DONOVAN WINS AGAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1929, Page 5

DONOVAN WINS AGAIN

GRIFFITHS LASTS 12 ROUNDS RECORD CROWD FILLS THE HOUSE SUCCESSFUL TOURNEY STAGED. Once again on Saturday night Tommy Donovan demonstrated that he is indeed a powerful force to be reckoned with by anyone of his own weight, no matter of what calibre or what reputation, in a contest for fistic supremacy. Admittedly in the Dunedin lad, Tommy Griffiths, the popular Waitara lad was up against the most experienced and determined opponent he has met so far in the course of the eleven bouts that he has so far contested, biit right through the piece Donovan held the upper hand to finally wear down his game opponent and have him at his mercy in the twelfth round, winning on a technical knock-out after he had sent his man twice to the boa'rds. The popularity of Tommy Donovan as a draw card, together with the recognised worth of the Dunedin lad, drew a record crowd to the Opera* House, which was packed to the doors. Among . those present were the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, and party, who were the guests of the association. Representative® of the Hawera and Stratford associations were also present. Each boxer was well received on entering the ring and both looked in the f»ink of condition. Physically Griffiths more of a match for Donovan than have any of his opponents so far. ~ Donovan was making his seventh ap- , i,pearance under the aegis of the Taranaki Boxing Association since he has turned professional, and .his fifth ap- . 'pearance in New Plymouth. His entrance into the ring was awaited with more than the usual anticipation, as it was the first time he bad been called upon fc>r serious business since his recent illness, and though there were good reports of his work since, there were many who feared his illness might have left a weakness that would perhaps prove his undoing when called ,on to go all out for, fifteen rounds against an experienced opponent. ' He' early showed that if it had any effect- at all the enforced spell had merely invigorated him, as the further he went the more strongly he appeared ' to fight. ' He will go much -further yet. Griffiths showed cleverness, but it could not avail against the tornadoes launched by terrible JTommy from Waitara. BRIGHT PRELIMINARIES. The six preliminaries served their purpose in putting the audience in happy humour for the big bout. Most of them proved bright displays and all went to . the full distance with the exception of the last, between Talbot, the clever El[tham lad, and Wingrove, Tikorangi, another promising lad. Unfortunately the latter early stopped a body blow that paused the referee to award the bout to. Talbot. Among tho competitors were a few novices making their first appearance Before the public, and though it musthave been a big ordeal to face such a crowded house, none of them showed 'gcrioua stage fright and some of them should develop. Unquestionably there is a wave of enthusiasm for the noble art among the youth of Taranaki at present, and in encouraging it the association is doing nothing but good to the game. At the close of each bout the announcer, Mr. P. E. Stainton, handed the trophies, silver wristlet watches, to eajh winner,. congratulating them on their success as well as the losers on their gameness. . During an interval the opportunity was seized by the announcer of introducing to the audience the young flyweight Doug. Roebuck, the New Plymouth lad, who secured the runner-up medal in the flyweight class at the New ■Zealand championship meeting. In prefienting him. with the medal that- com--■memorated the success he congratulated the lad, who will not be till next month and was easily the youngest competitor at the tournament, on <Jiis sportsmanship. He expressed regret that through an injury received earlier in the evening, Roebuck was unable to -compete in the final. His record so far ;was ten wins, one draw and three losses. Mr. A. Maxwell, Wellington, as the third man in the ring, gave general satisfaction, and all the other officials ■/did their duty with a precision born of long practice. All the arrangements had been completed with thoroughness, so that bout succeeded bout without any delay. The officials were:—Official announcer, Mr. p. E. Stainton; time-keep- ■ era, Messrs. J. Bennett and F. C. Ferry; call stewards, Messrs. W. Roebuck and ’ R. HarVey;' ring steward®, Messrs.’ 1 Campbell; A. F. Aldie and G. A. Clarke; .weight steward, Mr. J. Horlor; glove steward, Mr. C. E. Roebuck; official seconds, Messrs. W. Searle, J. Payne, C. ,Tippins, J. Allen, G. Lawrence; visitors’ steward, Mr. N. Roebuck; hon. surgeons, Drs. Davie, Brown, Reid, Thomson, Church, Adamson and Barclay; house manager, Mr. 11. C. Collier; assistant house manager, Mr. V. S. Pruden. J The president, Mr. W. N. Stephenson, Was assiduous in hie work, and he, with [the committee, comprising Messrs, J. Garcia (chairman), W. N. Stephenson, J. Horlor, C. E. Roebuck, W. Roebuck, T. Campbell, R. Harvey, V. S. Pruden, N. . Roebuck, W. Searle, A. F. Aldie and G. Clarke, with honourable mention for the indefatigable secretary (Mr. E. J. Carr), are to be complimented on their enterprise and upon the successful ~efiults. PRELIMINARY BOUTS. ■ i.. 8;-Brereton (New Plymouth), 9.4, defeated T. Carr (New Plymouth), 9.4, ou points. This proved an interesting confest throughout each of the three rounds, being open and fast. The first round ppened with each man mixing it well, but Brereton early showed the possession Of a straight left which he used to keep his opponent off, and this largely turned iho scale in his favour. In the second round a willing rally saw Carr draw blood, but his opponent thenn got home With his left with the right and left, but Carr made him miss by clever evasion and then got home a couple of solid ones. Brereton, however, again got his left into action and had his opponent somewhat groggy. Carr came again tot Wards the close but Brereton had earned the verdict. „ , T " J. Moffitt (Warea), 9.10, defeated J. Paterson (Tikorangi), 10.3, on points. Roth were novices, and though the bout Proved somewhat uninteresting they ! Should benefit bv the experience. A quiet opening saw Moffitt do most of the fore-. Mlg, but Paterson evaded and landed

