PARKER DEFEATS ZIMMERMAN.

NZ Truth, Issue 973, 19 July 1924, Page 11

PARKER DEFEATS ZIMMERMAN.

Canadian Outclassed.

The Timaru Association last week staged a 15 -round contest between Eddie ParWer, Jight-heavyweight and middleweight champion of New Zealand, and Fred Zimmerman, lightheavyweight champion of Canada. Both boxers entered the ring- m the pink of' condition, and the weights were announced as Parker. (11.9) and Zimmerman (12.3), the latter ., having an advantage not only m weight, but also m height and reach. . ■ From the gong Parker made the pace willing, and before many rounds had gone it was evident that the Seadown lad was by far the cleverer boxer, his speed and ability m ringf craft at times totally baffling the Canadian. Although outclassed, Zimr merman was by no means disgraced. He boxed gamely, ■ took a good deal of punishment, and was. always willing to "mix it/ but he failed to make much impression on Parker, who gave one of the finest displays seen m a local ring for many years. . • In the opening round, Parker's straight left landed on . Zimmerman's face repeatedly and with a -right swing had the Canadian on the ropes, where he got home lefts ,to the head and rights to the body T iri quick succession. In the in-fighting, also, Parker was seen to advantage, getting home some telling uppercuts. Round two saw Parker again forcing the pace and piling; on the points with rights and lefts to head, which at times tho Canadian countered with hefty right swings to the head and body. Zimmerman appeared willing to mix it m the third round and opened with a right swing to the head. Parker closed, and with left jabs to the face steadied the Canadian. During the concluding stages of -this ; round Parker displayed much agility m reipeatedly dodging strong left and right swings both to head and body. Round four again saw the Canadian full of fight, and for a time' he had Parker m a corner, where he put m some dangerous-looking jolts. The Seadown boy fought back gamely and only just missed a solid upper-cut from the Canadian. Almost immediately after, however, he stopped a hard left swing to the jaw, , but Parker replied, with a right to the head and a straight left to the face. Parker w,ent after his man m the fifth round and forced him to the ropes with rights and lefts to head and body. He used both hands with good effect and was lucky to dodge a vicious upper-cut m the infighting that followed. A good .left found Parker's jaw, but he retaliated with straight lefts to the point, and, as the gong sounded, connected with a right swing to the face, In i*ound^ six the local lad continued to connect!' repeatedly with straight lefts, but some of Zimmerman's strong blows caused Parker, to steady up. A clinch marked the opening of round, seven, but after breaking, Parker got home rights and lefts to the head and body Round eight was more or less tame. Zimmerman, near the end, put m some solid rights and lefts to the head and body, which caused the audience "to sit up and take notice." Round nine was the liveliest of the contest, both showing a desire to mix things. It opened m torrid fashion, both fighters standing toe to toe and giving ancl receiving an equal amount of punishment. It was* apparent that Zimmerman was looking for an opening for the X.0., but Parker was too evasive. They parted, and almost simultaneously Parker's left resound* ed with a dull thud on Zimmerman's jaw. The Canadian smiled, but it was a sickly sort of a grin, and tho effect of such a stinging blow was apparent, Parker forcing the paco and piling up the points m good style, finishing much the fresher of the two Realising that a knock-out was his only chance, Zimmerman went for his man m round ten and connected with a neat right swing and a hard straight left to the head. Parker, however, • fought back every inch of ground, and. getting the Canadian on the ropes, gave him a hot time of it. Parker asserted himself m the eleventh and gave his opponent a good deal of punishment. '' He chased the Canadian round the ring, fighting m his best style. Several times ho had Zimmerman on the ropes and repeated similar punishment to that of previous rounds. The Canadian endeavored to connect with vicious upper-cuts, but Parker proved too elusive. Despite thc severe punishment he had received m the ! previous round, Zimmerman was still keen to mix things m round twelve, and led with straight lefts to the head and right swings to the body, Parker countering with lefts and l-ightp to the head. Zimmerman connected with a right swing to thc head and a left to tho jaw, but Parker came back every time and usually gave back moro than he received. The devil's round opened tamely till Parker rushed his opponent and landed somo quick right and left swings to the head. Towards the end Zimmerman swung a hefty left to the law, which rattled the Seadown lad. Zimmerman continued forcing the pace m the fourteenth round, but Parker generally had thc bettor of the exchanges. In tho concluding stflges Parker's cluslveness caused the Canadian to miss repeatedly. The final round saw Zimmerman looking for an opening for the X.0., but Parker ducked his deadly right swings always at the same time countering with straight lefts to tho point. Parker forced his man on to the ropes and with lefts to tho head and body had the Canadian groggy.

Referee Lyall Dewar's decision m favor of Parker met with unanimous approval. Throughout, thes-fight was remarkably clean and fought m the best sporting spirit, both boxers at times refraining from hitting when they had any unfair advantage.