BOXING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19551, 6 August 1925, Page 5

BOXING.

By Cboss-Couxteb.

Followers of boxing in Dunedin were no doubt pleased to hear of Les Murray’s victory over Troweru at Wellington on Monday night. Tho light served to show that Les, in spite of his illness and his long retirement, is still a power to be reckoned with, for Trowern, although but a newcomer to the professional ranks, has earned for himself a reputation as a tiger in tho ring. Murray’s experience was probably his strongest ally, and as is his custom, he made the pace right from the start. The third round must have been an anxious one for his supporters when he went down for eight, but fortunately ho survived it and secured a win on points. From a critic who saw the fight I have received some interesting comment. “Nothing,” ho writes, “oould have been further astray than tho suggestion that the MurrayTrowern fight for the lightweight championship of New Zealand might add another to the two ‘fiascos’ that the Wellington Boxing Association has been loudly accused of having staged lately. Because Les Murray trained. Carpenticr-like, behind barred doors, alarmist rumours wore circulated that maybe he had failed to ‘come back.’ Ho came back, all right, and he brought a damaging left hook with him. “Trowern entered tho ring first. Tho boy was heartily welcomed by tho huge crowd which filled tho Wellington Town Hall. Murray soon followed, wearing a dressinggown of brilliance outshone only by his smile. The public bailed him as a longlost friend. In his corner were a huge black cat and a kevvpie. “No sooner was tho champion’s cloak removed than it was perfectly apparent his physical condition was ideal; and it was matched by tho picture of fitness Trowern presented. Tho weights of botli were announced as 9.7 J, and they faced each other— Murray, sturdy and muscular; Trowern, fresh and sinewy. They differed, however, in ago and experience, for Trowern is but a lad of eighteen summers and four professional fights (including Monday's championship bout). “Tho contest was even, open, and clean; it went tho full fifteen rounds, and the decision in favour of Murray was not disputed. No more can be asked. At the end of tho thirteenth round (lie decision was in doubt, but the last two were in Murray’s favour and the Dunedin boxer thus maintained his hold on tho championship. The favours of the crowd were evenly shared doling tho fight—both men were applauded and both were exhorted to show their worth —but tho win was popular, for it was deserved. Trowem’s wonderful resistance was not overlooked, and lie was loudly cheered. Ho still has the. faith of the public. “When tho young Aucklander sent Murray down (for eight) with a solid right to tho jaw in tho third round, he achieved soornething. It is asserted that Murray y then knocked off his feet for tho first time in his career. He was groggy for the rest of tliat round, which was easily in Trowern’s favour.

“Early in tho fight Murray made Trowern miss frequently; but over tho whole contest Murray must have missed quite as often as the Aucklander, for tho latter used his head nicely. Once, in tho eighth round, ho made Murray miss badly with his right and it was only "a speedy retreat that saved the champion from stopping a willing volley. Murray’s left hook frequently met Troworn’s head as it was ducking to tho right, and it was with this weapon that the Dunedin man piled up points. In tho infighting Murray had the bettor of some solid exchanges. In tho second round he staggered his opponent with a couple of upper outs, and got well homo with a right to tho solar-plexus in the tenth. It wds in the tenth round that Trowern showed signs of weakening, but ho came back, and was aggressive in the eleventh which ho won by a bare margin. Until the last two rounds Trowern was by a fair deal the more aggressive, and spent more energy through his logs. Murray was cooler, and seemed to ho saving a little all tho time“Troweru’a straight loft, which played such havoo with Nelson MTvnight. must have impressed Les Murray. Tt is a neatly timed blow, and ha? nil lleg's weight behind il. He relies on it substantially, but when ho does follow up with his short right to tho jaw ho discharges an effective second barrel.

