BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1926, Page 2

BOXING.

TOURNAMENT AT STRATFORD KEEN AND WILLING BOUTS. LOVERIDGE DEFEATS RIDGWAY. (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, Dec. 31. Not a very large crowd attended, the. boxing tournament held to-night in the Stratford Town Hall under the auspices of the Stratford Sports and Pastimes Club, but the programme consisted of interesting bouts, and several excellent contests were witnessed. The public were disappointed at the professional welterweight contest, which collapsed in the third round, when Loveridge, the New Plymouth champion, administered a number of what were virtually knock-out blows in the region of Ridgway’s solar plexus, causing the ex-navy champion to take the count unexpectedly early in the bout. The special six-round amateur contest between Karim (Scotland) and Midgley (Eltham) was the finest of the evening. It went the full number of rounds, the decision going to Karim, who outclassed his opponent. Midgley was'taking the count when the gong sounded at the close of the last round.

Complete arrangements had been made by the lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr. 0. S. Harvey, assisted by an energetic committee. The referee (Mr. VV. R. Foley) gave prompt and popular decisions. The announcer was Mr. B. Saunders, and the time-keepers Messrs. F. D. Gaffaney and W. Pinhey. Drs. W. P. Gordon and D. Steven were in attendance at the ringside. I Prior to the commencement of the i tournament, Mr. E. Walter, M.P., addressed the audience, expressing pleasure at the effort to revive boxing in Ztratford and regretting that rain which I fell during the evening had kept many supporters of the ring away. On behalf of the club he wished everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. Lightweight. In a contest of four two-minute rounds Bennett (9.6), Eltham, proved cleverer than Wolfe (9.11), New Plymouth, and won a sparkling bout because of his more decisive hitting and superior ringeraft. Wolfe was the more aggressive of the two, but many of his punches were wildly delivered. Bennett, on the other hand, displayed a marked cleverness in avoiding punishment and scored frequently with a rapid twohand . motion. Bantamweight. Childs (7.11), Stratford, defeated Manser (9.0), Eltham, on points in a contest of four two-minute rounds in which little damage was done to either boxer. Childs knew too much about the liner points of the game and piled up points in his tactics of leading smartly to the face. Mancer, who began fast, won the first round, but Childs scored heavily in the second. The third was about even and the fourth entirely Childs*. Featherweight Tn a special six-round contest Karim (Scotland), 9.5, defeated Midgley (Eltham), 9.0, after a clean, good." fight. Although Midgley showed improved form in the second and third rounds and at all times showed himself capable of taking a great deal of punishment, Karim was far too clever and his light-ning-like blows and recoveries were a feature of the match. Karim outclassed Midgley and easily won the first, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. Tn the last round Midgley rose from a left hook to be immediately stretched on the mat again in a dazed condition. The. count was in progress when the gong sounded to end the fight and Karim was declared ’ the winner. Owing to the non-attendance of Brooking in the second featherweight contest, Pope (9.0), New Plymouth,

boxed an exhibition bout with Jacobs (9.3), Stratford. No decision was given, and no damage was administered. At the close of the first round the referee had occasion to remind the couple that it was a boxing match they were engaged in and not a dancing competition. After that the bout livened J up considerably and a good deal of ni( rit was shown by both. Middleweight. In the absence of STh.iith, of Napier, Smith, 10.11 (Cardiff), defeated Scott, 10.11 (Whangamomona) after a fame exhibition. Scott, said the announcer, stepped into the breach at the last moment and. though unprepared, had agreed to box- Smith. Throughout the bout Smith made. little use of his greater reach and taller build, ami appeared too lazy to follow up the numerous advantages given him by Scott. Professional Contest. Considerable interest was evinced in the professional contest of fifteen threeminute rounds between Dick Loveridge, 10.4 (New Plymouth), New Zealand amateur champion for 1924-25, and Seaman Ridgway, 10.4 (Napier), ex-navy champion. Unfortunately, Ridgway col lapsed in the third round and took the count. From the start Loveridge was the Pggressor, and, disregarding the possibilities of connecting with Ridgway’s face devoted practically all his attention, to punishing body blows, which left the

Napier man weak and gasping for breath. The round opened with a clinch, followed by in-fighting, in which both showed cleverness. Loveridge then connected with a straight left to the face, and followed this up by a succession of left, and right blows to Ridgway’s body in the vicinity of his abdomen. Ridgway showed cleverness in avoiding punishment to the upper part, of his body, t ut did not seem able to drop his guard in time to prevent the. attacks un hi-, k wer muscles. The second round opened briskly, Ridgway scoring with a right hook to Loveridge's face. Loveridge replied with n whirlwind of body blows. Tie did most ;.f the leading-, but Ridgway scored some telling hits in return. Loveridge was getting the Letter of an exchange of blows at the ropes in the third round, and Ridgway appeared to be weakening fast. With Ridgway against the. ropes. Loveridge gbt home with three tolling blows near the solar plexus and Ridgway slid to the floor. At the count of throe lie made, an effort to rise again, while the arm of the referee moved slowly up and down. Ridgway, still in a dazed conditio'J, was carried from the ring while Loveridge received, an ovation from his supporters.