THE RING.

Otago Witness, Issue 4057, 15 December 1931, Page 47

THE RING.

BOXING. HUGHES BEATS LECKIE. NAPIER, December 10. Superior defence and a more rugged style of boxing gave Archie Hughes (Ausiralia) the verdict on points over Johnnie Leckie (Napier) in a 15-round contest in M'Lean Park to-night before an attendance of 1500. The contestants were «venly matched, and, although there was not much between them, Hughes held the advantage over the majority of the rounds. Leckie’s defeat was mainly due to the fact that Hughes found an effective smother to his opponent’s ortholox left lead and right cross. -<*■

WRESTLING.

ROUGH BOUT IN AUCKLAND WALKER BEATS PINTO. ■ * AUCKLAND. December 7. Rough wrestling was witnessed in the Town Hall this evening, when George Walker, the heavy-weight champion of the British Empire, was awarded the decision, in a champion of champions match against Stanley Pinto, of America, who was recently acclaimed the champion of New Zealand. Pinto secured a fall with a body press, following a dump in the fifth round. Walker became very aggressive in the sixth and seventh rounds, and in the latter round he tried to lift Pinto several ’■times, but the American invariably twisted either an arm or a foot round the ropes, preventing Walker from lifting him. The referee gave Pinto plenty of latitude, but after numerous warnings he awarded Walker a penalty fall. The American greatly resented this, and when the gong sounded for the eighth round Pinto stepped through the ropes. The referee argued with him for half a minute and then commenced a regulation count of 20. Before he had proceeded far with the count, however, Pinto made off toward his dressing room to the aecom- , paniinent of a storm of hooting from the crowd. A section of the crowd then assisted the referee with the final portion of the count, and when Walker’s hand was raised as a signal that he had been awarded the contest there was a deafening outburst of cheering. The bout was characterised by roughness.

ALLEY BEATS MEESKE. WELLINGTON, December 9. In a fast and strenuous bout to-night Tom Alley (13st 101 b) won from Billy Meeske (12st 31b). The bout was for the world’s light-heavyweight title, and as Meeske had made weight below 12st 71b and Alley had not, the title went automatically to Meeske. On the match, however, depended possession of the championship belt, which remained with the holder, Alley. Meeske won the first fall in the fourth round with a severe novel toehold. Alley equalised in the seventh round, picking Meeske up and dumping him heavily when the Australian had accidentally bowled over the referee through Alley side-stepping a flying tackle. Alley was on top throughout the last round and was given the decision. When he was leaving the ring the Australian was enthusiastically ■ cheered, while the American was roundly hooted. CLAIM AGAINST WRESTLER. JUDGMENT FOR ALLEY. WELLINGTON, December 7. In the claim of the Canterbury Wrestling Association against Tom Alley for £54 4s 2d damages for an alleged breach of contract in failing to meet M'Dougall at Christchurch on November 9, the magistrate (Mr T. B. M'Neil) decided in Alley’s favour. Alley admitted that there was a contract, but contended that his physical condition was such that it was impossible for him to fulfil the contract. He produced a medical certificate showing that he was suffering from bronchitis and influenza at the time. The Magistrate commented that he was bound to say that he thought Alley should have notified the Christchurch people earlier than the date of the contest that he would not be appearing. RESOLUTION OF PROTEST. The following resolution was passed by the Auckland Presbytery last week: — “ That the presbytery expresses its deep abhorrence of the shameful exhibitions of professional wrestling held from time to time in the Town Hall, and suggests to the Mayor and city councillors that such contests be forbidden in the interests of decency and public morals.” The motion was carried unanimously. The strong protest made by the Rev. Lawson Marsh at the Auckland Presbytery against the type of wrestling contests held in the Town Hall was not supported by the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, Methodist city missioner, who said on Wednesday that he attended Monday’s bout, and apart from a little horseplay by the contestants he saw nothing to shock anyone’s morals. Personally he enjoyed every minute of a good match, and he considered wrestling was competently managed in Auckland. “There was another member of the cloth in the audience,” he added, “ and judging by the expression on his face he enjoyed the match as much as I did.”