A GREAT CONTEST.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15542, 10 June 1921, Page 8

A GREAT CONTEST.

Till; MIDDLE WEIGHT .CH^YMPION- -■ sutrr. : COLE, DEFEATSHEENEY. SYDX K Y .SIDED AW A RDE D POl NTS VICTORY.

The disputo between the Gisborne Boxing Association and the amateur boxers, with Its resultant withdrawal ol the amateurs from the'tournament arranged for this week, can not be .said to have greatly affected the attendance at the Opera House last evening, when the big middle-weight protessional contest .was staged as Ibe sole attraction. ..Few vacant seats were to be observed in the auditorium, and so far as tlie shortness of the programme was, concerned, it is doubtful whether the majority of those present were not pleased by the-eireumt stance which enabled the audience to reach home at a comparatively early hour.

The contest, characterised by many as the best fight ever staged. locally, went the full fifteen rounds, and was Won by the Australian, Jack Cole, who defeated on points the Gisborne lad, Jack Heenevj middle-weight champion of New Zealand. The victory was secured by ail ample margin, but though the local contestant was unsuccessful, never did the descriptive phrase, “defeated ..but not disgraced,” apply more aptly .than to Jaik. Tierney. Kor his splendid fight against odds of experience and superior cleverness, be deserved, and received from the audience the most- hearty eon r gralulatious, and as to the clean, sports-man-like. manner in which the contest was fought it is sufficient..to say that ip this respect, ttie very high standard of contests staged by the C. 11. A. was fully maintained. The reieree, Mr Allan Maxwell, whose duties were very light, personally commented on this to the report-

Thc usual excellent arrangements for the staging of the tight were carried into effect, the lighting being till that- could Iv desired, while the ringside, as usual, in the hands of Mr C.,'Somervell, was fitted in a most satisfactory manner. An orchestra conducted l»v Mr Woods rendered musical .selections in. the period of. waiting prior to the ibiunienoeineiit ol the battle.

Cole was lirst to enter the ring. Ileeney following directly after.v,arils. With the Australian were Mark Harrison, M. Burt and R.oss, and with the local boy Arty and Tom Hoeney (two brothers of Jack ileeney), and Jack Allen' (trainer).

The patron of the Association, Mr V - Bissau!- Clayton, introduced the e.ontestants. Both were- accorded a most hearty reception. - . The weights were stated as : Cole list bibs, Ileeney list 41b. Prior to the commencement, the contestants agreed to a “clean break, - ’ the announcement being greeted with applause. STRAIGHT TO WORK.

From the lirst. sound.of the- gong, the lighters went straight to work, Cole leadtug. with the left and missing -with a right swing. Ijp light frig followed, in which both men landed frequently, ileeney forced his opponent to give ground continually in the first round, but Cole continued to lead, and both scored with body blows and head jabs. Cole gained applause for a following right after one of his leads which landed ort Heencv’s ear. with force, hut without apparent effect. The round was applauded. Cole again led off in the second round, and scored in the infighting with his left to the head. He missed badly with ;i left, and right, in going into Ileeney, the latter also missing the opportunity offered. That the Australian. had a punch was obvious, and that he could use it was evidenced by liis clever upper,cuts. Cole's eye began to bleed in . this round. Ileoney’s work in the infighting was good, but his head blows were frequently blocked by the Australian, who had the-best of the-.round.

Infighting was continued in tin; third round, Ileeney showing mure aggressive, lie brought a cheer for a right jolt to the car, hut in countering Cole’s leadf was bathed by the latter’s crouching atlituije. Cole scored with the right to the to the stomach, and some, good left uppercuts to tile face. He got a- cut over the left eyebrow, which bled produsely. Ileeney*s best effort was a left, which lodged on his opponent’s cal'. „ , FAST- PACK OF FOURTH ROUND.

The pace at which the fourth round was opened spoke wonders, of the fitness of the two men. While Colo again played mainly for the body, Heeney repeatedly led to the face. Cole scored a- flush hit, following Heeney to the /opes, and a little later shook the loeijl boy up with a left counter to the jaw. The round was fairly even,, both finishing strongly. The dose work was, good .to. wateli, and neither showed any disposition to shirk the clashes. Cole's head work saved him a lot of trouble. ; .. Tn the fifth round, both connected cleanly with left to the head, the yecontre being' applauded. Cole’s right- was of great value to him in the infighting, and rapped repeatedly on his opponent’s stomach. Heeney received, a small cut under Ihe left eye. , .

Strong blows, exchanged .evenly,.opened the sixth round, Heeney opening the ball, (.'ole was warned lor the second timil for holding. Heeney displayed great eoiiibativeness, and played for Cole’s head, and narrowly avoided a most dangerous right uppercut. j Colo showed a. capacity for past- action in the seventh, when ho scored repeatedly on Heeney’s face with upper hand, jabbing him in from both sides and then retreating out of the range of Heeney’s counters. In this way, he gave Heeney an opportunity to connect with a couple ol’ stinging blows oil the ear, and later returned a heavy right, following a- feint with ihe left, on the jaw. : The Indian again attempted to connect with the. right uppercut, but missed, Heeney avoiding it cleverly. , STILL FIGHTING STRONGLY IN Till; EIGHTH.

