THE PACE THAT KILLS

NZ Truth, Issue 1181, 19 July 1928, Page 10

THE PACE THAT KILLS

Griffiths Sets It And Takes The Big End

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Representative.) The exhibition staged by Archie Hughes and Tommy Griffiths, at Dunedin, on Saturday night was of the right class to popularise the game.

BOTH boys have a marked similarity m style and there was little between them, but Hughes lost through being unable to see out the pace set by the elusive Dunedin boy. Hughes fought at a quarter of a pound under the limit, and had three pounds advantage of Griffiths. . • „ Like many other young- pugilists making .'their maiden voyage away from home, and unattended by a trainer, Hughes put on weight. The hospitality of his Otago friends caused his avoirdupois to rise six pounds m the week between his fight with- Leckie and his latest scrap with Griffiths. . ' Half a stone had to be worked off m three days and this handicap proved sufficient^ to slow Hughes up to a walk over the last two rounds of the fight. Contrary to expectations, he allowed Griffiths to do the leading, and, displaying rare cunning, he refused- to be enticed into Tommy's baulk, but waited his opportunity to scatter his more than useful left over the Dunedin boy's body. ' /■■■■■,••• Early In the fight he opened Griffiths' left eye and his mouth m two places, but the local boy took it all and continued to lead. He broke through the Sydneysider's cover with greater effectiveness than did Leckie' 1 on the previous Saturday night. His straight left, supplemented with a right cross and delivered with great speed, turned the verdict m his favor.

Hughes indicated early m the piece that he was a better fighter than his form against Leckie suggested. The two boys got quickly to work and gave a delightful exhibition of the skill of infighting, m which they both excelled. . ' It was similar to the close work m the Leckie— Gillesple mill, with Hughes scoring more freely with both hands. • . x The deceptiveness of Griffiths' stance, however, puzzled the Australian and, despite Hughes' defence, Griffiths peppered his left to the head. It was not untilthe tenth round that Hughes adopted rushing and crowding tactics, and they brought him momentary success. He had the Dunedin boy groggy m this session, and had the chance for a knock, but could not go on with it. Griffiths was well advised from his, corner and was sent out for the eleventh as fresh as a daisy. Fi'om that stage he set a pace which cracked up the Australian. Griffiths did not put the weight behind his punches that Hughes did, but his speed m breaking through the Australian's cover and getting out again gained him the decision by a narrow margin. Hughes has been offered a fight with Mat. Hatton by the Napier Association, and though he has lost his two bouts m Otago, he would make a good match for the Aucklander, as he is a tough, game fighter.