A GREAT CONTEST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 829, 6 October 1916, Page 2

A GREAT CONTEST.

McCOY DRAWS WITH EDWARDS

Aliout 8000 people, including a number of prominent enthusiasts from New South Wales, witnessed the light-weight contest between blew Edwards (Hugland) and Herb McCoy (Victoria) at the Stadium on Saturday night (says the Melbourne "Age" of September IS). .Much interest was centred in the event nwing to the fact that when the pair first mel in Sydney Edwards won mi point", and the previous contest at Melbourne resulted in a draw. The third contest, was the best of the three. The boxers were in splendid condition, the respective weights being:—McCoy, Pst nib, and Edwards flst 7Mb.

In the opening round .McCoy tried to force, and in boring in scored with good lefts and uppereuts. Edwards, who was slightly favourite at the commencement,' stood off, and with the advantage in reach replied with botji hands to the head and jaw, with occasional good body punches. Up to the sixth round Edwards was leading on points, but in the next McCoy closed in, and got several fast straight lefts home, followed by .uppereuts. It was a fine piece of boxing, and a good round in his favour. The three succeeding rounds were lively. McCoy used the same tactics, infusing plenty of vim, and scoring well in the in-lighting. Edwards warmed up in the eleventh, and fought back with determination and effectiveness. He swung a strong right to the jaw, which shook McCov. lie also scored with several lefts iiiid rights. McCoy slipped to the boards in the next round, but E'.vards did not take any advantage of it, and the onlookers showed their appreciation. Both continued to box brilliantly, using their heads and feel in a most marked manner. McCoy cleverly evaded many lefts and rights. Edwards pos sessed a fast two-handed punch, and when his opponent blocked with the left over came the right like- lightning, and with weighty effect. McCoy knei\ that he was up against a still proposition. and defended well. In the fourteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth rounds McCov's in-lighting and all-round boxing we're a I real to watch and it troubled his adversary, whose month was swollen from previous well timed straight lefts. During the in-fighting boih of Edwards's eyes were cut, due to com-1 iug in contact with McCoy 's head, but this was quite unintentional. The spectators cheered McCoy for his exhibition in these rounds. Although McCoy sent his oppenenl 's head back with an uppercut in the eighteenth, Edwards was always dangerous, and replied with solid blows to the head and body. from this out Edwards rallied, and tried hard for a knock-out. He won the last two i rounds, and when the gong went McCoy I was extremely busy on the defensive. A draw was declared, amidst cheering,. after a magnificent contest. i