THE HAS BEENS.

NZ Truth, 6 January 1917, Page 11

THE HAS BE ENS.

Squires Squelched by Smith

Bill Squires was- knocked out soon after the start of the tenth round of "his battle with Dave Smith at the Sydney Stadium on Boxing night It was not the blow so niuch as the fact- that he had completely shot his bolt which wrecked him m the end. *_

Smith had landed left and right on. the jaws of his opponent after punching a few bldws home to the ribs. They scuffled along the ropes at the western side, and the while Smith jolted a left uppercut to the chin. Bosker Bill staggered away through the effects of, the punch, and Smith, following, hurled a left to his opponent's temple. It did not land solidlyy but it carried: sufficient force to do the trick. This last straw broke the camel's back. Squires had not ah ounce of reserve power left, and his wits were plainly agiimmering at the; moment.

For the most part, Smith met his man oautiously. Usually that individual slammed . at anything and everyA thing--arms, shoulders, chest, back;— as well as the more vulnerable parts, and frequently his wallops tore through space with such weight that he \yas carried right into the enemy's areas.

Bill opened up nervously, and fought, as a rule; m a highly-excited condition. That old punch' was never there for a moment; not even a suggestion of it was seen at any time. He thumped Dave m the ribs, and swung rights and lefts to the head, and here and there pounded one or more into the body '/Without once really hurting his antag.lonist as if ar as appearances went. .:

Smith's blows were not over effective either -till. Bill 'grew tired and more tired. The deliveries which left traces of their visitations on his face were those he blundered into, timed, of course, by the other party to the disturbance. ' .

After four or five rounds had gone, tired arms were Bill's greatest trouble: Ho could not lift either of them quickly enough on occasion, and when he did placo a punch it had no steam at/ all back pi It.- Dave Smith missed often, more often than one who knows, as he does, what boxing is, should have missed. Squires managed to step back* from a number of left leads, the majority of which werd sent out from a standing position.

Bill picked himself up a bit and made fast play .all along the seventh. He certainly had much the better of that round, but Dave was probably reserving: himself, though for some little time before the conclusion It did not seem that Smith had very much" more power to draw upon, despite that he operated with better direction and greater effect than his opponent.

The house was a better one i than has been seen at the Stadium for some time— much better' than it was thought it' would be.

The ! weights were: Squirea 12.10, Smith 11.11%.