The Audience Had Reason To Be Angry

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 11

The Audience Had Reason To Be Angry

Boxing, Muddle Was Staged Last Night A MISTAKE NOT RECTIFIED The boxing at the Auckland Town Hall last night was marked by one or two unsatisfactory features, one of which resulted in a hostile demonstration from the crowd. The fireworks started when, after a particularly close and exciting bout, during which the crowd was roused to a high pitch of excitement, a mistake was made in announcing the winner of the Broadfoot-Pocock fight. First, the announcer pointed to Pococlt's corner; then lie went over and raised Broadfoot’s hand. The audience was naturally left in a state of bewilderment. “WHO WON?" Many thought it was being given a draw, and what with the uncertainty, there was a prolonged demonstration. Long after the fight was over there were persistent demands from the house: “Who won?” The question was not answered. A mistake having been made, it should have been rectified by a definite announcement from the stage. That was not done. It should have been done. The refereeing in the bout between Casey and Hay was far from satisfactory. Two instances may be cited. In the ninth round, Hay was twice guilty of holding, offences obvious to any experienced follower of boxing. He was not warned. A moment later, Casey was moved to retaliation. He was promptly cautioned. The indignant look the Queenslander flashed at the official in charge showed Casey thought about it. BLUFF Example No. 2. In the 11th round. Hay staged a preposterous piece of bluff, which again went down with the referee. Making a convulsive grab at his leg, he indicated that lie had been fouled. The referee turned and wagged an admonishing finger at Casey. Any follower of boxing knows that these little “stunts” are all in the game, but they should not get past an experienced official. The disqualification of Casey in the final round was also open to question. Throughout the fight, Hay adopted a most pronounced “crouch,” and with his shorts pulled so far up, it was easy for it to appear as if one of Casey’s swings had landed on the forbidden

area. In any case, Hay did not appear to be seriously hurt, and it would have been much more satisfaeftry to have let the fight go on, in view of the fact that it was the last round.