STRENUOUS BOXING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22523, 14 September 1936, Page 12

STRENUOUS BOXING

DEFEAT OF SEMI NICHOL'S SUPERIOR TACTICS DECISION GAINED ON POINTS Strenuous boxing was witnessed in the professional heavy-weight contest at the Town Hall on Saturday night when Claude Nichol, of Australia, 12.st. 81b., gained the decision over Semi, champion of Fiji and Tonga, 13st. 61b., on points after a ragged 12 rounds bout. Besides being much tho cleverer boxer, Nichol frequently forced the fight to his hard-hitting but unscientific opponent. The winner's superior ringcraft and footwork wero assets which enabled him to turn tho majority of Semi's mistakes to his own account and win practically every round. A large attendance continually applauded Nichol's determined boxing and was well satisfied with the decision.

In tho opening rounds Semi was tho aggressor, but wariness made him less aggressive than in his two former appearances. Nichol boxed cautiously throughout, always keeping his eye on his opponent's dangerous left. Often when Semi advanced with raised fist, the Australian led smartly -to the jaw with his own left to beat Semi to tho punch. The Fijian's favourite method of attack was to charge suddenly with his left swinging, but Niehol's elusiveness caused Semi to miss frequently. Tho winner was quick to follow up his advantages, but Semi continually crouched and turned his back on his opponent. Punishment Taken Incidents in tho third and 10th rounds proved Semi capable of taking punishment. In the third round, pressed against the ropes, the Fijian purposely held his arms wide, allowing Nichol to drive four right rips to his solar plexus. The blows did no damage, Semi merely smiling in a taunting manner. Nichol appeared troubled as ho returned to his corner at the gong. Again in the 10th round, Semi opened his guard for his opponent to connect with four more hard rights. However, none of the blows carried, much power, Nichol being unable to step back and add weight to his punch, because Semi was holding tho Australian's left arm tightly under his own right. Several rounds were marred by excessive clinching, Semi being tho worse offender. The loser was also at fault in pushing Nichol about too heavily in clinches. Four times the winner was pushed clean through the ropes and he tore two large rope burns on his back when he left the ring. Attacking at the commencement Semi, using his powerful left, drovo Nichol to the corners, but the Australian scored with a hard right hoolc to the jaw. Nichol tripped and, pushed by liis opponent, went through the ropes. There was loud applnuso at the gong. In the second round Semi was not so forceful as usual, but Nichol was keeping well away from the Fijian's deadly left hand. Semi was frequently holding, but Nichol was fighting coolly and timing his punches well. A smart right to Semi's solar plexus had tho Australian's weight behind it. Advantage in Weight

Two rights to the jaw hurt Nichol in the third round, but tho Australian was keeping inside Semi's left. In a bout of showmanship Semi held his arms wide to allow Nichol to hit him in tho solar plexus as ho pleased, but tho blows had no effect. There was a great deal of clinching in the fourth, Semi's advantage in weight enabling him to push his opponent' about the rin gand against tho ropes. However, Nichol was beating Semi to tho punch on almost every occasion. Semi's left was again in action in the fifth round, the Fijian scoring with two solid punches. Nichol retaliated with several straight punches with both hands to Semi's head and tho Fijian again showed a tendency to push "his opponent too heavily against the ropes. Nichol's steadiness had Semi roused in the next round and two blind rushes were easily evaded by tho Australian. Semi tried to land a finishing blow with his left in tho soventh, but could not connect with moro than a glancing blow.

Ragged in-fighting, with Nichol holding tho upper hand, characterised tho next two rounds. Thcro wns still far too much clinching. Nichol side-stepped one of Semi's rushes in the ninth, tho Fijian almost going over the top rope. Semi again dropped his guard in the tenth for Nichol to score freely with his right. In tho eleventh, the Fijian missed frequently. Onco ho pressed his opopnent across tho top rope to connect with several smart jolts to the Australian's head, but Nichol retaliated by giving Semi similar punishment. Romi tried hard for a knock-out in tho final round, but tho winner was stilJ faßt on his feet. Amateur Preliminaries

H. Stock, 9st. lib., beat R. Lyall, 9st., on points. The first two rounds were oven, but Stock, with smart attacking and several clean punches to his opponent's head, took the third. Tho fourth produced only mediocre boxing, tho winner having a slight advantage, but being inclined to hold too frequently. J. McCullock, 9st. 61b., knocked out L. G. Donaldson, 9st. 101b., in tho second round with a left hook to the jaw. In the same round tho loser had previously been to tho canvas once for the count of nino and three times for the count of seven. Ho displayed, rare pluck each time by carrying on in an extremoly groggy condition. Petty-Officer F. G. Heath, lOst. 131b., beat R. L. Cormack, list. 51b., on points. The winner showed himself to bo a quick and hard-hitter in the opening ro*tjid. Cormack received several heavy nunchca in tho second round and thero was too much clinching in tho third. Heath missed with several wild punches in tho final round, in which tho loser did the forcing.

F. Viskovich, Bst. 121b.. beat T. Hurren, Bst. 01b., on points. Hurren showed style, but was not strong enough for his sturdy opponent. Viskovich Tandod a number of clenn blows in tho third round, and Hurren would not lot him come in-to close quarters in tho final round. G. Cook, 10st.. bent H. Willmott, Ost. 101b., on points. Cook's punches had more elFect than those of his opnonent and in the third round ho drew blood from his opponent's nose and e.vo. The winner's straight, lefts and rights in the final round had telling effect, but tho loser produced a spirited finish.