BOXING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 39

BOXING.

Great interest was taken in the return match between Denny Murphy (middleweight champion of New Zealand) and Prank Griffin, of Gieymouth, which took place in the Greymouth Town Hall. The changed tactics that Griffin adapted had Murphy puzzled from the onset. Instead of adopting his usual whirling tactics, Griffin boxed very coolly in the earlier rounds, forcing Murphy te become more aggressive than is his wont. Moreover, Griffin did not fight so openly as uauah and he blocked very cleverly some of Murphy's lefts. In the seventh round Griffin abandoned hie defensive tactics, and “ cut loose” with whirlwind impetuosity. The attack oamo in the nature of a surprise to Murphy, who was hustled and pummelled on the ropes. He weathered the round, but received a severe gruelling, from which he never recovered. The eighth round was not quite so fierce, as Griffin’s previous efforts had taken a good deal of force out of his punches, but he hustled Murphy, who was forced to hang on to the ropes to save himself. Tire gong come as a welcome respite. The end came in the next round, for heavy body and face blows brought Murphy te the floor. He was up at eight, but was very “ groggy,” and soon went down again, no rose again, but the police interfered., and stopped' the fight.