fsreed the fight all the time. There was a poor round for the fifth, but Carroll probably did better in it than in any prior one. In the last round there was a lot of holding and at one stage Bignell looked likely to floor his man, who held on to the end. The decision wns in Bignall's favour. It must have been in every round. WELTERWEIGHTS. N". Holdcn (Whangnrei), lOst 61b, v. J. Dank? (Dargaville), lOst.

This bout was short and sharp. It started in a very lively way and promised to be «i good fight, but within a minute Holden got 1 genuine one in

the wind and went down. He was clearly unable to continue and the seconds stepped into the ring and removed him to the chair, the decision, of course, going to Danks. CRUISERWEIG-HTS. P. Cunis (Whanrjarci), list lib, v. A. Snowden (Hikurangi), list 121b). Cunis started lending ineffectively, all with the left, but when he had got the length he made more use of his advantage and increased the rate of registering point?. His opponent responded in the second round with a fow lefts, but Cunis was steadily improving his position by taking the initiative. The third clash was of <1 similar style of fighting light through and it ..was in favour of Cunis again. Harder hitting, but otherwise a. similar round to those preceding, describes the fifth, while the final was marred by talking between the contestants and a series of wild swings which failed to alter .the position, Cunis being declared the winner on points. Mr W. Palmer was referee and his direction and decisions were as popular as ever and a decided feature in securing the amount of success and satisfaction achieved.