BERT LOWE RETAINS CHAMPIONSHIP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13393, 29 May 1914, Page 5

BERT LOWE RETAINS CHAMPIONSHIP.

A GOOD FIGHT,

CHALLENGER RETIRES AFTER llth

KOUND

Scaling I2st 2lbs)/ Billy # Bartlett, of ChristchurcJi, entered the , ring to en- ; doavor, m fifteen rounds, to wrest from Bert Lowe (11.11), of Gisborne, the'heavyweight championship of New Zealand, arid to win a purse of £75, Including, expenses. The :huge audience was full of expectancy -tytien the men took their corners, nor were the anticipations for a 1 good fight unrealised, for the contestants' gave 'the best exhibition ever witnessed m Gisborne between" heavy-weights. Both men were iii the piiilc of condition. Bartlett was slightly taller than the champion, but whare Lowe fell short m this respect he made up m ringcraft. He proved more agile m footwork, and his blows were more effective. His straight lefts to face were forceful and had much effect. However, he had an opponent worthy of him, arid the issues were of a fiairly even nature until the challenger realised that he was done, not only suffering -from the punishment he received, but this thumbs, which were injured m the. fight \Vfth Fitzsimrnons, gave out. \Bartlett was on tho defensive most of the time, and while "lie failed to guard off Lowe's straight lefts, he had a y deadly right upper-cut. The champion succeeded m evading most of these blows by his clever back-stepnrbg, ' but the three or four times he failed to step out of the way m time he got something thattold,- and that made him realise he was up against a hard hitter. The first six rounds were m Cowc's favor, and the seventh 'arid eighth were (even. From there on Bartlett was visibly tiring, and. gave m after the round. For his seconds Lowe had J. and L. Nicolas, V. -Lowe and Len Robhison, whilst m Bartlett's corner were F. Hill (his trainer), R. Cairns, E. and J. O'Neill. There were the usual preliminaries, and the gong sounded. THE ROUNDS. Round one: Lowe started negotiations with a straight left,, which was well blocked. Bartlett rushed m, and a clinch followed. There was some sparring and then Bartlett .delivered a straight left to chest, and shortly afterwards he attempted an upper-cut, but the champion backstepped. A straight left from the Christchurch man glanced over Lowe's shoulder. The latter rushed m, his left leading, but he received a right cross to head. Some hard hitting at close quarters ended the round. Round two: Bartlett led off with a loft cross, which narrowly missed its mark. He continued to lead, but Lowe got m a left hook to face. The Christchurch man rushed m and delivered a left cross to head. Lowe: dodged a right swing, and shortly after back-stepped' another. The champion connected with a left jab to face, and repeated the act just afterwards. Following un- with an upper-cut which just missed his man, he connected .hejivlly to point, which made Bartlett feel slightly groggy, a right and left were landed on the Christchurch man's head. Arid toartlett rushed m, but failed m an attempt to upper-cut. Lowe got home with a left hook to head, and the gong brought relief to Bartlett. Round three: Lowe rushed m; he missed with. a. straight loft, arid received a right chop to head. Bartlett prettily dodged a left swing, and a clinch followed. Lowe rushing m linked up with a straight left to head, which was followed by a similar blow, and the men came to clinches. During some in-flghting Bartlett repeatedly punched his opponent's ribs, with apparently no effect. Round four: Lowe opened with a straight left, which was blocked, and Bartlett missed with a left hook. After some sparring Lowe -feinted with his right and connected with .a. left: hook to head. After an exchange of body blows m close fighting, Lowe rushed In, and received a straight right and left cross to face. He ducked and escaped Bartlett's attempt to repeat the blows, and forced? his man

on to the ropes. He received another right cross to race, but prettily backstepped from a .straight -left. An. attempt to upper-cut by Bartloti caught the champion on ihe car, and the welcome spell yvas announced.

Round five: Lowo again led off, and appeared to be forcing de fighting. He narrowly missed will* a forceful left syving, a. clinch following. Bartlett attempted an upper-cut, which Lowe evaded, but received a downward right on the side of the head. He rushed m, only to he met \vith a straight left to neck, and the. round concluded with an exchange ol blows at close quarters. Rdund siN: A series of mix-uns followed the opening of the round. Uartlett attempted a left upper-cut. and followed up quickly with a right cross to head. Lowe leading, got', m a right swing to head, and repeated 1 the performance just afterwards. Afier some clinches t ßartlett pummelled Lowe's ribs without effect. The Christchurch man, rushed m, and connected with -an upper-cut, but Lowe landed a left hook, and repeated the performance just 'hefbre f."e gong sounded. Round seven: , Lowe continued, to force the pace, and after a, couple (of clinches Bartlett forced Lowe to .the ropes. The champion came up quickly and landed a telling left swing to face, which brought blood. Bartlett smothered on the ropes for a few breaths, and Lowe held off. Continuing to lead with bi(*..l*'!V Lowe forced matters. He connected again with a left upper-cut, and applied-l ater with a right -cross to jaw. He forced his man on to the ropes and. stood close m. Bartlett spransr suddenly. *\nd sent Lowe doyvn with a right upp^-cut. Although •not extended Lo.we too.c . the Count fo nine. Upon rising from -his linees- he rushed m,., and a lively interlude on the rhues followed, Lowe -having the best of the bout. - - ,

