BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 25308, 11 June 1935, Page 8

BOXING

JACOBS BEATS O’BRIEN CONTEST NOT FOR TITLE WINNER TOO CLEVER

Much of the interest which had been created during the past few weeks was lost when the master of ceremonies announced that the middleweight boxing contest between Em Jacobs (Wellington) and Maurice O’Brien (Dunedin)-, at the Civic Theatre last evening, would not be for the clKmpionship of New Zealand. Jacobs failed to make the weight by two pounds and in the circumstances, the bout for the title could not proceed. O’Brien scaled list 3 lib and Jacobs list 91b. There was a splendid attendance and the whole programme, despite the altered conditions of the main bout, was entertaining throughout. As in their first meeting Jacobs was much too fast and clever for his stocky, game opponent, and won comfortably on points. At times the superiority of the Wellington man was so marked as to make the bout more of a gymnasium “spar” than an “all,-in” bout of 15 rounds. O’Brien stood his ground well, nevertheless, and proved himself possessed of unusual stamina and determination. He was at a big disadvantage in the matter of height and reach, and whenever he got in at close quarters or bailed his man on the ropes, his apparent slowness, as opposed to Jacobs’s will-o’-the-wisp dodging and weaving, left Him beating thin air. O’Brien tried hard for a knockout, but apart from connecting with occasional solid body punches and glancing a right to Jacobs’s face he did not look like succeeding. Jacobs again impressed the crowd, and it was quite apparent in both of his fights in Invercargill that he was not seen full out oi' extended. A match between him and Ray Nicol or Cyril Pluto (Australia) would be a great attraction.

During the evening Billy Sullivan was introduced to the crowd and indicated through the announcer, _ that he had challenged Ray Nicol to fight him for his light heavyweight title. Billy Pearce, of Wellington, also sent forward a challenge, to fight the winner of the O'Brien—-Jacobs bout.

Judging the amateur bouts were Messrs G. Rogerson and J. Powley. Mr George Singleton was referee. Mr A. E. Tall refereed the main bout and Messrs N. W. McGorlick and A. Fyffe were the judges. MAIN BOUT. Round I—The fight opened at a fast clip, with Jacobs scoring slightly the more freely, although his left eye was grazed by a right from O’Brien. There was a fair amount of in-fighting, with plenty of action, neither indulging in wrestling. Round 2—O’Brien connected with heavy body punches and rushed Jacobs to the ropes where he connected with right and left to the head. Jacobs connected with two to the body and a heavy right to the head. The pace was fast. Jacobs sent over a left to O’Brien’s jaw, but O’Brien rushed him to the ropes and drove in a heavy right to Jacobs’ body. Round 3—O’Brien showed excellent defence, but Jacobs pierced it with two hard punches, one to the head and one to the body. Using his feet nicely, Jacobs kept out of trouble. O’Brien relied on a good smother to keep out of trouble and succeeded in most exchanges but before the gong Jacobs scored freely. Round 4 —An even exchange at long range opened this round. O’Brien was smothering well. He connected with a couple of heavy body punches. Jacobs led a right to O’Brien’s head which was taken on the glove. O’Brien came back with a solid left to Jacobs’ body. Jacobs led left and right, but could not break through O’Brien’s guard. Jacobs found O’Brien’s nose with a straight left and followed up with a left and right to the head. Round s—Boxing beautifully, Jacobs was outclassing O’Brien who, though always full of fight, found it hard to land a blow on his elusive opponent, whose footwork was a treat to watch. O’Brien got home with one nice left, but many points were piled up by Jacobs. Round 6—Jacobs was beating O’Brien to the punch and connected with good straight lefts early in this round. O’Brien was trying to work Jacobs into position to bring his heavy right into action, but Jacobs was too wary. Jacobs seemed to be definitely on top at this stage, and outboxed O’Brien. Round 7—Jacobs swung himself over when making a lunge with his left. O’Brien was trying hard to find an opening for his deadly right, but his opponent was too clever. O’Brien had one good rally when he got Jacobs on the ropes. It was his best round. Round B.—Jacobs continued to box cleverly and kept O’Brien busy defending. O’Brien ripped a hard right to Jacobs’ body and connected with a right to the ear. Jacobs’ footwork was perfect and he seemed to find little difficulty in evading O’Brien’s blows. Jacobs connected with a right uppercut when O’Brien went into .a crouch. Both were exchanging blows at long range in the centre of the ring at the gong Round 9.—Master of the situation, Jacobs almost seemed to be inviting O’Brien to hit. The Dunedin man was nothing loath to go in. but he nearly always came off second best. His defence, however, stood him in- good stead when Jacobs bestirred himself. Round 10—O’Brien opened with a hard right to Jacobs’ ribs. Jacobs retaliated with four straight lefts to O’Brien’s face. O’Brien rushed Jacobs to the ropes where some in-fighting ensued. O’Brien was trying hard to land a knock-out punch, but Jacobs continued to pick him off with blows from all angles. Jacobs was definitely superior in the? long range work, but O’Brien’s defence was sound. Round 11—Jacobs did not look quite so cool and fresh, but was still showing his superiority at long range. There was encouragement for O’Brien when he worried Jacobs on the ropes, but once clear the Wellington man scored the points. O’Brien got in again and was on top at the gong. f \ Round 12—An exchange of light blows in mid-ring opened the twelfth round. O'Brien connected with a left to the body when Jacobs connected with a left to the jaw, but was warned for using the open glove. O’Brien was now carrying the fight to Jacobs, who appeared to be tiring. Jacobs used the ring well and evaded punishment. Round 13—Jacobs scored with three lefts, O’Brien with a hard rig. Vt. Then, remaining at long range, Jacobs added to his tally of points. He was looking fresher than in the last two rounds. He easily weathered a storm of blows rained by O’Brien in a corner. Round 14—O’Brien broke from a clinch and landed a heavy left to Jacobs’ jaw. Jacobs came back with a right to the body. There was some in-fighting in which Jacobs was superior. O’Brien swung a left to Jacobs head, but Jacobs was on the back move and the blow lacked force. Jacobs drove right and left to O’Brien s head, but O’Brien took them on the glove. O’Brien rushed Jacobs through the ropes at the gong. . Round 15—O’Brien pursued his mail but found him as elusive as ever Both connected in mid-ring, but there - was little about the round to make it one

