BRIGHT

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1934, Page 2

BRIGHT

TOURNAMENT AT KAIKOHE. first CLASS ENTERTAINMENT. With spectators crowding right on to the ropes, ami with a programme of ton bouts, in which there was hardly n dull moment, fu» willing were the eonlost. r m Is, the scene at the boxing tournament in Ivaikohe on Saturday evening, bold by the Boxing Association, will nor soon he forgotten. It was the most successful attraction of its kind held in the tevritorv.

Tiie committee had been very eueocssful in securing boxers who did not let up from gong to gong, and the referee, Air Bert Mor’fctte, saw to it that there was nothing in the way of clinching. It was ‘ all open boxing and particularly clean sport.

The first bout of the evening, the meeting* of two flyweights—Somerliold (Russell) and D. Ready (Moerewa) — set the tunc for the evening’s entertainment. Those boys maintained a lively pace, and had the crowd on its toes, but the next pair on the canvas, two lads, Rod Ready and Brooker, would, by general consent, have won the palm for the evening’s entertainment, Though smaller and lighter than hie opponent, Ready put up a quite remarkable performance of scientific boxing, using his brains, his hands and his feet like a veteran. This boy should have a future in the boxing ring. The judges for the evening were Alessrs H. Young (Kawakawa) and J. Hires (Rawene). The announcer was Air Rex Somerville, of Kawakawa. The Bouts. Douglas Ready (Moerewa) % and D. Somerfield (Russell), two paperweights, opened the evening with a very lively bout, the decision going to the better boxer, Ready. Rod Ready (Moerewa) and R. Brooker (Russell), two flyweights, followed. The smaller boy, Ready, was quick as a. mosquito, and got the decision after a brilliant performance. Fred Tenanui (Kaikohe) and J. Wharerau (Waima), two heavyweights, indulged in a more or less friendly spar for three rounds, the Waima man winning on points scored with his left.

Dawson AtacLeau (Kaikohe), 30.3, met J. Parata (Puketona), 10.6. The Maori, with an awkward shift, made the pace in the first round but MacLean scored most points through the use of his right. It was the same in the second round. Had .he followed up his advantage better, instead of waiting for his opponent to lead he would have scored still more points. In the third round both fought themselves to a standstill. The judges’ decision wae in favour of Mae Lean.

Roy Campbell (Warkworth), 10.4, and Len Brown (Auckland), 10.6, boxed a lively four rounds, Campbell winning a popular decision. Wilcox Reti (Russell), 10.6, met G. Keogh (Kawiti), 10.2. They were whirlwinds until • some nard blows sobered them down. The Maori haka antics which marked Keogh’s fighting were a diverting feature of the bout.

There were numerous wild flurries and steady trading of blows, both men being fought to a standstill, when a draw was given.

Two heavyweights, Mojj, Wharerau (North Auckland champion), 14.0,, and “Whiskers” Clarke (Talxeke), 13.6, next took the ring. The first round was quiet and oven. In the second th(> Maori had the measure of his opponent and the white man was down on three occasions. In the , third round, “Whiskers” fought back very gamely. In the fourth round ho more than held his own, but the aggregate points were against him, and the decision for Wharerau was well received. Wharerau could have outed his less experienced rival early in the fight had he so desired.

The meeting of the two finalists in the Inst North Auckland middleweight championship, Peter Steers (Hikurnngi), 11.3, and C. Brown (Warkworth), 1.1.6, a roused the greatest interest. Both men wore in splendid condition, and made the pace a cracker, Brown being the more aggressive. Both took a lot of punishment. In the third round Steers went down to a blow on the neck from Brown's right, but was up quickly. Several times he appeared to be in distress, but he fought back well, and the decision, a draw, was a popular one. S. Anderson, 10.5, who won the welter championship of Hawke’s Bay, came from Waitangi to meet Allan Howie, the well-known . Whangarei welterweight, now of Puketone. The contest was a sterling one and created intense interest. Anderson was a strong, hard-hitting boxer, but he met an experienced and stubborn opponent in Howie, who was, however, lucky in weathering four rounds. Only his grit saved him. Anderson could not knock him out though Howie took advantage of the canvas on several occasions.

There was hard hitting on both sides.

Only one decision was possible. N. Bruce (Kawakawa), 12.7, met Williams (Waima), 12.11. Williams looked more than four pounds heavier, and had the advantage in the opening stages, but, b»y the end of the first round, Bruce had hie measure, and,, in the second, nearly had his.man beaten. He had a left which was most damaging to .Williams. The third round ended just in time to save the Waima man. Bruce w r on on points.

G, Zaninovieh, 11.0, and N, Johnson (Hukcrenui), 11. G, boxed four rounds. Zaninovieh lived up to hie nick-name “Mickey the Mouse,” and danced all round the ring, but was not feeling too comfortable at the end of the first round. He had the advantage in the second round, and from then on kept in the lead. Johnson was in a bad way when the last bell rang.