BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 20495, 25 May 1928, Page 8

BOXING

BLUFF TOURNEY LONG PROGRAMME OF FIGHTS BRIGHT SCIENTIFIC DISPLAYS Boxing of a high standard was seen in plenty at the annual tournament promoted by the Bluff Boxing Association in the Drill Hall last night. An exceedingly lengthy programme consisting of some 18 bouts was put through rapidly reflecting great credit on the organization and as a result a bright display was witnessed. There was a large attendance of followers of the sport. Contestants in the various events were present from all parts of the province and the visitors were responsible for some high class fights, especially in the finals of the various divisions although the local boys upheld the reputation of the port in the boxing world in a highly creditable manner. From the commencement at eight o’clock there was no delay and although the programme was continued until shortly after midnight, at no time did the tournament become tedious. Some extremely willing bouts, by no means devoid of science, were seen in the junior divisions and there were indications that a number of juvenile competitors would reach a high standard in years to come. Only in rare cases were the combatants unevenly matched and as a rule the issue of the bouts was in doubt until the final gong. The awards of the judges, (Messrs T. Finnerty and F. Vella) were well received and only on one occasion was any opposition shown by the public and this to only a small extent. The excellent conduct of the tournament redounded to the credit of the committee of the association led by Mr E. Budd (president) with Mr. J. Silvester as secretary. Mr A. Tall in the position of referee, ably controlled the bouts. Mr E. Budd was announcer, Mr. M. McGorlick, ringmaster, and Messrs C. Hunter and G. Barton official seconds. Details of the fights are as follows: NOVICE FEATHER. J. Davis 8.10 beat J. Farrington 8.6. (Invercargill) (Bluff) Davis took command in the first round and kept Farrington off with an effective straight left. Farrington stood up to it well and livened towards the end, but could not connect. The referee stopped the fight in the middle of the second round. NOVICE BANTAM. W. McFarlane 8.2 beat H. Calder 8.2 (Invercargill) (Greenhills) The bout opened wildly, with McFarlane doing most of the leading. The lads were evenly matched as far as weight went, but Calder had the advantage in reach. McFarlane had his opponent sized up in the second round and used a good straight left to the chin very effectively. Calder, however, had things practically his own way in the in-fighting. The third round was a repetition of the second, McFarlane showing himself a cooler fighter. McFarlane won the bout. H. Thomson 8.2 beat J. Matheson 8 1 (Invercargill) (Bluff) Thomson was the better of a fairly indifferent pair, doing all the leading. His punches, however, lacked sting, although he drew blood from Matheson. The first two rounds went easily to Thomson and the third was going the same way when the referee stopped the fight. Thomson was the winner. H. Thomson 8.2 beat E. Cameron 7.5. (Invercargill) (Invercargill) The two fought like a pair of wildcats—in between spells. Thomson had the best of things all through. His opponent was giving avVay almost a stone and Thomson had an easy win. — v Final.— W. McFarlane 8.2 beat H. Thomson 8.2 (Invercargill) (Invercargill) This bout was a very indifferent one and a poor conclusion to a good night’s entertainment. Thomson had had ’two figh;s earlier in the evening and was obviously tiring. The fighting was wild, McFarlane ehowing more initiative and aggressiveness. McFarlane got the decision. OPEN LIGHTWEIGHT. Firpo Kitson 9.6 beat W Jack 9.8 (Bluff) (Invercargill) “Firpo” did most of the leading in the first round, but laid himself open to his opponent, although full advantage was not taken of the opportunities by Jack. Kitson went in more for fighting than boxing, but showed more technique in the second round, using a straight left and right swing to advantage. His footwork, too, improved. He was even better in the third round and was a winner with a good margin of points.

