VISITING BOXER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22405, 29 April 1936, Page 16

VISITING BOXER

PLUTO WINS AGAIN DEFEAT OF ERN JACOBS LOSER'S REMARKABLE GRIT Cyril Pluto, welter-weight boxing champion of Western Australia, won liis second contest in New Zealand when he defeated Ern Jacobs, of Wellington, on points at the Town Hall last evening. The bout was of fifteen twominute rounds, instead of the usual three-minutes. One of tho features of the match was tho grit and determination displayed by tho loser. A solid left hook to the temple sent him down for the count of nine in tho opening round, and he never really recovered from the effects of this punch. Jacobs was on tho nyit several times during tho remaining rounds, but, try as he would, tho Australian was unable to force his opponent into a knock-out submission. Jacobs gavo one of the gamest displays ever seen in the Town Hall. He did not appear to be in the best of condition, although he was always willing to trade punches, and the manner in which ho saw tho contest through to the end was remarkable and earned him the plaudits of everyone in the hall. Pluto gave another very fine exhibition of clean fighting, and his speed was altogether too much for his opponent. Although at a big disadvantage in weight, Pluto never appeared to be in any difficulties, but it looked as though he was unable to hit sufficiently hard to make an early ending to tho bout. Willing Amateurs The preliminaries alone were well worth seeing. Tho contest between R. MeLachlan and R. Nixon was one of the best ever seen at tho Town Hall between two evenly-matched and hardhitting amateurs. There was not a great deal between them and the decision in favour of MeLachlan, holder of the Auckland title, met with a mixed reception. A subsequent announcement that Mr. H. Ryan, a member of the Auckland Boxing Association, had decided to present a special two-guinea trophy to Nixon was greeted with loud cheering. Another hard-fought contest was that between P. Steers and J. O'Dwyer. The manner in which the pair punched each other in the first minute had the crowd on its toes. It was no wonder they tired, but they continued to exchange blows freely until tho final gong. Ten one-minute contests between teams of Maoris and representatives of Auckland gymnasiums again provided patrons with much merriment. Preceding their boxing with a baka, the Maoris on this occasion gave an allround improved display, gaining a victory by six matches to four. Superior Speed Summing up the main contest it must be said that Pluto was master of the situation throughout. No time was wasted in preliminary sparring, and it was evident that a fast pace would prevail. Jacobs went down for nine shortly before the closing gong in tho first round and went groggily to his corner. He came out full of fighting spirit, however, and was cheered on by the crowd as he drove Pluto to the ropes. Jacobs was at a loss to combat the speed of his lighter opponent, although at times he drove off the Australian with some heavy blows with either hand. The Wellington man's head came in cont et with Pluto's right eyebrow at the start of the sixth round, and it appeared as if the bleeding injury may affect tho visitor's vision, but the uso of an antiseptic during the intervals between rounds proved effective. The end seemed to be in sight when Jacobs was sent to the canvas with another left hook in the eighth round, hut he displayed remarkable tenacity by rising and fighting back and evading a barrage by wavering his head. Pluto went out to finish the match in the tenth. He sent his opponent down for the third time with a left hook, and again Jacobs rose to continue. Similarly in the twelfth round he rose at the count of five, and then weathered the remaining rounds to roceive a great ovation from tho onlookers. Preliminary Bouts Feather-weight—B. Lyall, 9st. lib., beat H. Stock, 9st. l*lb., on points. Lyall had a decided advantage m height and reach and this proved the deciding factor. Stock mixed it freely throughout and made a good showing. Light-weight.—lt. MeLachlan, 9st. 3Jlb., beat R. Nixon. 9st. 71b.. on points. Thero were four rounds of very hard fighting, in which both were groggy more than once; yet they saw the four rounds through. The decision in McLachlan's favour met with a mixed reception, perhaps on account of tho fact that he hit his opponent hard a fraction after tho gong had sounded at the end of the first round. Middle-weight—R. Steers, lOst. 121b., beat J. O'Dwyer, list. 71h., on points. This was another very willing encounter, in which heavy punches were exchanged. Steers lasted the better and won by a comfortable .margin. Heavy-weight.—L. Painter, 12st. 81b., beat R. Anderson (Rotorua), 13st., the referee stopping the contest in the first round, when Anderson was suffering severo punishment. Midget-weight.—Allan Reid. 6st. 101b., beat Don McDonald, 7st., on points. The two lads gavo a scientific display. The results of the bouts between teams representing Auckland boxing gymnasiums and the Orakei Maoris resulted as follows, names of Aucklanders being given first:—C. Pwight lost to Haami, C. McDevitt beat Paul, A. Zainer lost to Rautu, L. Neele drew with Flavell, L. Rhind lost to Leslie, D. McKenna beat Davis, H. Enderby lost to Hawke, E. Turvey lost to Solomon, C. Fahoy drew with Tjjmanki, A. Morris beat Aka.