SYDNEY STADIUM STOUSH.

NZ Truth, Issue 508, 13 March 1915, Page 10

SYDNEY STADIUM STOUSH.

O'Donnell v. Hardwick.

A Well-matched Pair,

But Hardwick Gets Verdict.

' A. great. crowd rolled up to the Sydaey Stadiunv'on Saturday night last when Harold Hardwick, amateur champion swimmer and boxer of the Empire, mot the 'Vastly more experienced ring fighter m Les O'Donnell. ,/ Aa this was Hardwick's professional 4ebut a large crowd of sports who only attend amateur contests rolled up and swelled the throng. The lads weighed m at: Harold Hardwick 11.12, Les O'Donnell 12.3. Hardwick was a six to four favorite. In the first three rounds it looked as if Hardwick Wjas going to win on a knock-out speedily. Then O'Donnell got going and started to do himself justice, yet the amateur led fully the first ten rounds, the first, second, third arid ninth m particular being very bad for O'Donnell, likewise the fourteenth. O'Donnell'a attack and defence were *reat over most of the second half, and m the last three Hardwick was hard set to keep his end up, though he was generally there with a spurt. His performance was a great one for a first attempt at twenty rounds. O'Donnell's left eye was badly cut top and bottom In the first round and terrific rights to the mouth badly burst that. Early his nose was' pushed nor'-west. and became much swollen la,ter. Hardwick's. ribs were terribly sore from Lea's rights and he Winced every punch thereabouts. Referee Haral<J .Baker's verdict for Hardwick was both correct and popular, though, he would propably have been knocked out m another five rounds.