TOURNAMENT IN INVERCARGILL

Southland Times, Issue 23921, 13 September 1939, Page 11

TOURNAMENT IN INVERCARGILL

Fifteen Bouts Last Night

BRISK FIGHTING IN LIGHT SECTIONS

GOOD ATTENDANCE IN

CIVIC THEATRE

The New Zealand amateur boxing championships were opened in the Civic Theatre last evening, when 15 bouts were fought in the fly, feather, light, bantam, welter, middle and lightheavy classes. There was a good attendance for an opening night, and although all the fights were not up to New Zealand standard there were a few first-class bouts in which the contestants displayed a sound knowledge of the game. Most of the bouts were won on points, but there was a fair proportion of knock-outs, and what some of the contestants may have lacked in science they certainly made up for in hitting power. There were several defaults, some of the boxers having been called up for military service at the last moment, and as a result there was no contest in the heavyweight class, and only one bout in the light-heavyweight class. The best fight of the evening was in the bantam division, between L. Salmon, a Dunedin boxer nominated by Southland, and B. Maddern, of Taranaki. These two boys fought all the way, and although Maddern was well beaten he put up a courageous performance, and fought back strongly until he was unable to continue. In the light-heavy-weight class B. Withell, of Ashburton, fought an aggressive fight to take the decision from D. Mullett, of Wellington, and both boys went well in the last round, Mullett fighting desperately to make up leeway. The match between D. McKenzie, the Southland boxer nominated by Rakaia, and D. Heeney, of Gisborne, was another good bout, the North Islander winning by a fairly narrow margin. The tournament was well conducted, and no sooner was one bout over than the other was ready to begin, so that there were no unnecessary delays. In spite of the big number of contests the fights were all over by 10.45. The tournament will be continued this afternoon and this evening, and the finals will be fought tomorrow night. Last night’s results were: FLYWEIGHT L. Larsen (Wellington) 7.13 beat E. Foote (Christchurch) 7.13 on a technical knock-out Larsen scored with a long left which he followed with a good right hook. Foote was inclined to leave himself too open, and though he landed a few swinging blows in the first round he was badly shaken when the gong went. Larsen’s long left was troubling the Christchurch boy, who weakened as the round went. Foote took some punishing blows to the face and was saved at the end of the round by the gong which sounded at the count of four. Larsen’s right hand wrought a good deal more damage in the third round and the fight was stopped. A. Cameron (Rakaia) 7.12 beat F. Brown (Southland) 7.4 on points

The contest opened poorly, both boys boxing with extreme caution, and hardly a blow was exchanged in the first round. The second round was hardly any better and few clean blows were exchanged. There was one brisk flurry in the last round, but the display was an indifferent one.

BANTAMWEIGHT T. Hoggarth (Greymouth) 8.1) beat N. Leckie (Otago) 8.51 on a knock-out Hoggarth proved a tough little twohanded fighter, and a few moments after the bout opened Leckie went down for eight from a right swing which appeared to come from the ground. Leckie was making his man miss a good deal with a smart back move, and landing an occasional punch. The Otago boy landed some clean blows with both hands in the second round, but again took a right hook which put him down for eight. Leckie landed a few good punches after, but Hoggarth’s right hook was still causing him trouble, and he was at all times open for a knock-out, had Hoggarth followed up his advantage. Leckie was doing well in the last round, but a shattering series of right hooks sent him down for the count. L. Salmon (Southland) 8.51 beat B. Maddern (Greymouth) 8.04 on a technical knock-out This was a willing bout in which both boys stood toe to toe and traded punches w'ith both hands. Salmon landed some hard ones to the head and pounded his man severely but Maddern fought gamely back, although at times it looked as if the fieht would end suddenly. The same cyclonic tactics marked parts of the second round but it was in the last round that Salmon came to light, Maddern stood up to him gamely in a terrific rally, but was floored three times before the fight ended on a technical knock-out. H. Foote (Wellington) 8.51 beat C. Hutchinson (Waipukurau) 8.51 on a technical knock-out Foote floored his opponent a moment after the start and pursued him with some long-range punches that carried a good deal of weight behind them. He was apparently going for a knock-out and was putting all he knew into his punches, but Hutchinson managed to survive the first round. Half way through the second round Hutchinson took matters into his own hands, and connected with a clean straight left, following it up by a swift attack which bore his opponent against the ropes. Hutchinson was floored for eight in the last round, and after a fairly hard battering he went down . again and the fight was stopped. FEATHERWEIGHT R. Davis (Waipukurau) 8.13 beat M. Hunter (Oamaru) 9.0 on points Davis, although the shorter of the two, made good use of a straight left which he delivered with lightning speed. He carried the fight to Hunter in the . first round, but the latter boxed fairly coolly and connected well with a hard right to the jaw. Davis was punching fast in the second round, and Hunter stopped two or three vicious right hooks to the jaw. The Oamaru boy was unable to make the best use of his greatly superior reach and his opponent was beating him to the punch

all the time, coming in strongly with both hands. Hunter came in well in the last round with some good longrange punches, and drove his man into the corner with a heavy barrage from both hands. The last round was a splendid exhibition of scientific boxing and Davis won by a narrow margin. L. Pennington (Auckland) 8.13 beat N. Blake (Christchurch) 8.13 on a technical knock-out Blake opened with a two-handed attack with long-range punches. Both boys lacked sting, although in the second round there were signs that they were putting more weight into their punches. The Auckland boy assumed the offensive, and, driving his man into a corner, fought hard with both hands. The fight ended in the second round on a technical knock-out after Blake had taken a good deal of punishment. W. Brown (Southland) 8.10 beat J. Parker (Wellington) 8.13 on points

