BOXING SUCCESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21938, 23 October 1934, Page 11

BOXING SUCCESS

TEAM OF AUSTRALIANS AUCKLANDERS DEFEATED WINS IN SEVEN EVENTS VISITORS SHOW CLEVERNESS The Australian amateur boxing team, which had made appearances at Invercargill and Wellington, brought its New Zealand tour to a highly successful conclusion by defeating a team of Auckland amateurs at the Town Hall last evening by seven matches to one. The visitors displayed marked all-round superiority, being too experienced for the local men, several of whom made gallant showings. Unfortunately, the Auckland champions in the bantamweight, light-weight, welter-weight and middle-weight divisions were unable to take part owing to illness or injuries. Contrary to general expectations there was not a very large attendance . for a holiday night. Prior to the commencement of the main portion of the programme four Auckland amateurs were seen in action, both contests being bright. A little later W. Purdie, .former Auckland and New Zealand welterweight champion, and "Battling" Harrington staged a burlesque which was much enjoyed. The officials were:—Referees, Messrs. N. McLean, R. Meale; judges, Messrs. G. Bush, F. Burns, W. Luke. A. B. Joplin; announcer, Mr. W. Dervan; timekeepers, "Messrs. C. Cowan, J. K. Douglas. Speedy Fly-weight Fly-weight.—H. Cooper. Victoria, 7st. 81b., beat J. Maurice, Bst., oil points. The Australian set a lively pace and; continually beat his man to the punch. Maurice landed a good right cross just before the. gong. Cooper maintained the pressure in the second round, giving his opponent little respite with a two-handed attack. The Aucklander placed a couple of lefts to the head. Maurice fouglit with more confidence in the third round, but he lacked the speed of the visitor. Maurice made a game effort in the last round, but he was a long way behind on points. Bantam-weight.—B. Gillam. Queensland, Bst. 41b., beat A. McGregor, Bst. 71b., on a technical knock-out in the ; first round. McGregor substituted for P- Kelly, the Auckland champion, who i was unable to appear owing to having i contracted influenza. Gillam attacked his opponent very strongly from the j start and McGregor was groggv in the i first few seconds. After the Aucklander j had been down three times and up again j immediately the referee stopped the bout. Feather-weight.—C. Smith. Bst. 121b., heat J. Moore, New South Wales, Bst. 131b., on points. There was more clinching in this match than in the preceding two, and it was not until the second round that Smith rattled the visitor with a hard right cross. The pair had now warmed up and this round was much brighter. The Aucklander landed another hard right to the side of the head at the opening of the third round and a good deal of infighting followed. The Australian claimed a lot with his right arm. He was more aggressive and quicker than Smith in the final round, but the decision went to the last-named. Mixed Reception Light-weight.—A. Taylor, Tasmania, 9st_. 91b.. beat R. MeLachlan, 9st., on points. The Tasmanian, a southpaw, early showed that he carried a solid punch. MeLachlan, however, made him miss badly. In the second round he endeavoured with right uppercuts to catch his man coming in. Taylor replied to hard body punches with right and left hooks to the face which steadied his opponent. The Tasmanian landed the eleanef punches in the thira, and a strong attack drove MeLachlan to the ropes early in the fourth round. A good solar plexus punch by the last-named steadied the visitor. Taylor had a fair, lead on points, although the decision met with a mixed reception. Welter-weight—A. Warbrick, Queensland, 9st. 111b., beat F. Parsons, lOst. lib., on points. The Australian proved himself much too good for the local man. He scored freely with a straight left and frequently followed with a stinging right cross. This sent Parsons down three times in the second round. Although outclassed, the Aucklander gamely saw it through to the end. Middle-weight.—J. Miles, Queensland, list. 41b., beat C. Kelly, list. 41b., on points. After a fairly quiet opening round the pair mixed it will-* ingly in the second, although the blows of both lacked a great deal of sting. Kelly had the better of the third round, breaking through the Australian's guard, with left and right hooks. Kelly worried the visitor throughout the final round, his straight left repeatedly finding its mark. The Aucklander looked to have a comfortable margin of points, and the decision was not well received. Quick Knock-out Light-heavy-weight. —W. Burns Queensland, list. Sib., beat H. E. Neale, 12st. lib., on points. The Australian's advantage in reach more than counter-balanced the difference in weights. He was smarter on his feet than Neale and was thus able to nearly always get in first. It was not a very thrilling contest. Burns scored freely with both hands at long range, whereas Neale's only points were obtained at infighting. The Aucklander's rushing tactics were of no avail against a cleverer opponent. Heavy-weight.—S. Inskip, New South Wales, 12st. 41b., beat H. I. Hepburn, 12st. 71b., by a knock-out in the first round. Inskip landed the first clean blow v a hqrd right cross to the head. Further solid punches put Hepburn down three times but he rose almost immediately, only to be finally knocked down with a left swing to the chin and his head hit the boards hard. He was counted out and took some time to recover. Auckland Amateurs In addition to the main contests there were two bouts between Auckland- amateurs. In the first A. Spragg, 9st., and R. Wilson, 9st., fought a very interesting match, the decision going to Wilson on points. Spragg scored well early with a left lead. A right cross sent Wilson down for four in the third round. Wilson stemmed a strong ' attack with solid body punches. The pair mixed it freely throughout, landing hard blows with both hands. The crowd cheered both men at the finish. The welter-weight contest between D. Johnson, lOst. 61b., and M. MeKenna, lOst. 51b., was not so scientific as the previous one. McKenna had an advantage in reach and the use of a straight left enabled him to keep off his hard-hitting opponent. 'McKenna landed the cleaner punches and looked to have a slight margin in his favour, but* the decision went against him.