G. Steele 9.8 beat W. Bruce 9.8. (Tuatapere) (Invercargill) The bout was tame and uninteresting from start to finish. Neither of the boys showed any inclination to “mix it,” prefering to keep well away. The judges disagreed at the end of- the third round and an extra two-minute round was ordered by the referee. Steele was then declared the winner. He didnot fight up to the form he has shown on other occasions. —Final.— “Firpo” Kitson 9.6 beat G. Steele 9.12 (Bluff) (Tuatapere) Steele was not up to form and put up an indifferent showing. Kitson kept his opponent guessing, although he had not Steele’s easy style. The decision went to Kitson and found favour with the audience. NOVICE LIGHTWEIGHT. J. Dawson 10.0 beat W. Keiler 9.8. (Invercargill) (Invercargill) Dawson did all the leading, but displayed a deplorable lack of science and knowledge of the finer points of the game. He beat Keiler by mere force of weight and it was late in the bout before Keiler realized that he had a left, which he even then failed to make full use of. Dawson was declared the winner. OPEN WELTERWEIGHT. G. McEwan 10.10 beat W. C. Galt 10.10. (Invercargill) (Waianiwa) McEwan went down in the first round from a clean right from Galt. The latter used a neat straight left to advantage and packed a nasty right. Gait’s left and right swings to the face and body scored him many points in the second. He kept McEwan off and made him miss repeatedly. McEwan kept at him gamely scoring with his left to the face and a good right. The third round was a good go. McEwan was adjudged the winner but the decision did not please the audience who voiced their disapproval loudly and cheered Galt as he left the ring. NOVICE WELTERWEIGHTS L. Swan 10.8 beat F. Roderique 10.0 (Invercargill) (Bluff) Swan had the advantage in weight and reach and kept Roderique off with deadly punches. The Bluff lad stood up to his gruelling gamely but was outpointed in all departments. The referee stopped the fight in the middle of the second round. R. Creaser 10.9 beat R. Flynn 10.11 (Invercargill) ( Invercargill). Creaser gave Flynn a lot of trouble in the first round. He connected repeatedly to the face with a vicious straight left and right jabs. Creaser was quicker on his feet and the fitter of the two. The second round was a ding dong go, Flynn improving his guard toward the end. Creaser’s punches carried plenty of 1 force and his footwork was better. The third round went

easily to Creaser who had things all his own way. Flynn connected only two or three times while his opponent did so repeatedly with his left and right. Creaser won the bout. —Final.— R. Creaser 10.9 beat L„ Swan 10.8 (Invercargill) (Invercargill) Swan opened his account with right and left swings scoring heavily but from then on fortunes varied Creaser gradually wear ing down his opponent. He connected with a straight left and left the right swings to the face and body. Swan was driven to the ropes on several occasions. Creaser was declared the winer. MIDDLEWEIGHT. B. McEwan 11.4 beat D. MacLaughlin 11.3. (Invercargill) (Invercargill) This fight degenerated into a wrestling bout. The first round was very even but the second went to McEwan who proved the better man in the in-fighting. The bouii went to McEwan. —Final.— B. McEwan 11.4 beat A. Williams 11.6 (Invercargill) (Invercargill) McEwan had the better of the fight in the early stages but Williams later settled down and an additional two minute round was ordered by the referee when the judges disagreed. McEwan got the decision. OPEN HEAVYWEIGHT. T. Spencer 12.4 beat T. Metcalfe 12.1. (Greenhills) (Invercargill) Metcalfe started off like a bull at a gate, but found himself up against a much harder proposition than he expected and took the count for six two minutes after the start. Spencer connected with leftsand rights to the face and body and the bout had not proceeded far when Metcalfe’s second threw in the towel. • SPECIAL BOUT. —Catchweights.— J. Kelly beat W. Gilson. (Ocean Beach) (Bluff) The first round went in favour of Gilson, who got home with rights and lefts to the face. He was cooler in the ring than his opponent. The second was more even both exchanging body blows. The third went to Kelly, who connected with a good straight left and kept his opponent off. The fourth followed in somewhat the same fashion as the third. Kelly was adjudged the winner.