DONOVAN BEATS SHITH

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1929, Page 6

DONOVAN BEATS SHITH

KNOCK-OUT IN 10TH ROUND BIG ATTENDANCE AT STRATFORD. WILLING PRELIMINARY FIGHTS. Tommy Donovan knocked out “Kid” Smith in the tenth round at Stratford on Saturday night in the first professional fight staged by the Stratford Sports and Pastimes Club for some time. Long before the time appointed there was a huge crowd outside awaiting admission. Though they were allowed to crowd in, filling the Town Hall to its utmost capacity,. every aisle and other available space being densely packed, despite the fact that provision had been made for over 100 at the ringside, before eight o’clock when it was not possible to admit any more without bulging the walls, there were still hundreds outside awaiting admission. The. box office returns were about f 250.

This was a tribute largely to the popularity into which Tommy Donovan has deservedly sprung as the result of his brilliant series of victories since turning professional. It was also a tribute to Kid Smith, who has made himself very popular among Stratford enthusiasts. After Smith went the full distance with Donovan at Patea a few weeks ago the return match was awaited with eager anticipation. It was scheduled for fifteen two-minute rounds, but in the tenth Donovan won by the knock-out route.

Smith, looking cool and debonair, had a groat reception, which he acknowledged in his characteristic genial fashion. Tommy Donovan, rugged and determined, also was well, received, but Smith was the popular idol.

Donovan did not start in such a' determined manner as usual, and did not appear to be warmed up in the early rounds, as at the intervals he did not require the use of the customary towels. After the first round, however, Smith began to feel the effects of the punishment he received, his ribs bearing testimony to the attention they had received, though Referee Foley would allow very little close work, keeping the bout open. Smith smothered well and used his footwork to advantage, but as Donovan always held the upper hand, and as he warmed up it could easily be seen that it was only a question of time. In some of the rounds Donovan did not follow up his advantage with the customary devil, but he got going in the ninth round and in the tenth landed the k.o.

For the opening th© amateur preliminaries set the crowd in good humour, as all the bouts were well contested and the fact that many of them were accompanied by some heavy hitting added to the zest. Among the competitors were a number who were making their first appearance in the ring, and they made a creditable showing. The officials all did their work well, there being very little unavoidable delay. Mr. W. R. Foley, the third man in the ring, kept all the bouts as open as possible, and only in one case was his verdict questioned. The other officials comprised: Announcer, Mr. J. Jones; call stewards, Messrs W. Mills and H. Shields; glove steward, Mr. A. Nelson; doctors’ steward, Mr. W. A. Brown; weight steward, Mr. P. Skoglund; seconds, Messrs W. Bourke, G. Jones, D. O’Keefe and E. H. Fazackerley. The president, Mr. J. W*. McMillan, Mayor of Stratford, was present and he, with his committee, of which Mr. P. Skoglund was chairman, well deserved the congratulations extended to them. A special word of praise is due to the secretary, Mr. C. C. Johnston.

LIGHTWEIGHT CONTEST. Carr (New Plymouth), Ost 41b, opened proceedings by taking a decision over Hutchinson (Eltham), 9st 61b, who was making his initial bow to a boxing audience. The more experienced New Plymouth boxer commenced at a furious pace, bewildering his opponent with a rapid succession of wildly aimed blows. The Eltham amateur took the advice of his seconds in the next round and pulled up the rushing Carr with a ramrod-like left poked straight to the face. Just before the gong a solid right caught Carr on the head and he fell through the ropes. It was obvious in the third session that Carr was sent out to make the pace and try to bewilder his opponent. Disregarding Hutchinson’s straight left he waded in and was soon a gory mess, with blood streaming from his mouth and nose. However, his aggressiveness gave him the verdict although it met with loud and prolonged hoots from . portions of the audience. Hutchinson with a few more lessons will prove a good boy. WELTERWEIGHT BOUT. R. Clements (Eltham), lOst, defeated W, Pratt (Kaponga), lOst 21b, the latter throwing in the towel after the first round. The bout opened briskly, both men standing up to each other and mixing it freely with some hefty punches. Neither appeared to bother much about defence. It could early be seen that Clements was too good for his opponent, who was making his first appearance in the ring. Pratt, however, was game and took punishment well, but as some previous scars had been opened during the contest his seconds wisely capitulated at the close of the first round. MIDDLEWEIGHTS. L. Dombroski (Waitara), lOst 91b, defeated V. Brosnan (Tangarakau), list 21b, on points. This proved a willing and interesting four-round contest. Dombroski took the place at the last minute of R. Furze, Waitara, who was ill. Brosnan, who has improved, stood up straight and early forced the fight, meeting Dombroski’s solid rushes with a straight left. He also smothered well. Dombroski, however, landed heavily towards the close and sent his opponent down on his knees. Dombroski had the better of the early part of the second round, though in evading a wicked swing from Brosnan he slipped to the boards. He then took the fight to close quarters and kept the upper 'hand, making Brosnan smother. Just in time. he connected heavily to the face, sending Brosnan down. The latter could have got up at four, but played for time too long and was almost counted out, but the gong saved him. The third round proved fairly even, Brosnan showing to better advantage and swinging with his left cut Dombroski over the eye. The latter cleverly evaded another wicked uppercut and a willing mix-up ensued. The final round opened in willing fash-

ion,. each- mixing ,it'wfe'll, though Dombroski showed cleverness in defence. Their efforts to get close were frustrated by the referee. In the lastminute each landed occasionally. The verdict to Dombroski after a very, even bout was popular.

