PROFESSIONAL BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20642, 14 August 1930, Page 14

PROFESSIONAL BOXING.

PALMER DEFEATS McINNES.

DECISION GAINED ON POINTS. WINNER'S REACH DOMINATES. The fifth professional bout of the Northern Boxing Association's 1930 season was staged at the Town Hall last night, when Dave Palmer, of Victoria, lOst. secured a points' decision over Tommy Mclnnes, of Scotland, who scaled half a pound heavier than his opponent. The change to a mid-week fixturo reflected itself in the attendance, which was considerably below that usually accorded the association's fixtures. Mclnnes, well remembered for several previous plucky and bright displays, was not, able to reproduce .his old form, and before the contest bad reached the tenth round it was evident that the Scotsman would have to pile on many points in the following sessions if the verdict was to come to him. He went after these gamely enough, but even the majority of the five concluding rounds were not in his favour and there was no dissent from the decision of the judges. A sameness of tactics throughout was the most marked feature of a contest that was not thrilling yet not uninteresting. Palmer, taller and slimmer, had a. marked advantage in reach, which ho used repeatedly to score with rights and lefts to face and head. Mclnnes came in to counter this advantago and concentrated on his opponout's body, but Palmer showed himself as alert at "ducking" as the Scotsman was at covering up. A Quiet Opening. The light commenced quietly, and there was little in the first round, in which Mclnnes drew blood from Palmer's mouth. The second round went to Palmer, but the two following we re even, both boxers missing badly at times. Mclnnes had damaged Palmer's left eye arid strove to concentrate upon it for a time, but tho Victorian countered with scoring rights and lefts. In the next three minutes Mclnnes increased the pace and was going well until Palmer kept him smothering busily on tho ropes, delivering a telling right swing to the head. Still Mclnnes kept coming in to close range and stopped a stinging right to the face, lie was rushed to the ropes, where one of Palmer's blows went low and the Scotsman winced, while his opponent stood back, and the referee raised a cautioning finger. Mclnnes showed to better advantage in the eighth round, of which he bad decidedly the better in the closing minute. He crowded in oil palmer and just before the gong oent a vicious left hook to the jaw, but the defending glove was too quick for tho blow. Palmer Scores Consistently. From this on it was chiefly Palmer's fight. He scored consistently, utilising his reach, but not disdaining to do his share at close quarters. In the 13th round Mclnnes came in from the gong, but was steadied by a straight right to the face that, caused hiin to clinch. The most willing exchanges of the bout occurred as the round closed, slightly to the newcomer's advantage This was increased in the next round, when the Scotsman was rocked by a. left to tho jaw that caught him back-moving, but on the ropes. Realising the "position, Mclnnes st rove for a knock-out in tho closing minutes. He damaged Palmer's other eye, and roused the spectators to enthusiasm, but his taller opponent mixed the fighting willingly, and tho last round was his also. At the close of the bout, Mr. George Bush, president of tho Northern Boxing Association, on behalf of an anonymous donor, handed to W. Ilogg a, gold medal, 111 appreciation of the boy's excellent showing in tho welter and middle-weight divisions of the recent amateur tournament. Amateur Preliminaries. Feather-weight.—C. Manson, 9st. 2glb., beat E. Murfitt, Bst. 13£lb. This was a willing bout, The winner, however, showed better knowledge, countering Murfitt's heavy right swing well. Tho verdict was a correct one, but it did not appeal to the audience. Welter-weight.—AY. Hogg, lOst. GAlb., beat C. McKnight. lOst. 6ilh. This was a solid hard-hitting bout, Hogg's straight left scoring well in the early stages. The final round was a series of toe-to-toe exchanges, with the winner scoring moro freely. Heavy-weight. —L. Painter, 12st. 6£lb.. beat A. Gifford, 12st. sAlb. There was little hitting in the opening stages. The third and fourth rounds were livened with hard exchanges in the frequent clinches. Catch-weight.—ll. Johns, 9st. bilb., beat J. Brent-nail, lOst. 2Alb. A brisk bout resulted, with Brent nail scoring well at close range. Johns was using tho inside of the glovo and was warned in the first round. He did better in the final round, and gained the verdict.