EMPIRE BOXING TITLE FIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 16

EMPIRE BOXING TITLE FIGHT

GALLANT GAINS RETIRES PETERSEN THE HERO YOUNGER MAN VICTORIOUS. (Fbou Orb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, September 14. Jack Petersen, the 23-year-old Cardiff holder of the British Empire heavy* weight championship, successfully defended his title against the veteran coloured Canadian, Larry Gains, at the White City Stadium. It was the third battle for the championship in seven months, Tho division has been the mainstay of big boxing in England for nearly three years, and it is interesting to record that Jeff DicksOn has staged every Empire title bout. Empipe championships have provided some stern and memorable contests. This particular struggle stood out as one of the most attractive of the series. There was a record crowd of 04,000 tho official figure. The end was dramatic. After terrific punishment in tho thirteenth round Gaina’a seconds were striving to prepare him to fight on. Mrs Gains rose from her ringside seat, and half-fainting with distress, cried that the fight must be stopped. Whether or not, as a result of her appeal, the fact remains that the towel was thrown in. COMPARATIVE DIMENSIONS.

It is generally agreed that Petersen had to thank the asset of years as well as his splendid fighting grit and persistence for coming through successful in one of the best heavy-weight fights that had been seen for many years. Gains, although beaten and unable to continue after the end of the thirteenth round through sheer collapse of his forces, put up a memorable fight. He boxed with consummate skill in the earlier rounds, when his generalship and shrewd tactics had Petersen somewhat bewildered. GAINS STARTS WELL. During the early stages of the fight, Gains did some effective work, and his sudden changes from lazy passivity to swift assault revealed the old master. Petersen showed his fine mettle by not being upset by this. He must have felt that his showing was not good, and the number of times he was caught with an open defence was not exactly encouraging. But he plodded away and made the °good old straight left hia chief standby. That stinging left, with its persistent onslaught to Gains’s nose, had its cumulative effect which was seen in Gains’s pathetic resignation of the fight after the thirteenth round. It not only brought a lot of blood from hia nose, but it caused him to swallow a lot, and that increased his distress at tho end. But nobody who saw Gains’s gallant fight against the odds could withhold admiration. He fought craftily and skilfully to the bitter end, and put up a clean battle. Twice Petersen was cautioned for using back-handers in the early part of the bout, but he was not guilty thereafter of transgression. Gains began to get slower after about seven rounds, but he was still dangerous, and in the ninth round he landed a smashing right on Petersen’s jaw which had the champion staggerin'? Petersen won the last six rounds in succession. “He took no foolish risks, - ’ says Fred Dartnell, in the NewsChronicle, “ and while his attack displayed a triumphant crescendo round after round to the finish, all his work was leavened with discretion and good technique. ' Some of his righthanders to the stomach were most painful and were part of the wearing down policy

which showed that Petersen has more boxing intelligence than some people think. He had faults, but his good qualities shone all over, and his victory over Gains is something which he may look back upon with pardonable satisfaction. It was not a smashing, crashing triumph, hut it hold great promise for the future and that is what we are looking for.” BATTERED FROM PILLAR TO POST.

Stanley Longstaff (Sporting Life) refers to the fight as an interesting battle of tactics. The high lights came from Petersen, especially in the twelfth round, when Gains was retreating to avoid the smashes which the champion aimed. The fight became an all-Peter-sen affair after this. Gains, very tired and slowed up to the pace of n snail, was battered all over the ring. He refused to go down, however, altliugh he was battered from pillar to post in the thirteenth round, and although ha was willing to carry on hie legs refused to allow him to rise from hi* stool.

Petersen. Gains. Weight ]2st 121b 14st 51b Height 6ft l^in 6ft lim Reach 80iin 81in Chest (normal) 41in 42in Chest (exp’ded) 4oin 45in Waist 34in 335n Neck . 17iu I7in