BOXING

Putaruru Press, Volume XX, Issue 1193, 1 August 1946, Page 5

BOXING

r tE AROHA COMMENCES .Matamata Men’s Successes Alter. a period of about 10 years TV Aroha Boxing Association got going again ' with a carnival on Monday evening. Time was, a ♦couple Of decades ago, when this association gave a purse of £2OO foT a New Zealand heavyweight championship match. That this proved a fiasco —it finished in something like three and threequarter minutes—was no fault of the association, but it was a severe setback. Undaunted, a few stalwarts continued but. eventually throughvarious causes beyond their control the association went into recess. No doubt through the ouccessful activities during the last couple of years in Morrinsville, Springdale, Kereone and Hamilton, in the immediate surrounding districts, a number of older fans, coupled with many new ones, essayed another go, and judging by the hand given them on Monday night it looks like being successful. The Majestic Theatre was about two-thirds full and the enthusiasm was there, particularly W- the many young folk present. Unfortunately, through several cir- “ cumstances over which the committee had no immediate control, the k fare provided was not as wac in- • tended. 'However, the shortcomings —will he foreseen in the future, judg- ' ing from the active personnel of the officers.

A Thrilling Encounter As intimated above, some of the arranged bouts were missing, due, - among other things, to the date cinching with a carnival at Tauranga. However, what was lacking in quantity was made up for in quality, particularly in the • last bout when Dawson Bruce, of Walton, gained a middleweight decision from the well-known R. Tate, of Waitoa. This does not mean that the result was in any way wrong, but the surprise came in the manner in which Bruce recovered in the .- last two ■rounds after being floored twice in the second round. On the fitiot occasion, when he was on his knees for four seconds,, it appeared to the initiated that- Bruce was “foxing,” tut on second when he was flat .on his back, " there was no doubt '■Slat he had gone down from a beautiful right cross to the jaw. It war.’ remarkable that he wag able to see the round, hold his own in the third,' and out-box Tate in the last.

A number "of officials of the boxing committee of the Morrinsville Physical Culture Club and boxers from the Morrinsville-Matamata district were present. It was announced that "thp Springdale club would shortly be holding a tournament, while Te Aroha would 1 hold another before the season ends. The > referees were Mr. Stan Bloomfield, of Morrinsville, and Mr. J. O’Sullivan, of Waihou, both of ■ whom officiate' at Morrinsville carnivals. Paperweights F. Conza (Te Aroha) v. M. Cadman (Springdale). Conza had a half stone advantage and used it, but was met unflinchingly by the Springdale - lad who fought back well. Both used two hands and Conza was weakening in the last, but his first two rounds earned him the decision. C. Blackburn (Springdale), 8.6, v. E. Ure, 8.8 (Hamilton). Blackburn took the fight to his opponent in the round, but Ure showed a good defence and came in ’’down stairs.” The third was a hard hitting round in which Ure showed the more cleverness, but Blackburn’s early atearned the decision. Light Heavies Anderoen (Kereone) v. Taka Nshu (Springdale). The more seasoned Andersen had it all his own way in the first round although there was not much in his punches. The Maori had no defence and the bout was called off mid-way in the second with the decision to Ander■sen. Paperweights 1 F. Lynch (Te Aroha) v. Billington (Springdale). These boyo were matched without providing thrills and little clean hitting. The ♦decision to Lynch was popular. Featherweights R. de Lille (Morrinsville) v. A. Absolum (Te Aroha). The local snewed showmanship and was popular, but de Lille got in some telling lefts and Aboolum was saved in the first round by the gong. He refused to come out in the second— win for de Lille.

Exhibitions A clever exhibition bout was given by two small O’Sullivan boys, of Waihou, sons of former Australasian bantamweight champion, J. O’Sullivan. The Cadman brothers, Springdale, •giro gave an exhibition over three one-minute rounds. C. Grice (Kereone), 8.10, v. Neems (Te Aroha), 7.11. Neems weaved with a right hand but had no counter to Grice’s left and was behind at the end of two rounds. Neems was down for eight early in the third and went down again to lose. Annas (Waitoa) v. Stucki (Springdale). These boys fought an even first round with some hard exchanger). Stucki landed the more frequently in the next, neglected to follow up his advantage, but won the round. A torrid third stanza was even. The decision to Stucki was the right one. Middleweights G. Mapp (Matamata), 11.3, v. L. McVeigh (Springdale), 10.9. . These fellows hit hard and often with the early advantage to McVeigh. lii the second McVeigh let Mapp in through throwing his punches and lost points -thereby. The last, and the decision, was Mapp’s easily. Catchweight Exhibition G. Turner v. P. Cox, both of Morrinsville. The opponents selected for these boys defaulted, so that they agreed to box an exhibition. . Four Two-minutes R. Tate (Waitoa), 11.6, v. D. Bruce (Walton), 11.6. Bruce met all Tate’s attacks in the first and gut out with the honours. ißrucc went to his knees for four in the next but rose to fight back cferongly, to go down again for six. It seemed remarkable that he was still fighting -at the gong. Each went for a knockout in the next. Tate missed several times, but Bruce was bleeding and weakened, and he lost the round. Bruce scored frequently with left upper cuts in the last and got the verdict. He won it in the to and last rounds. There were no beg-pardons in any round of a fight which, although not of the duration, was up to professiinal standard.