heavily to the chin, causing his opponent to hang on. Moffitt by ducking and smothering was able to weather the storm. The second round saw Moffitt send in some swings that missed badly, and then his opponent, who was also hitting wildly, landed one or two to the face. Towards the close Moffitt was again the aggressor and connected with his left. Moffitt again led to open the final round, but Paterson evaded. Swinging both hands Moffitt got in close and scored. Paterson then became aggressive but Moffitt smothered and kept out of trouble. Both were tiring towards the close and did little damage. C. Sole (Warea), 12.3, defeated F. Goodwin (Okato), 12.1, on points This was another bout between two novices. Sole, who possessed the advantage in height and reach, owed his' victory to his straight left, which he shot out with piston-like regularity. Tho bout opened quietly, each being cautious, until admonished by the crowd. Goodwin hopped in and landed to the face. This roused Sole, who unloosed his left and landed several times. The second round proved brighter, Sole's left giving him the upper hand as he was able to keep Goodwin off when the latter tried to force the pace, as he did in this and the final round, which saw some clever footwork. LIVELY DISPLAY GIVEN.

L. Cavanagh (Tarata), 9.6, defeated H. Stockman (Tikorangi), 9.2, on points. Lt was a very lively display and had the crowd on their toes. From the gong Cavanagh forced the pace and went in with both hands like a whirlwind, but Stockman survived the onslaught and, poking out an occasional left, got some of his own back. Towards the close Cavanagh appeared to hit very near the border line. Cavanagh got to business right from the jump off but Stockman’s left steadied him. Cavanagh, however, went in clos® and scored with both hands. After the break away Stockman's left got home. Cavanagh had the advantage of the closing mix-up, but again hit on the low side. ’The third round proved willing. Stockman was aggressive and landed with both hands, but Cavanagh got in close and scored. Both were tiring and Cavanagh was having the-better of the mix-up. Towards the close Stockman shot one in to the 'face . but Cavanagh retaliated with a solid punch that sent his opponent to the boards. The referee’s count had reached four as. the gong sounded. Cavanagh received the verdict. W. Brosnan (Stratford), 10.4, defeated G. Cuff (Eltham), 10.0, on points. This provided another willing and close contest. It opened briskly, each using two hands. Brosnan, who had advantage of height and reach, drew blood early in the first round but Cuff, getting in close, just missed with a wicked upper-cut that Brosnan clevery evaded. Cuff , scored in some bright infighting on opening the second round and made Brosnan miss by clever footwork. Brosnan also showed neatness in evasion and landed to the face. Cuff shot in a couple of short jolts and just missed with an upper-cut. The final session saw Cuff tiring. Brosnan early flashed in his left and also scored in close work. Cuff showed neat evasion and landed smartly from the breakaway. Again Brosnan’s left got home and, following up, he forced his opponent to the ropes. Cuff, however, came away like a tiger and made his opponent smother, also getting in a left that steadied Brosnan. Brosnan made a good recovery and the pair were mixing it well as the gong sounded. A. Talbot (Eltham), 8.4, defeated J. Wingrove (Tikorangi)), 8.0, on a technical knock-out in tho first round. -The fight opened , brightly and the public had? just settled down to watch what promised to be a great go when Talbot landed one to th© body that winded his opponent, who rose before the final count but Referee Maxwell evidently deemed him unfit to go on and awarded the- bout to Talbot. ; . THE VISITORS ENTERTAINED. After the tournament the competitors and visitors were the guests of the association at supper, when speeches were made by the patron (Mr. C. 11. Weston), president and chairman of the association, Messrs. T. Griffiths, senior and junior, replying and expressing their appreciation of the hospitality shown during their stay apd the stortsmanship shown by their opponent, Mr. T. Donovan, who -was unable to stay for the function. Opportunity was also taken to extend best wishes to the newlyformed Hawcra association, Mr. W. S. Moore responding on behalf of that body. Yesterday afternoon the visiting Dunedin boxer and his father were the guests of the association at the North Egmont mountain: house, several members of the committee placing their cars at tho cammittee’s disposal. The visitors expressed themselves as delighted with the trip and the views obtained. They leave to-morrow morning for Te Aroha, where Tommy Griffiths meets Frank Taylor on Thursday evening. THE PROFESSIONAL CONTEST. In the short space of ten months Tommy Donovan, the uncompromising Waitara battler, has fought his way through the featherweight ranks to be the foremost contender for Jlhnny Leekie’s title. In that period he has had ten contests, winning all but four by the short, route and losing one on a foul to the Australian Sid North. At the New Plymouth Opera House on Saturday night, before a record crowd, he added another scalp to his belt of k.o’s., and in doing so put up the most meritorious perfoi mance of his career. The victim on this occasion was none other than Tommy Griffiths, second only to Johnny Leckie in New Zealand pugilistic circles. <