of those “grandstand” finishes Invercargill fans have been so used to witnessin" in recent years. The verdict in Jacobs’ favour was well received. AMATEUR BOUTS. Middleweight. (Six two-minute rounds.) R. Reid (Wellington, 11.2 v. G. McKay (Tuatapere), 11.0. McKay was substituting for Muir who was suffering from a hand injury. Both showed good ringcraft and smart lefts. There was a fair amount of infighting, but it was full of action. McKay appeared to advantage in the second round, carrying the fight to his opponent and smothering cleverly when Reid retaliated. McKay was also on top in the third round and although Reid opened the fourth aggressively it was the Southlander who had the better of the remainder. Both were showing signs of tiring in the fifth round in which there was a fair amount of infighting. But it was still a good bout to watch. The final round was spirited and there was loud applause when McKay was proclaimed the winner. Middleweight. (Six two-minute rounds.) J. Arnott (Milton), 10.6 v. K. Giles (Timaru), 11.1. They were a likely looking pair as they stepped towards the centre of the ring and the first round justified expectations. Arnott was faster and cleverer and showed himself well versed in using the ropes to advantage. He won the first two rounds on points, but Giles began to connect in the third and, seeing a good opening, sent Arnott to the floor for eight with a right to the jaw. The Milton boy weathered the storm of blows till the gong gave him respite. Giles came in looking for a quick finish when the gong went for the fourth round. Half-way through it the referee awarded the fight to Giles, Arnott being too distressed to defend himself. Lightweight. s (Four two-minute rounds.) P. Phillipson (Invercargill), 9.10. v. B. Broomhall (Tuatapere), 9.5. Broomhall carried the fight to Phillipson and connected with, a nice right to the ear. Phillipson was much too strong for Broomhall and drove home some hard punches. Broomhall covered up well however, and was fighting back at the gong. Phillipson picked Broomhall off with right and left in the second round. Broomhall was swinging his right wildly, but managed to connect occasionally. Broomhall opened the third with a nice left and right to Phillipson’s head and later connected with two hard rights to the jaw. Broomhall was forcing the fight and kept Phillipson busy defending. Round four started in whirlwind fashion Broomhall rushed in and both boys drove in right and left. Phillipson’s weight was beginning to tell and Broomhall took some heavy punches to the head. Phillipson wag declared the winner, both receiving loud applause at the conclusion of a good contest