SUDDEN END OF BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 23512, 19 May 1938, Page 11

SUDDEN END OF BOXING

G. McKay Beaten By Downes W. JACK GAINS POINTS DECISION Two good professional bouts were fought at the Civic theatre last night. The main bout, between George McKay, of Tuatapere, and Barney Downes, of Wellington, ended almost sensationally. McKay was well in the lead on points, and in the seventh round did everything with his fists but knock his opponent out. He scored at will, and it did not seem that Downes would see out the round. To the surprise of the big crowd Downes came out in the eighth round and scored a knockdown, and after McKay had taken a count of nine Downes punished him without opposition. The referee then . stepped in and awarded the bout to Downes on a technical knock-out. It was a thrilling bout while it lasted. McKay was making his first appearance as a professional boxer, and although he was slow in settling down he gave a good account of himself. Bad generalship appeared to bring about his defeat. He was so far in the lead before the eighth round that he could have afforded to box cautiously. Instead he went in and risked heavy punishment which eventually wore him down and made him an easy prey for Downes’s swings. Downes did not rely on his defensive powers. He flung defence to the winds for the greater part of the bout and relied on a good right-hand punch to bring results. At one stage it seemed that he must lose, but the sudden change in the bout favoured his style and gave him a good victory. The second professional bout resulted in Watty Jack beating /Jack Reidy on points in one of the best sixround bouts seen in Invercargill for a long time. The boxers agreed to fight at short notice, and in the circumstances their display was surprisingly good. They were fairly evenly matched, and showed that properly fit either would hold his own with any boxer of The Southland Boxing Association is to be complimented on its good programme. Both bouts were good matches, and a return of either would be assured of a good house. Challenges to the winner of the Mc-Kay-Downes bout were issued by W. Jack and C. Hanham (Waimate). DOMES USES HIS RIGHT Downes conceded weight to McKay who took the ring at list 51b. Downes weighed lOst 71b. The referee was Mr G. Singleton and the judges Messrs A. Fyffe and N. W. .McGorlick. ROUND I.—A clean right-hand punch to the face delivered by Downes within a minute of the opening rocked McKay who temporarily was outwitted, but recovered well and fought back strongly. The pace was on from the start and it was clear that Downes was going to make the most of his right hand. He scored three times with his right, McKay apparently having no guard for the punch. McKay was slow to settle down; when he did he used his left to head and body and scored well.

ROUND 2.—McKay opened up in this round and beat Downes to the punch in most of the exchanges. Downes stood up to the punishment. He did not give ground, but went after McKay and connected with his right. There was little defensive work, both men being keen to throw punches. There was plenty of action and the crowd showed that it appreciated it. ROUND 3.—Downes kept swinging his right hand and connected with McKay’s head nearly every time he released the punch. A good rally in midring favoured McKay, who scored with three lefts to the head and body. McKay was boxing confidently and made good use of his weight in the clinches. ROUND —Downes staked all oh his right and in the opening exchanges found a mark every time he placed it. McKay took these punches without flinching, however, and mixed it whenever he could get in. His left was used freely and more often than not it was a winner. It was an even round, both sharing the attack and scoring in most leads. McKay’s left eye was bleeding. ROUND 5.—A good left by McKay sent Downes’s head back. McKay followed this up with left and right to Downes’s head. The Tuatapere boxer was definitely on top at this stage, whereas Downes appeared to be groggy. He took several punches on the head and* offered little resistance. The crowd shouted itself hoarse as McKay peppered his opponent with punches. McKap easily won the round. ROUND 6.—Downes came back refreshed by the spell,‘ but was immediately in trouble from McKay’s left McKay kept on top of his man and scored with uppercuts, rights and lefts. He had Downes at his mercy but could not deliver a knock-out punch. Just before the gong Downes fought back and staggered McKay with right swings. The crowd was wild with excitement as the boxers traded blows at close range. ROUND 7. —Downes appeared to be feeling the effects of the exchanges and also the handicap of weight. His right hand was still effective, however, and McKay did not escape punishment. Both men were very tired and would-be knock-out punches were sent out frequently but none had sufficient power or weight to decide the bout.