LIGHTWEIGHT. L. Christiansen (New Plymouth), fist 41b, beat W. Mancer (Eltham), fist, on points. This bout went the four rounds and was full of interest, being open and clean. Mancer has improved but Christiansen, who was the more forceful and aggressive, held the upper hand. The first round saw Christiansen, a good two-handed fighter, at once attack, but though he landed frequently Mancer showed cleverness in evasion and was not loath to mix it, just missing with an upper-cut. Towards the close Christiansen landed heavily with both hands. The second and third rounds saw Mancer improve, but Christiansen still maintained the upper hand. The final round opened with a burst of clean hitting in which the New Plymouth lad held the advantage. Then Mancer swung a vicious one which Christiansen side-step-ped and, coining in, he landed to the face. Mancer appeared to be tiring, but just on the gong he landed heavily to the body. The verdict was a popular one.

FEATHERWEIGHT. C. Talbot (Eltham), Bst 31b, defeated Thomas (Kaponga), Bst 71b, on points. The bout went the full four rounds, though at the start it looked as if it would not. Thomas, who was making his initial bow to the public, at once set after Talbot, forcing the fight at a torrid pace. He scored heavily, the pace appearing to bewilder his opponent, but near the close of the round Talbot got Thomas in a corner and landed to the face. Thomas came again and was scoring on the gong. Thomas was just as fast and aggressive at the opening of the second round, but Talbot stood his ground better and steadied him -with a straight left to the face and the round closed after an even rally. The third round saw Talbot, still cool and collected despite the vigorous punching of his opponent, commence to assume the upper hand, and he scored in some close work. Another willing mill at the close saw Thomas tiring. In the final round Talbot was aggressive and he also showed cleverness in evading, landing in the breakaway. Thomas, with some solid lefts, drove Talbot to the ropes, but the latter sprang away and scored to the face twice in succession. In a final rally in close Thomas got home a couple of good ones to the body. In a very even bout the verdict went to Talbot.

BANTAMWEIGHT. N. Childs (Stratford), Bst 21b, defeated Mick Watt (Hawera), fist 61b, on points. Watt, who took the place of Mulvaney at a moment’s notice, had the advantage of height and reach as well as weight. He had a nice style, but Childs’ clever footwork and ability to slip in his left so speedily and frequently gained him a popular, verdict, though he did not have matters all his own way by any means. Watt’s aptentained members of the club, his own weight will be watched with interest. Later in the evening “Kid” Smith entertained memers of the club, his own party and his opponent at Melrose House. During the supper Mr. P. Skoglund, chairman of the club, extended congratulations to both boxers, and expressed his keen appreciation of the fight. He also referred to the enthusiasm in and around Stratford as represented by the great crowd of spectators. Donovan and Smith responded.

DONOVAN KNOCKS OUT SMITH.

Although he was eventually successful in knocking out “Kid” Smith, Tommy Donovan did not give his usual dashing display. Several times throughout the contest he had Smith in a sorry state but refrained from applying the closure and often stepped back or walked away to give his opponent an opportunity of reviving.

Smith, while he did not win a round nor land an effective punch, demonstrated that, against a less rugged opponent and lighter hitter, ho would perhaps hold his own. His smother was almost perfect and his footwork, at times, a treat to watch.

The end came suddenly and unexpectedly. In the tenth round Donovan rushed to the centre of the ring and concentrated on the head. A left to the throat made Smith jerk his head forward for a solid right hook to crush on his uncovered jaw. The'Stratford man fell flat on his face and was carried to his corner after the count.

Warily advancing to the ring-centre, Smith smothered and fell against the Waitara boxer, who, after playing a tattoo on his rival’s ribs, jolted him with a left, hooked to the jaw. Smith covered that part, but received a right to the head. In the second session Donovan connected with, another right to the jaw and had the Stratford man worried. Donovan ignored Smith’s feeble attempts to land a blow and seemed to be taking matters rather easily. Shock tactics were adopted by Donovan in the third and with lefts and rights to the body he had Smith in a bad way. The Waitara man then eased up and throughout the remainder of the round slapped his man with the open glove. In the fourth round Smith rushed in in a smother, evaded Donovan’s lead and wrapped his arms around his opponent. Donovan threw Smith off and as he swung a vicious right at Smith’s head portions of the crowd commenced to hoot and yell “Go on, Smithy.” Donovan continued to pile up points but still his blows lacked their usual crispness and sting. Smith’s ribs -were red as he came from his corner for the fifth and more red still when Donovan attacked to the body and thudded lefts and rights to the midriff. As the Waitara man danced away, face grim and determined looking, he again received from many sections of the audience prolonged hoots. He smiled toothlessly at the rowdy ones. Smith, although he did not land a punch worthy of the name, received a great ovation on going to his corner. Weaving and crouching in the sixth session Donovan easily evaded Smith’s futile lead and, with a left to the head and right cross to the jaw sent the Stratford man to the ropes. Smith cleverly covered to avoid punishment but a left hook to the jaw had him ripe for the picking. Donovan, instead of attempting to apply the closure, turned his back on his opponent and calmly walked to the ring centre. Mild exchanges in the middle of the ring marked the opening of the seventh round and Smith’s smother saved him much punishment. Donovan connected with a left to the head and a right to the Jaw. Th® Waitara boxer danced about in the next round and tried to entice Smith to lead, but the latter ap-

peared afraid to uncover his vitals. In a clinch Smith stopped several jolts to the body and a right to the head at the gong. Donovan made the pace more lively in the ninth and lefts to the face followed by rights to the head gave an indication that the end was near. Smith was sent to the ropes and severely rocked by two rights to the head. Donovan again retired to a neutral corner and allowed his man to revive. Seemingly intent on applying the closure Donovan rushed his opponent, stabbed a left to the face and a right to the jaw. Smith smothered, but was caught with a left to the throat. Involuntarily his guard dropped and a right to the jaw sent him to the canvas, face down. As the referee chanted out the seconds the Stratford man never moved.