There is no-doubt that the contest was the greatest yet seen in the Opera House, for on both sides no quarter was asked and none was given. Yet on occasions there were little incidents which showed the competitors in their true light as genuine sportsmen. It happend that Donovan landed with a foul punch, a right below the belt. The third man did not see it but Griffiths, realising that it was purely accidental, shook hands with his opponent and waded in with a sickly smile. Once the Dunedinite struck Donovan’s jaw with his elbow. Again the smile and the handshake, and again both were at it hammer and tongs. If for nothing else than the spirit in which it was fought the contest was a scintillating jewel. Both boxers entered the ring at Bst 131 b and both were as fit as expert hands could make them. In conformation there was a marked similarity, Donovan, if anything, being rather more powerful in the shoulders. In style, however, there was a marked contrast, tho southerner being much more clever, and an infinitely better tactician. He took full advantage of the ring and in th© close work leaned his weight upon Donovan to advantage. Had the Waitara boxer been a little less fit, a .little less rugged or a little less strong there might have been a different end-

ing. For several roiuids there was rather too much clinching and both showed holding propensities for which they were duly warned. MARGIN IN ONLY ONE ROUND. Griffiths was entitled to a margin of points in only one round, but he managed to keep even in a few others. Eventually the abnormal punching power of Donovan wore him down, but although distressed he showed no signs of quitting and, at times, staged a furious counterattack which forced Donovan to do that which he has never done before —give ground. The end came suddenly in the twelfth round, Donovan smashed honie a left swing to the body, stepped in and crashed his right to. Griffith’s mid-riff. The game little southerner wilted under that blow but struggled erect to meet three terrific rights, chopped to his jaw. He was sent down to the canvas, but at six was on one knee, staring vacantly at a sea of faces. At nine he managed to reach his feet only to be sent reeling across the ring with rights to the head. He reached the ropes, placed his right elbow over the top and hung on. Donovan again chopped that vicious right to Griffiths’ unprotected jaw, but he would not go down. Griffiths’ head drooped and Donovan swung his left, but the referee intervened and rightly stopped the contest. After being revived Griffiths grinned and shook hands with his opponent, smiled at. the cheering crowd and proved that a game loser is equally as popular as a modest victor. A typical Donovan rush set tiie bah rolling, but the effectiveness of the Waitara boxer's opening sally was lost when Griffiths neatly back-moved and then weaved in close, where he. stung Donovan with a right, over and under. Donovan lowered his’ head and concentrated on Griffiths’ mid section, doing good work A left to the mark and the same weapon ripped to Griffiths’- ear gave Donovan sessional honours.