“The pace from the outset. was pood. The accelerator was applied in the third round, and there was no retardation. Clinches were comparatively few, and the referee (Mr Earl Stewart) had a not uncongenial task. It was a sporting contest. Murray’s performances up till July 4.1923, show that ho has won 17 bouts k. 0., two on points, and lost four on points. The following is a list of these 25 performances in detail :—Beat Wal. Harrison, k. 0., 1 round: beat Will. Robinson, k. 0.. 1 round; lost Pat. Glceson, points, 6 rounds; drew Don. M‘Cullum, 4 rounds; beat Fred Smith, points, 4 rounds; drew Tommy Fairha.ll, 6 rounds; beat'Don. Phoenix, k. 0,, 1 round; boat Geo. Lavinge, k. 0., 2 rounds; beat. Harry Hawkesworth, k. 0., 2 rounds; beat Bert Blatni, k. 0., 1 round; beat Jack Lofty, k. 0., 1 round; beat Jim Campbell, k. 0., 1 round; beat Tom M‘Kcnzie, points, 3 rounds; boat Fred Daniells, k. 0., 3 rounds; beat Pat. Humphries, k. 0., 8 rounds; beat Herb M‘Koy, k. 0.. 10 rounds; lost Pat Oleoson, points, 15 rounds; beat Mick Rutherford, k. 0., 9 rounds; beat Frank O’Neill, k. 0., 3 rounds; lost Pat Glecson, points, 15 rounds; lost Hughio Dwyer. 13 rounds (stopped); boat Jock Graham, k. 0., 10 rounds: beat Paul Hannah, k. 0., 9 rounds; beat Bill Scroggins, k.o. 3 rounds: boat Fred Hanson, k. 0., 15 rounds. Since July, 1923, he. defeated Karl France by the k.o, and retired after fiyo rounds with Archio Bradley, both fought at tho Sydney Stadium. Ho lost on points to Fnirhall, beat .Volairo three times, and was given tho decision over Harry Stone and Harry May. He defeated Karl France m -Sydney in February of 1924. Before this time ho had fought once before in Sydney, but only at a tournament at the Hippodrome, where ho knocked out all four of his opponents, and knocked out so good and tough a man as Pat Humphries, whom ho was matched with after the tournament. Ho also won a similar event at Newcastle, where likewise bis victory was obtained by the k.o. in every heat. Murray then made 9.7, and had managed to knock out the weitcr champion of New Zealand, but was prevented by the rule that existed from styling himself as welter champion as well. Before lighting Archie Bradley, he had been given very short notice and was thereJoie out of form. In fighting loin my lairhall, ho received a butt winch broke ns nosc but bo pluckily fought the match to the finish. And now he has added another victory to his credit by defeating Trowern on points in 15 rounds. As an amateur Murray contested 12 frdits, winning eight by the k. 0., throe on points, and was defeated once on points. P On Saturday night I had the pleasure of watching a display of boxing by the boys of John M’Olashan College. It is clear that these lads have had expert tuition. The contests were all clean and fast, and there were many promising young exponents of tho game. Ihev are all good two-handed fighters and move about well on their feet. I bohevo.some of tleni could have made use of the straight left to better advantage, and m fact, it is possible that one or two of the lads might have turned the tide in their favour by a good left. It is always useful m defence. The final of the Senior Championship provided an interesting display, though Hankin“on gave too much weight away. He is morcf oF a sinewy build, while his opponent. Sutherland, although two years younger, is fully a stone heavier and sturdily pn rtioned. Hankinson s speed won him the first round, and he lauded well with a solid right swing. i he other keot plugging awav steadily, however, and deemed capable of taking all the older boy couTd give him, and by the third and las,, round ho was well in the lead. .Sutherland should do well in tho ring. Eddie Parker, the light-heavy champion of New Zealand, is to meet Laclno M‘Donald, middleweight champion of New Zealand on August 11 at Christchurch, when no title will be involved. ihe proposal has not. been received too warm I v bv tho Christchurch public. Cestu? of the Christchurch Star, says that the Sports Club which arranged for the match is not to be on its choice. Both men know each others si>.c, a* they have met, on several occasions before. Christchurch naturally is anxious to see the young Aucklander, Reg. Trowern. in action, mid would have been better pleased if btaco bad been matched with him for the National Dick Elmour, ihe roung French welter, who arrived in Wellington several weeks a<ro from Sydney, will make his debut in New Zealand on Saturday next, when ho will meet Hughic Dwyer at Napier. Elmour, it will bo remembered, has come to New Zealand with very high testimonials from Mr Will Lawless, who hicrhly commends him to New Zealand boxing authorities Mr Williams, Elmour’s manager, states that his charge scales exactly 10 stone. He also a ?hort_ history of tho young Frenchman’s activities. Elmour is a native of Toulon, and came out lo Australia when finite a lad. He served his time as a chef, and later entered his career in the ring. During his short reign he has met with no small measure of s uccoss, ha "in." von 17 contests, and eight of ti-sso by the route. Hia

