BOXING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 58, 4 March 1912, Page 5

BOXING.

MAI. A.nD 'I .{AC ivi FIGHT A JKIAW. an a ......m:. Describing the fight between Alan Maxwell and Tim Tracey at Wanganui oil Friday the “Herald” says:— Shortly after 9. id tne men entered the ring. Both looked fit, hue Maxwell, probably in view of tne fact that tlie contest was bis first appearance as a professional, appeared somewhat anxious. The weights were announced as: Tracey 9.13, Maxwell 9.10. Round I.—Maxwell immediately set out after his man,Tracey showing good footwork, and the next minute was spent in the ox-amateur making frantic efforts to corner Jus opponent, who, however, was too wily. A spell of sparring saw both men on tlie ropes, Maxwell having decidedly the better of the rally. Maxwell continued to send them in,but Tracey’s defence was sound, tlie latter landing a light right as the gong went. Maxwell’s round rather easily.

Round 2.—No time was wasted in sparring, Maxwell jumping in with the left for the face, but missed. ’Tracey’s footwork again proving useful. Maxwell continued to force, landing the left to the face, and jolting in a solid left hook to the jaw at close quarters. Maxwell put a good left on to the nose, Tracey coming to light with a neat dexter counter to the body. Maxwell finished up by banging the left under Tim’s eye. Maxwell’s round.

Round 3.—Maxwell started well, sending in two lefts to the head without a return; but Tracey, who was now warming up to his work, more than got his own back in a couple of rallies on the ropes, his hitting being more accurate, though it did not carry so much sting as the blows of ids opponent. Maxwell sent in several left hooks in the close work, Tracey evening up with well-placed counters, principally to the body. An even round. Round 4.—Maxwell again jumped in, landing the left lightly; then came a scramble, and Tracey was half pushed on to his knees, but was up immediately. At this stage the referee entered the ring, where ho remained during the rest of the fight. The examateur circled Tim’s neck with a powder-laden right swing, the WeiJiagtonian retaliating with a right jab to the jaw. Maxwell got in several right swings, but their force was to a largo extent taken on the shoulder. “Don’t hold, Tim!” from the referee, and even fighting concluded another level‘round. ...

Rounds 5, 6, grid 7 called for little comment, Maxwell having tired, and Tracey had decidedly the upper Tiand. Maxwell looked very sick at time, but to weather the stdrm ; .tilery were no IvqockWowns, - though Tracey was experiencing dd'4tp'ubjfo; ii( r faftding, ! Maxwell -getting'in an occasional one.

Round 8' saw Maxwell recovering. He held his own in this session, and though he did not make connection so often, his hitting was both harder and cleaner. An even round.

Round 9 was more lively, both men putting plenty of vim into their work. :MaxAvell ..used his left well, but left himself somewhat open, an oppoftuh'itt .which his 'opponent was not slow to take advantage of, and got in some good two-handed work. Maxwell, however, was the more aggressive, and the points in this session rightly went to* him, though there was not much to pick either way. Round 10.—Plenty of excitement In thifi round. The rallies—of which there were many—being vimful. Maxwell was relying chiefly on lefts to the face, while the veteran pinned J;is faith to jolting right counters to the ribs and stomach. Honours even.

Round 11 commenced with a spell of pushing, both appearing tired, while a right to the jaw each did not improve their condition. The Taranaki hoy put the right hard on to the jaw, Tracey swinging a wild uppercut which went wide. The Wellingtonian got a couple of jolts into his opponent’s lower regions at the gong. Maxwell slightly ahead. Rounds 12 and 13 both went to Tracey, there being little done, though the Wellingtonian’s hitting was better judged and more accurate. Both scored with righ swings to the jaw, though the blows lacked steam. Tracey though ho carried more marks carried off tlie honours, the margin was small.

Hound 14.—Both were saving .themselves for a final effort, and the round was consequently rather tame. A sjwdl of pushing saw both men on their knees, hut they were up again and at it immediately. Tracey got in a couple of light blows at close quarters, but ducked into a right swing which shook him up shortly after. A period of even fighting and a tame though level round. Round 15 (and last). —Maxwell, though tired, went after his man with the rather too obvious intention of landing a deciding wallop, but Tracey was not to be caught napping, and got in right and left to the head without force. Maxwell connected with the left to the nose, and shortly afterwards earned applause by sending bis opponent’s head back with a good dexter) counter. Tracey came at the end, having decidedly the better of a short spell of close fighting on the ropes, Maxwell landing a light left as the final gong sounded, and just gaining the honours for the round. The referee announced the contest a draw, the decision meeting with a good reception.