BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18495, 4 September 1923, Page 4

BOXING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

PROFESSIONAL WELTER-WEIGHTS.

Tho bout between J. Graham and P. Hansen for the professional welter-weight title last week attracted a great crowd to the Town Hall. The interest manifested in the contest should convince tho Northern: Boxing Association, that J the public are anxious to see local men in action, ■ providing they are well 'matched. The bout was a thoroughly good : one. It was more like a first-class amateur contest than a professional battle. There was very little clinching and wrestling ; round the ring, and a clean break was strictly observed. There were plenty of lively exchanges, and some very solid rallies, and blows were frequently launched by each that would have meant a knockout had they landed. Hansen was the more aggressive, particularly in the latter part of the bout, but . Graham ' boxed well throughout. Though his punches lacked the sting of : Hansen's heavily-charged rights ;he 'was the more prolific scorer up to the tenth round. Graham was compelled: to box on the retreat for the last five rounds owing to having sustained a broken collarbone. The fact that he held off his opponent and came back to outbox him in .the last round says much for Graham cleverness and grit. It was a particularly clean contest, and Hansen lost nothing in prestige by his defeat. There was very little between the pair at the finish, but Graham had earned the verdict.

• Graham states : that,he felt his collarbone snap when in a clinch in the tenth round,, and attributes the injury to a violent twist at close' quarters : That may be correct, but he received two or three very heavy - rights ■on the collarbone in the tenth round that probably contributed to the injury. , . ,■. With VJ. ham hors de combat the proposed match between the winner of the Graham-Hansen contest and C. Blackburn, which was to have taken place in a, month, will have to be : abandoned 1 here is some talk of Blackburn and Hansen being matched. A meeting between this pair should provide an excellent contest. .. Local foxing supporters are keen to see Blackburn in action again, and in Hansen he should find a worthy opponent The retirement of that clever featherweight, ; M. Hatton, from the boxing game will be generally ■ regretted. ■ ? The Northern Boxing : Association desired 'to match' Hatton with Facoory for a substantial purse, b'it. the former declined the offer - and stated that he had definitely decided not to .- tako part. in any further ring con- ; 6StS» ■ ."■' ■ .•',. , 1 . ';•;.■'■) ')yj ■■':■■ , y ,>;"■•■,. \y'■■''■