ROUND B.—This round produced the sensation of the bout. McKay again went after Downes, but left himself open to Downes’s swings. Downes swung his left this time and caught McKay on the jaw. It was a good punch. McKay dropped to the canvas and took a count of nine before rising. He was beaten, however, and could scarcely raise his arms in defence. It was Downes’s turn now. He kept on top of McKay, who floundered about the ring in anything but an erect position and finally sprawled on to the

ropes. He was out on his feet and the referee stopped the fight. Downes had made a wonderful recovery and was applauded for his gameness. JACK v. REIDY Jack weighed in at lOst 81b and Reidy at lOst 121 b. Mr J. Powley was the referee. ROUND I.—Reidy scored with lefts to the head and Jack won points with well-placed body punches. ROUND 2.—Jack forced Reidy to the ropes and ripped both hands to the body. It was a good even bout, both boxers showing a keenness to mix it and giving a good display. ROUND 3.—Reidy won applause with some well-timed counter-punching and for half the round he was on top. Jack fought back strongly and sent in hard rights and lefts to the body. Jack’s left cheek was cut in one exchange, and Reidy’s forehead was showing blood. It was a good round. ROUND 4—One rally in this round was worthy of a championship bout. Jack was the aggressor and played both hands to Reidy’s body. Reidy backed into a corner and appeared to be in trouble. He fought back well and made Jack give ground. Jack came again, however, and rocked Reidy with rights and lefts. ROUND s.—Reidy twice was on his knees early in this round. He slipped the first time but was dropped the second when Jack drove home a hard right-hander. Reidy weathered the round, but took a lot of punishment in doing so. ROUND 6.—Reidy went after Jack and threw a wild right which missed its objective by feet. Jack’s face was showing signs of wear. He went after Reidy who finished well and counterpunched and scored freely. It was a good finish to a hard fight. Jack got the verdict. AMATEUR BOUTS Mr J. Powley was referee in the amateur bouts; the judges were Messrs N. W. McGorlick, W. Gellatly and W. Hannon. CATCHWEIGHT W. Brown 8.6 beat V. G. Ward 9.4 (Invercargill) (Winton) Brown, who is the bantamweight champion of Southland, boxed cleverly and won every round. He did practically all of the leading, but when Ward led Brown generally got under the punch and countered with a right. In the last round Brown had matters all his own way and but for the gong must have knocked his opponent out. Ward had a big advantage in weight, but he was no match for his fast-mov-ing opponent. T. Morgan 10.10 beat J. Cleghorn 10.3 (Invercargill) (Invercargill) Cleghorn’s southpaw stance was the cause of much amusement. He threw punches from all positions but more often than not beat the air. Morgan boxed coolly and although hard pressed in a whirlwind finish won comfortably. Both boxers put up a good showing for their first appearance in public. MIDDLEWEIGHT T. Denny 10.10 lost to W. Enwright 10.11 (Bluff) (Invercargill) Denny appeared to win the first four rounds. He held his own in the fifth and sixth, but lost the decision. Enwright’s strength of punch made his shifts more impressive, but for pace and variety or punches Denny was his superior. Denny’s defence was good and his guard was not often broken. Enwright relied on his punching power and in the in-fighting fought well. GOLF FERRIER’S BRILLIANT ROUND (Received May 18, 10.5 p.m.) BRISBANE, May 18. With a course record of 69 in a brilliant last round, Jim Ferrier (New South Wales) won the Queensland open golf championship with an aggregate for the four rounds of 284. He finished 4 under 4’s. A Queenslander, V. Walker, was run-ner-up with 299, and the title-holder, N. von Nida, was third with 301,