BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15375, 9 August 1913, Page 10

BOXING.

'.'". KEYS xV* JlffißT .murphy, 7 [DT TELEaiUVH^— ASSOCIAXICi?.] . : ■'/. ;., _■ WEtxiNeToir, Friday. : The Wellington Boxing Association tonight decided that Murphy ould be matched again Keys in • Wellington on August 27 or September 1 for a, 1 purse of lOCsova, with J315 expenses to Keys and £7 10s to Murphy, the limit to be lOst. NOTES AND COMMENTS. . ' The. Northern Boxing Association is to be congratulated on the success of its first really .-big venture. When the gong sounded for the first bout on Wednesday night hardly a seat was vacant in the Town Hall, while many were standing. The size of the attendance might in some measure be gauged from the fact that the proceeds amounted to over £500, which is a most decided record for any boxing match in the Dominion. .Those who were present were rewarded with a really fine contest. Never have New Zealanders, who stop at home, seen two such pastmasters of the boxing art in action, and the bout served not only to provide an evening's amusement, but to show what a really fine sport good boxing is. The contest will long remain in the memory of those who saw 'it as a fight as interring' and as clean as one could wish for.

The general opinion was that Summers would win, but all, not at least Summers himself, recognised that to beat a man with a well-deserved reputation such as Hock Keys enjoys, would be no easy task, and so it proved. Both men entered the ring at 9st 13$lb, and it. was quickly apparent that each, was in first-class condition. Summers appeared the sturdier of the two, but Keys, although slighter in build, stripped very well, especially about the chest, and looked every inch a stayer. Summers fought with much more confidence than the Australian, who seemed to be feeling his way until the last few rounds, when he fought much more confidently, and quite held his own. It was a contest between a finished boxer, and afighter with a very fair knowledge of boxing, and the latter won. The Englishman's blows were clean and hard, but Keys's defensive work was of the very highest order. Otherwise he must have been knocked out in the earliest rounds. Summers was particularly convincing in the in-fighting, when ho "pounded Keys's ribs and body with almost monotonous regularity. His opponent's guard, however, was very sound, and except in the clinches Summers did not do a great amount of damage. Keys, on the other hand, seemed to lack power in his blows. : ; He scored most frequently with a lightning left to the face when coming out of clinches/ bat ability to hurt seemed to be absent. Summers was also very sound in his defence. In fact, the defensive work of both men was quite the outstanding feature of the fight. In the last three or four rounds Keys settled down " properly, and got some telling blows home in ail directions, though he usually received as good as he got. . Summers appeared to tire a little in the closing rounds, but- still he did hot look like losing at any stage of the contest. It was generally expected by those who knew anything'of the methods of the men that there was every probability of the Englishman getting ! a kw>ck-out ■■. blow home," but Keys never gave him an opportunity, rand the fight went the whole 15 rounds, Summers then gaining a well-deserved victory on points. From beginning to end there was hardly an uninteresting • moment.., Each, man seemed to recognise that he had much to gain 'by winning, and consequently the standard of boxing was high. After seeing Summers in action, one could not wonder at the number of first-class men who have had to acknowledge defeat at his hands. ■: His blows were ; judiciously placed, and when he wished : he ripped : them in with tremendous force, while he was lightning-like in the rapidity ;of his movements. Keys was also very quick. He exhibited decided cleverness, and one could easily imagine what a great fighter he must have been when at his very best. The contest was fought' in the irery - best of "spirit. There' was no fouling, of any description; lib' "breaches Of the roles, but right through the fight was a fine exhibition of clean sportsmanlike boxing. 1 ' '