biggest victory was that over Jimmy Allen. Ho has also acted as sparring partner to Leo Darton, the Belgian welter. When ho has finished in this country Elmonr and his manager propose touring the United States, thence to London and Europe. He hopes to get several matches over here, and is fortunate in securing a match with Dwyer, who is such a busy man these days. Ho evidently is well up in the art, anil it will be interesting to see how he fares with Dwyer. About 12,000 people were said to have witnessed the inter-fleet boxing championships held in Honolulu on June 5. As they will stage a few contests in New Zealand, the following particulars may be of interest. The feature victory was that in which Ritchie King, of the U.S.S. Maryland, battle fleet featherweight, knocked out Ryan, of the Yyoming, scout fleet champion, in the sixth round. The scout fleet, however, won five of the eight bouts from their ancient rivals. Lightweight ; Constantine (Wyoming, scout fleet) defeated Mukler (Tennessee, battle fleet) by a decision. Light heavy-weight: Zedick (California, battle fleet) defeated Augustine (Seattle) in an extra round. Middle-weight; Lally (scout fleet) defeated Perry (Tennessee, battle fleet) in seven rounds. Welter-weight: Thode (Idaho, battle fleet) defeated Silvmski (Wyoming, scout fleet). Heavy-weight. Sigman (Wyoming) defeated Schneider (Mississippi, battle fleet). A Paris message states that Jack Dempsey refused an offer of 60 per cent, of the gate, with a guarantee of 50,000 francs, for an exhibition contest of three two-minute rounds with Carpentier, as well aa an offer of 10,000 francs for a similar bout wioh Ertninio Spalla. Dempsey, _it is said, will consent to box only with his own sparring partner. This ring-shyness of the chain pion is all on account of his synthetic nose, which is all right for the pictures, but is a long way from being fist-proof. The International Boxing Union held it» eighth congress in Paris on June 7, the following nations being represented: —Belgium, Franco, Denmark, Holland, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Switzerland. The National Boxing Union of the United States intimated that it was unable to send a representative. The members of the congress decided that, owing to the attitude of the National Boxing Union and of the Boxing Commission of the State of New York, which hod not allowed European boxers to take their chance against, American champions, the International Boxing Union oould not recognise the championship of the world in tho light, welter, and light heavy-weight classes, the titles of which it proclaims vacant. The 1.8. U. then proclaimed the following as title-holders:— CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE. Fly-weight—Elky Clark (Great Britain). Bantam-weight.—Henri Scliillio (Belgium). ‘Feather-weight.—Henri Hcbrans (Belgium). Eight-weight.—Lucien Yinoz (Franco). Welter-weight.—Piet Hobin (Belgium). Middle-weight.—Bruno Frattini (Italy). Light Heavy-weight.—Clement (Switzerland). Heavy-weight—Erminio Spalla (Italy). CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. Fly-weight.—Panoho Villa. (United States). Bantam-weight.—Phil Rosenburg (United States). ■Feather-weight.—Kid Kaplan (United States). Light-weight.—Title vacant. Welter-weight.—Title vacant. Middle-weight.—Harry Grob (United States). t Light Heavy-weight.—Title vacant. Heavy-weight.—Jock Dempsey (United States).