Round eight: The champion returned m the aggressive, and soon had his opponent on the ropes. He- narrowly.: missed with an upper-cut, and Bartjett sought relief with a smother. Lowe beat Bartlett's guard with a. left hook to face, and "came again with a similar blow; Continuing to-connect' with left hooks to face, Lowe inflicted severe punishment, and the gong interrupted, a , rush-in by Bartlett. 1

Round nine: Lowe back-stepped a right, cross, and Bartlett led up with- a right upper-cut, but missed,, and connected with a f left swing.. Rushing m again ■Lowe', received ". a straight left, .to face. He .renewed tlie attack, and this time got:ia a straight left. During some fighting at close quarters- Lowe- delivered some telling left hooks to face, whilst the Christchurch man replied with .a. left swing: The latter shortly afterwards ; canie at his man with- a.. right" cross to head, and Lowe retaliated with a straight left to . face. .

Round ten: After the, men had, sparred for openings, Bartlett got a back left to head, but Lowe camfc on with a right hook, followed by a left hook. He forced Bartlett" on to the ropes with a left swing, and the challenger unsuccessfully attempted an upper-cut. Soon afterward? the champion came. m. Vvith • a straight left) and-, a -left cross to jaw. saw Bartlett again, on the ropes, and the latter went to his corner visibly tired, whilst Lowe appeared; to be fairly fresh. ,_.'.-

THE FINAL BOUT.

ROIII4I eleven:, A general -mix-up followed the commencement qf this round, which proved to be the • last one.. Lowe forced Bartlett to the corner with. a right cross, and then sent m three rapid right jabs to body and stood off. Bartle,tt rushed m and attempted," a, right uppercut, Which failed, and he landed a light left cross to jaw. • dnd a mix-up ensued. Lowe followed -his man round -the ring.' inflicting punishment on the head, and then ■• stood off. ' ■

"That will do," whispered the challenger, on . going to v his corner, and his towel was thrown m, -amidst great excitenient.

A HARD BATTLE

'.' ''I was done," replied Bartlett to a remark that reached, him from outside -tha -ring, "and what's the good of a. man going on^w'hen he knows he. is beaten. I belteve m being a sport and give m ,to the best man." ,

, Lowe admitted he had. been- up. against a good -fighter, and said ,it was .the .hardest battle he had waged m the ring.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE

i Marquet, of Sydney, has challenged the winner lo a match at ..Auckland for the championship.

LONDON, May '2o

Georges Cai-pentier has offered to meet 'Bombardier Wells and any other Englishman, fighting both m tlie same night, the. contests to come off privately m London m July. Wells has declined.

Otto Flint is training vigorously for his contest with Terry Kellar at the lllng, and is shovelling sand as - preparation for the fight. Kellar is--trainlng m the orthodox way at*. Hampstead, m Northwest London. v

The opinion, .is expressed ,m England that Terry Kellar. if he avoids hitting low, should beat otto Flint.

Terry, Kellar, the American boxer, who was m" Australia some time ago, and •came., to England Willi Colin Bell and Harry Stoije. defeated Otto' Flint at the .Ring. London,, last night. The form of berth boxers was poor. They hugged and roughed, mostly. Keller' deserved disqualification Tot* v holding continuously. Flint fell m the fifth round, , ancl though jCleasiiy able; to stand, preferred remaining whore he was.. '. Negotiations are -proceeding for a match .between . Georges Carpentier < and Colin 8011. , ■;.,,.; / . Seaman Ilayes beat Duke Lynch m the '12th round at tho 'National Sporting Club ; last night. „ , ■ Frank Moran, who will fight Jack Johnson shortly, arrived m Paris on .Saturday. • . - Sam Langford, through the French Box,ing Federation, has challenged Jack John;son, if he (Johnson) defeats Frank Mol*an. In the event of the negro's defeat the, challenge applies h>. Moran. The battle. 1 , whether it fs IVtween..- LangforiJ and Johnson, or Langford 'anil Moran, will be for the heavyweight .championship of the world. ; -; f . •