DEMSKY v. BLACKBURN.

NZ Truth, Issue 913, 26 May 1923, Page 12

DEMSKY v. BLACKBURN.

A Draw. There was a very big crowd at the Town Hall on the occasion of the Demsky- Blackburn fight, and hundreds were compelled to stand. Patrons of the local association know that the preliminaries will m most cases be as good as the star item, and this always ensures a record crowd. Referee Stewart was m his usual plabe, and the judges were Messrs. Staples and Woodsi When the men entered the ring for the big contest the weights were anT nounced as Demsky 9st 61b and Blackburn 95t. 8%1b, but the latter looked more than the difference m poundage. It was his first appearance m "Wellington, and there was a lot of gapeseed for him. He is a solidly built young fellow, with a hefty punch m both hands,, and he is a fighter all the time. This Is what the fans like, and they were always ready to excuse him when he threw and missed. The first round was better than ,1s usually the case with No. 1 m a pro. fight. Instead of the usual sparring there was some fighting, and Demsky scored once with a useful left, but as a whole little damage was done, and generally one. or the other was claiming. In the middle of the second round Demsky created a mild sensation by throwing! a right which caused the crowd to hold its breath. Blackburn dodged it, but only by a hair breadth, and then they went to a clinch, which was the state of affairs for the rest of the round. The third was Demsky's by a fair margin. ' Blackburn did a lot of leading, but fought ■ him ' off and used his right to advantage. This was particularly the. case towards the close, though just on the gong Blackburn got home with a nice left. Blackburn did the forcing at the start of the fourth, but his work was nullified by the superior footwork of Demsky. In the middle of the round the referee cautioned both for holding. Blackburn continued to force the pace m the fifth, but it was developing into a one-handed fight, and the pair held with one hand and punched with the other. Towards the olose Demsky got home with a couple of heavy rights and won the round. The sixth was interesting. In the ♦arty part Blackburn forced Demsky on to the ropes and appeared to have him at his meroy, but suddenly the Queenslander altered matters by turn* ing the attack and put Blackburn m his place. Then they got clear and mixed it good and hard. Demsky's right compelled Blackburn to cover, but he suddenly regained the offensive and a thrilling round ended even. A series of clinches followed the start of the seventh, but Blackburn was very strong and used his left repeatedly, though Demsky guarded most of them. Some torrid exchanges ensued at the close and the round was even. Blackburn got his star m the ascendant m the eighth, m which he did most of the attacking, and used both hands freely. He had Demsky thinking hard m parts and won the round by a good margin. The ninth was also won by the Aucklander, who did most of the leading and scored well. Blackburn was on the attack at the commencement of the tenth and Demsky was busy holding him at bay. In the close Demsky was superior, but at the long stuff Blackburn was the master, though m the middle of this round he missed a lot. They opened the next cautiously and were hugging each other for some time. Then they broke loose and Domsky sent out a right which missed. Blackburn next attacked, but Demsky nullified it by bouncing off the ropes and. forcing Blackburn to defend. Demsky was very effeotlve with his fight at the finish and won the round by a narrow margin. v ' They sparred and cuddled each other for fully half of the twelfth and then Blackburn broke loose and tried to load, but Demsky had him on the ropes m a twinkling and sent home a lot of punishment. Blackburn like a flash turned tho attack, but Demsky euchred him and won the best round of the fight. The crowd was m a ferment as the men went to their corners. They began smartly m the "devils but Blackburn missed badly and Demsky scored with a couple of lefts and a right. Then thoy eased up and got m close, but here Demaky shone and won the round. In the fourteenth they were both playing safe. Several leads of Blackburn's were missed and two rights of Demsky's played havoc. The -roiinci was certainly Domsky's. Up to this point It had been very close and •m tho interval several opinions round tho ring were m favor of a draw. The last round was tame. Both thought they had won and were exerc sing caution. Tho judges disagreed and tho referee said. "A Draw." Tho decision was well received. .