Both came up strong for the eighth, and, Heeney allowed his opponent to lead. In infighting, Heeney with a- line right uppercut, but was again bullied, in leading, by the Australian’s duelling. Tim close work was keenly matched, and appeared to be fairly even, with any margin in favor of the Australian.

Cries of “Lucky nine, Johnny,” greeted Ifeeney as the opponents came up for the ninth round. Heeney led, hut missed. Hie round assumed the same character as (he previous ones, mainly infighting with occasional clashes at longer range. Cole showed himself a good deal superior in this round, neatly blocking Heeney'#- attempts to land on lilt; body, and notehiiig points' for bis jabs and uppercuts to Hie head. HEENEY’S STRONG REPLY. A forceful right upperout to.the jaw wan delivered hv Cole early in the tenth, but without apparent effect. Heeney’s reply to a. rush, delivered'to the ear with a downward right, pleased >his supporters, who, however, were qlimed by another heavy right with which Cole connected to the jaw. Though the, Australian was scoring freely, his mighty blows did not appear to .affect the local man to any great extent:

That Heeney had plenty of.:vim left was shown by the manner in which lie fought up to Cole, and took advantage of any opportunity to lake- Hie initiative. Ho was, in the eleventh,, cautioned not to hold, and as the pair broke away mutually, Cole showed a strong dash, boring and sending jabs and • hooks to

the face and body. Ileeney made a good ‘■ally...towards-the. entLuf. the.round, and tins occasioned' a continued demonstration in his favor, which, during; the next intermission'brought from the referee the caution “not to spoil a good fight.” Each in turn committed a bad miss in tho eleventh, Ileeney with a right swing and Colo with a right uppercut. Another warning was- issued to Ileeney about holding. The latter bored in and ran into a straight left to the mouth, hut evened tins score shortly after with left and right hooks to the head. The bout was turning out most satisfactory, the lighting of either man being most aggressive and of a high degree of skill. Cole connected first in the thirteenth, with a left lead to the jaw, and a quick right- chopping down on the ear. Mutual exchanges followed, and shortly after Cole vainly endeavored to land a fierce right.. With a laugh, lie remarked, “Missed liini by a yard.” Ileeney appeared incapable of dealing with Ids opponent during (he next spell of infighting, and the Australian placed hooks and jabs on head and body repeatedly. WEIGHTY BLOWS. ileeney, taking a leaf from his opponent's book in the fourteenth, avoided a left and right by ducking, and responded with a. left to the fare. Cole’s blows had a, great deal more weight than Hcenc-y's, and, during a clash in Heeney’s corner appeared to stagger tho Gfsbornite. That this was only apparent, however, was shown by his strenuous response. Though lie was forced against tho ropes, he fought hack with either hand.

.Coming up for tho last round, both men were strong, and inclined to make the most of the last round. Cole led, and connected with his left, in resulting infighting, -the- Australian scored more frequently, Ileeney tiling. Coje was endeavoring, apparently, to make victory doubly sure, and, in better trim, held Heeney on the ropes, almost pulling off his object- within the last half minute. VICTORY FOR COLE.

The decision was. not in doubt, and as Cole was brought to the front of the ring, a great demonstration was accorded him for his splendid performance.

Heeney also came in for a hearty demonstration, his exhibition of strong opr position to heavy punishment having, earned him almost as much admiration front the audience.as was given to Cole, tho victor. . -

Both men lal.e.i; remarked to the press, men that the light, from their pyint of view, was a, splendid one. Cole warmly congratulated his. opponent, while Heeney, with his well-known smile, do' dared that t lie better man won, and freely accredited the Australian with superior science. The- splendid condition in which the- men had entered.the ring was evidenced by the fact that,, ten minutes after the fight, both were refreshed, washed, dressed, and were free to receive the many well-wishers who showered praise upon them. Neither, beyond the facial cuts mentioned previously, showed any sign of injury beyond a puffed appearance about the head, and front their expressions, it -would have been difficult.-for one who had not witnessed (lie battle to have decided which had won. THE SCORE- CARD. _ As demonstrating the manner in which the Australian led practically throughout t-lie fight, the score card, compiled by Mr Maxwell, referee, is of considerable intyrest. Mr Maxwell awarded the points as under: — Round Cole. Heeney.

1 4 4 2 5 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 5 7> 4 6 j 3 7 5 4 8 4 7 9 5 5 10 ' 4 4 11 5 2 12 ... ... 5 ... 3 15 4 3 14 5 3 15 5 2 Totals 54 ... 50