Brown displayed a wide range of orthodox punches, and there were one or two attractive flurries. Parker’s defence work was good, but the Wellington boy was unable to avoid his opponent’s left, which flicked out like lightning. Brown came in strongly in the second round, connecting with good clean blows. He was not getting it all his own way, however, and Parker landed some hard body jolts, which he varied at times with a solid right to the jaw. Parker was holding a good deal, specially in the last round when, nearly spent, both boys stood toe to toe and traded punches. Brown connected well with some strong punches to the jaw and won easily. T. Baty (Gisborne) 8.12 J beat W. Clark (Greymouth) 8.13 J on a technical knock-out Clark displayed good footwork, and connected well with both hands. Baty fought back strongly, however, and began to wear his man down with the speed of his attack, punishing him severely with both hands. Clark was saved by the gong from a knock-out in the first round, having stopped some vicious right hooks to the jaw. Clark was taking terrific punishment from a series of shattering right hooks, but Baty seemed unable to administer the coup de grace. Clark had become a mere chopping block, and was unable to return any punches. The Greymouth boy rallied for a while in the last round and landed some good lefts, but was unable to stand the pace and the fight was stopped. G. Thomas (Taranaki) 8.12 beat A. Jones (Rakaia) 9.0 on points

Thomas floored his man with a long, rangy right a few seconds after the bout opened. The round opened briskly but Jones seemed to be conserving his energies, and was content to land a good left to the ribs when opportunity offered. Thomas was longer in the reach and connected with a long left but Jones was doing good work in the infighting with solid punches to the body. Both boys took punishment in the last round, and Thomas’s right did some damaging work. Jones went down for seven to a left hook to the jaw and stopped another hard right to the jaw just before the round ended.

LIGHTWEIGHT T. Dunn (Hutt Valley) 9.71 beat C. Beal (Hawke’s Bay) 9.5 J on a technical knock-out The first round was marked by a good deal of in-fighting and some wild uppercuts. Both boys were fairly tall and seemed better adapted to longrange fighting, but it was not until well into the second round that they tried this, and then Dunn shook his man with a vicious right cross to the jaw. Dunn was fighting strongly and the Hawke’s Bay man went down for three to a left hook. Just as the gong went he was floored again and the fight ended on a technical knock-out. J. Musson (Ashburton) 9.7 beat J. Ramsay (Otago) 9.9 on points

Ramsay led with some fast lefts to the head. Musson boxed cautiously and, taking a side-on stance, attempted to take his opponent’s punches on the shoulder. This made his right practically ineffective, and all he was able to do was to prop out a long left which, however, seldom reached its objective. It was a fairly colourless fight, and at no time did the contestants mix it properly, although they put a fair amount of energy into their work.

WELTERWEIGHT D. Heeney (Gisborne) 10.5 beat D. McKenzie (Rakaia) 10.4 on points Heeney came in fighting strongly with both hands, while McKenzie stood off and boxed him. There was a hard interchange in a clinch. Both boys mixed it well in the second round and Heeney found himself running into some strong right-hand punches. McKenzie was not escaping without punishment, however, and the Gisborne boy was carrying the fight to him. He was rather inclined to push out too much with both hands. In a final rally McKenzie collected a good right on the nose, followed by a left hook to the jaw. MIDDLEWEIGHT R. Tonics (Ashburton) 10.10 beat H. Candy (Taranaki) 11.4 by a knock-out Candy used a good straight left hut was inclined to carry it a bit too low, with the result that he did not punch as straight as he might have done. Tonks swung his blows violently and there were some hard clinches. The fight ended suddenly when Tonks landed a right hook which put Candy down for the count.

LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT B. Withell (Ashburton) 12.7 beat D. Mullett (Wellington) 12.55 on points Withell made the pace but his opponent was ducking and back-moving neatly, riding the punches and tiring his man by making him miss. Withell maintained his aggression in the second round and this time landed a few punches. However, the Wellington man took a hand and connected with some good straight lefts. He seemed a bit slow in ' attack, however, and showed signs of weakening. Withell came in strongly in the last round, and Mullett took some severe punishment to the head. Towards the end of the round, however, he was giving as good as he was getting, and both boys were fighting hard. DRAW FOR TODAY

The following is the draw for this afternoon’s bouts. T. Denny, of Southland, will not be able to fight, as he was unable to pass the doctor and will accordingly default to Coughlan. Fly.—B. Maddern (Taranaki) v. W. Drew (Otago); C. Worth (Auckland) v. G. Hastings (Manawatu); A. Cameron (Rakaia) v. L. Larsen (Wellington). Feather.—R. Davis (Waipukurau) v. M. Parr (Otago); L. Parsons (Manawatu) v. A. Byrne (Hutt Valley). Light.—D. McGirr (Christchurch) v. S. Morris (Wairarapa); H. Calder (Southland) v. G. Bridge (Wellington); L. Huzziff (Taranaki) v. R. Tonks (Ashburton); T. Denny (Southland) v. D. Coughlan (Manawatu); D. Fairbrother (Hutt Valley) v. Vf. Little (Auckland).