BOXING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19617, 22 October 1925, Page 4

BOXING.

By Cbobs~Codnteii. On Tuesday next the Otago Boxing Association will hold a meeting to linaliso arrangements for the coining contest in His Majesty’s Theatre between Hector M’Donald and the winner of the MurrayTrovvern argument on Saturday. This event will take place on November 18, not November 11, the original date. It was understood that Purdy was to meet Murray in Wellington or Auckland, but this is not so. Purdy has no intention of fighting Murray. In a loiter to the 0.8. A. Harry Gunn (Timaru) says that he is in good condition and is prepared to meet any featherweight. Ho would not mind giving a pound or two away, and ho is agreeable to a moderate purse. What about Tommy Griffiths? The local association has also been in communication with Grime, of Sydney, and Alf Stewart, of Melbourne, with a view to a contest during the Exhibition. lies Murray will meet Reg Trowern at Groi'mouth on ftatilrday for the second time. It will most likely bo a good fight, and indeed the interest is keen. For the preliminaries matches have been arranged between Neil .Keily (West Coast bantam champion) and Stan Purdon (amateur flyweight champion of New Zealand) and Harry Cottes (Dunollie) and Jack Morrissey (Te Kingo). All of these boys carry a good reputation as boxers and can be depended upon for an exhibition of skill. Alf Stewart ought to bo -a good match for Lachie M‘Donald, and another interesting moating would be one between Grime and Murray. Dick Elmour, too,, should be able to put up a bright allowing against M‘Donald or Murray, neither of whom ho has fought before. As yet nothing more has been heard of Eddie Parker in Australia, but, taking into consideration his fine showing against Collins, he should surely receive another offer before long. Both Vercoe and Carroll looked very fit when they entered the ring, the former especially. Carroll .was taller and thinner, but was evidently in very good form. The contest kept the absorbed interest of the spectators right through. Carroll, who was superior to Vercoe in all departments of the game, surprised everyone. The opening of tire first round displayed Vercoe’s tactics. As soon as the gong wont he rushed over to Carroll’s corner, but the Wanganui boy was not much disconcerted, They clinched, there was some body punching, separation by the referee, another clinch and once more“break” came from the third man. Carroll had “looped the loop,” which brought from Tim Tracy the comment; “You can’t loop the loop unless you are holding.” Then Vercoe got home to the cheek with a right, but did no damage, Carroll retaliating with a left and right to the face. Vercoe continued to bo aggressive, but Carrol! made him miss a lot. The second round saw Vercoe rush in again, and his right got to Carroll’s face and body. He also got in a hard right to the jaw. There was a lot of clinching in this round and Vercoe was told not to hold. In a comer, Carroll left himself open, but Vercoe did not seize the opportunity. There was little between the men at the end of this round, but the advantage was with Carroll, In the •Mrd round Vercoe bad changed his tactics. Ho was more cautious, and waited for Carroll to do the leading. Carroll luckily missed a good right and then got home with a good left to the face. Vercoe hit hard to the jaw and the Wanganui boy seemed distressed for a while, but ho was well on top at the end of the round. There was a lot of 1 clinching. Vercoe stood off again when the fourth round opened, waiting for a chance. Then he rushed in and Carroll ducked to rlod"e n right swing. Both were inclined to be cautious, though Carroll was not more so than in the previous rounds, but spectators called “fight.” There was a clinch and the referee separated them. It vyas then evident that Carroll was blee'liijg badly from a cut near his left eye. A' good b«dy punch from Carroll’s left helped his ’ scoring account, as also did a wild swing by Verooe, which missed, and so took him off his balance that he fell on his hands and kueos. Round five saw Vercoe rush in again, and soon the referee’s voice was calling “Creak, break.” Carroll pushed Vercoe back to the ropes and the rebound saw the Blenheim boy getting home with a good right. Carroll evened up with a left, an! a little •later got home another good left to the jaw. Then Vercoe scored similarly. Quickly Carroll got in a left-right-left to the face, and Vercoe clinched. Round six was decidedly in Carroll’s favour. He fought confidently, and both his hands were busy putting on points. The referee solemnly warned Vercoe that he would stop the fight if he did not cease his tactics of holding.

