BOXING,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19155, 24 April 1924, Page 5

BOXING,

LIGHT-HEAVY-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. PARKER BEATS M’LEARY. Tile contest for the light-heavy-weight championship of New Zealand and a purse of £2OO, which was fought between E. Parker (Tiniaru, 11.8) and B. M'Cleary (Christchurch, 12.3) at the King Edward Barracks, in Christchurch, on Monday night, provided the large crowd of spectators with a clever exhibition. Parker looked as fit as hands could make him, and it was evident that his recent contests had given the very necessary finishing touches to his condition. He wore the South Canterbury colours, black knickers with a green stripe. M'Cleary’s condition was not quite so pleasing t othe eye, for lie did not appear to be quite as hard as he has been in his previous fights. This is not to be wondered at. for it is now over seven months since he appeared in the ring. His colours were all green. Tho opening round was a tame affairM'Cleary launched the first offensive by sending in a light left to his opponent’s face, but the round was marked by a lot of clinching and in-fighting, which was neither spectacular nor effective. The second round agJm found M’Cleary get in the first punch, a light right to the bead, but Parker returned the compliment with a right to the jaw that carried a little power. In-fighting characterised the third round, and Parker got in several short jolts to M’Cleary’s jaw that caused nothing but a smile from the recipient. Parker was fighting in very cool and resolute style, and wasted none of his energy. MT leary drew first blood by opening up an old scar on Parker’s eyebrow, and he also scored with several rights to the face. Parker’s defence, however, was almost impregnable. Matters livened up considerably in the fourlii session, both boxers sending in fairlv solid punches to the face. The crowd grew excited as Parker hooked a right to the jaw- and still more excited when M'Cleary drove a right to the nose. The fifth and sixth rounds saw a lot of clinching, but at intervals M’Cleary sent, light lights to Parker's face. The latter with short, bard punches scored several times at M’Cleary’s expense, but no real damage was done. At, the beginning of the seventh round M’Cleary sent a right to the face, but Parker got in several solid blows to Ilia opponent s body. M’Cleary took a lot of punches on his shoulders, and certainly hit cleaner than did bis opponent. A sleepproducing upper-cut by M’Cleary missed Parker’s chin by a fraction as the gong sounded. The eighth and ninth rounds produced several lively exchanges with M’Cleary doing most of the leading and Parker returning with heavy blows to the neck. On occasions Parker would carry the fight to his opponent and gain an advantage. M’Cleary’s clever footwork of other days was not so noticeable. The tenth round opened with M’Cleary going straight after his opponent and scoring with a sweet left to the face, but Parker soon evened up matters with a couple of clean hooks to the jaw. M’Cleary drove his right to Parker’s mouth and drew blood, but this caused little inconvenience. The next session opened with the two boxers going into a clinch, but then the fight became interesting, and both boxers connected with the jaw with solid punches. M'Cleary scored with a couple of good lofts, but Parker came back full of fight and a fusillade of blows had M’Cleary in trouble. He defended well, but Parker was not to be denied. He rushed M ’Oleary to the ropes and had him groggy. The sounding of the gong alone saved M'Cleary from being knocked out. M’Cleary made a good recovery in the interval, and the following two rounds, which were lame affairs, gave him plenty of time to recover fully. The twelfth was even, and what little' advantage there was in the thirteenth was held by M’Cleary. \ The fourteenth round saw Parker using a solid left with effect, but now M’Cleary brought his clever footwork into play, and Parker’s blows were easily evaded. M'Cleary ended the round by sending a good right to the jaw. The las! round was a merry affair, and for the only time in the light did M'Cleary show his true form. He completely nonplussed Parker by sending in lefts and rights to the jaw with unerring accuracy. Parker made a good onslaught towards the end of the round, which’ was mostly in favour of M'Cleary. The verdict in favour of Parker met with lorn! cheering, but with by no means unanimous approval. The bout, which was fought with (be best of feeling, served to show that Parker has improved a great deal during the past 12 months and that M’Cleary is not so quick with his hands or feet ns he was a year ago. It also served to show that neither man possesses a real knotk-out, punch.