There was some close in-fighting in the seventh round. Carroll avoided a heavy swing and A’ercoe clinched. The referee had again to warn him against holding with his left arm. Carroll continued to score well with his left and then got home with a good right to the jaw. He smothered well when Vercoe attacked, and the gong found him defending himself on the ropes.

Round eight was like the previous one. There was a little sparring in the centre, then Vercoe rushed Carroll to the ropes, and Carroll hit back. Carroll hit well and made A’crcoe miss repeatedly. But the round was mainly hit right and left, then clinch. Carroll succeeded in getting homo an uppercut. Round nine saw Carrol! nearly rushed through the ropes. Carroll was guilty o? holding on, anT was warned by the referee. Carroll got in a right and left, then clinched, then another right and left, then another right. Vercoe was in the centre, with Carroll circling round. A T crcoe woull not do any leading. It required a knockout blow on Vercoe’s part to win in the last round, and lie had little chance of administering it. There was a little spar in the centre, then the usual clinch and break away, once more A’orcoe in the middle with Carroll on his orbit. Vercoe at last rushed and had Carroll ducking and diving on the ropes. Carrol! smothered too well, and emerged from the fluster unhurt, getting in good right-left-right by way of retaliation, There was no doubt about the decision! and Carroll won his first professional fight. Dick Loveridgo, of New Plymouth, has turned professional, and is desirous of meeting Tom Paul. Undoubtedly the match would bo an attractive one, for Ttoveridgc lias a remarkable reputation. There could not be a better preliminary to a big professional contest. The Auckland Boxing Association is in an enviable financial position just now, with £2OOO on hand. AVellington comes second with £I4OO, and Otago is a distant third, with about £6OO. Auckland is making good use of its funds by subsidising the. boxing schools.

REVIVAL IN WANGANUI. Boxing, which lias- been dormant in AVangamii for a year or so, bounded into life on Saturday evening with a vitality that augurs a bright future for the sport here (says the Chronicle). Saturday night’s tournament was the most successful held in this city for man” a long day. There was not, a dud round in the whole lot. The contestants made every minute ns willing as they could. The Drill Hall was packed, and tho crowd was thoroughly satisfied with the matches. Without doubt, every boxer was out to win, and when there is a crowd and everyone ,is satisfied that his money's worth has been provided bv the bill of fare, the association can face the Tiexl tournament without trepidation a? to the fi nanciiil results. It was announced on Saturday evening, prior to tho professional contest, that, if Vercoe won, he and Lin Robinson would fight in Wanganui foh the championship. However, tho fixture is now off and no more will bo said about it. It is probaHe that Mark Carroll, of Wanganui, will meet Robinson at Gisborne for the title. Ceriainly. Wanganui boxing enthusiasts will he delighted to see him in action here once more. Ho made a brilliant debut into (lie professional ranks. Much had been expected of Vercoe, of Blenheim, but bo was put together in the shade by Carroll, vho out boxed him in nearly every round. Vercoe was a disappointment as a boxer, he being a right arm fighter. H ; s strong feature was at, a discount on Saturday ’night, and when it was brought into plav (‘anoil hardly over failed with an antidote.

Mr Tim Tracev was referee, a fact which pleased the spectators. Tim ahvnvs gets a good ronuiation in Wanganui. His work was not difficult ns to giving* In's decisions, and lie kept tho professional contest ns open as he could. Some of the spectators thought that Gnstein should have received the gdd medal for the most scientific display, instead of it going to Gray, hut as the medal was for the best AVanoranui boxer. Gnstein, coming from Wellington, was not eligible.