The crowd in the gallery passed a few rude remarks to the bo.vars when they shaped up for the second, but it was evL dent that, neither had properly warmed up. Griffiths stung -Donovan into more rapid action when he landed with three successive lefts- to the face. Donovan shot in a vicious straight left, Griffiths evading it by’a roll of his head and swinging his. right under tire heart.' It was a prett.v movement and brought unstinted applause from the spectators Donovan again rushed his opponent, aiming a right smash at his head, but Griffiths swung from the hips, missed it, straightened and gained points by rat-tling-two or three blows to the ribs. . When the gong sounded the Dunedinite had evened the rounds. BOXERS WARM TO WORK. The warming up process was becoming more evident and the third session saw faster work. Donovan connected with a straight Left to the neck and slammed his right to the body. A burst of applause went u[i when Griffiths rolled his head away from a wicked left swing and connected with a left, right, left to the body, and was out of range as quick as a flash. Donovan immediately jumped in. landed a hard right to the body, missed with a left swing but made up for it by connecting with a right chop to the jaw. A left that shot like an arrow to Donovan’s jaw evened the round for tho Dunedinite. Griffiths demonstrated in the fourth that as a tactician he was better than Donovan. The Waitara man was doing furious work in close nd expending much energy in pushing the Dunedinite around the arena. Donovan rammed'Griffiths amidships with a stinging left and then, swung a right which appeared to be below the PlimsOll mark. Griffiths winced and Donovan eased up, but with a smile, both started off again. Donovan was surprised when, in one rush Griffiths, instead of back-pedalling stepped forward with extended left to meet it and on connecting ripped up a right uppercut. Tho round was even.

The crowd was becoming impatient at the numerous clinches and the holding, both boys being th© offenders. In the fifth Donovan connected with a hard right swing to the head, and a left to the ■ jaw made the Dunedinite break ground A double loft to th© point sent Griffiths back on his heels. Donovan immediately jumped in in an attempt to end th© contest, but Griffiths ■was- too clever, stopping as few thumps as possible by making full use of the ring. Donovan in this round assumed a definite superiority and began to pile up a large margin of points.

So fit was each boxer at the conclusion of the sixth that neither would have blown a match out. Griffiths was warned for holding, but the Waitara boxer: was not altogether blameless as he was occasionally noticed working points on the blind side. Donovan was timing nicely in this session and feinted with his left and then crossed with a hard right to the temple. A little lower down and the punch might have been a knock-out. In one wild rush Donovan almost went through the ropes when Griffiths side-stepped. A left to the body and jaw and two rights to tlie. same spot had increased Donovan's mar gin of points when the gong sounded “Make it a nice clean fight boys," said Referee Maxwell- in the • seventh when both boxers commenced to wrestle. The admonition. had • the desired effect, both principals putting greater vim into their work. In one heated exchange Griffiths furiously sent lefts and rights to the head, Donovan momentarily giving ground. Stung into action Donovan jumped at his opponent and missed by a fraction of an. inch with a vicious uppercut. Griffiths closed and held on, Donovan raving with impatience. The Waitara boxer on the break immediately jumped in again and was told by the referee to break cleanly, ALL HIS WILES NEEDED. Griffiths was called upon to use all his wiles in the eighth, for Donovan was aiming terrific lefts and rights at every vulnerable spot. A hard right thump to ti e ear rocked the Dunedinite, who held on until pulled away by tho referee. Donovan worked his man into a corner and set himself for the finishing blow. Griffiths knew what was coming, waited his opportunity and, with the stealth of a cat, slid round tho ropes and was clear. Donovan rushed in, missed with a left uppercut but swung his right to the heart. In the ninth round Griffiths met Donovan’s rush head on and received a nasty cut over the left eye. Shooting both hands to his opponents face Griffiths closed, but Donovan sent him back with two lefts to the jaw. Griffiths surprised when he rushed tho Waitara man to the ropes, but Donovan was too strong and worked out again and landed with a left to tho jaw and right to the ear.

“What about Donovan?’’ asked some of the crowd when Griffiths in the tenth was told not to hold. Donovan's rush caught Griffiths off his balance and he toppled over, but was up again immediately. Griffiths also fell later on for

no count. Near the close of the round Donovan, who was going great guns, missed narrowly with an uppercut.

Donovan was all out in the eleventh in an endeavour to fiiush it, but Griffiths’ evasion made it a hard task; Donovan rammed home a couple of smashing lefts to the jaw but the force was lost by Griffiths moving with the punches. The Waitara boxer fooled Griffiths by feinting a right smash. The southerner ducked and Donovan swung his left to the face. It was a solid blow and made Griffiths wince Donovan rushed his man, who ducked for the Waitara boxer to fly over his head. Donovan executed a neat turn in mid-air and crashed his right to Griffiths’ head. Donovan rushed out furiously in the twelfth and rammed his left to Griffiths’ body and face, but missed narrowly with a terrific right swing. Jumping in again Donovan connected with a tearing left to the body ar d then a right swing to the midriff. Griffiths doubled up at the force of tho blow and met with three right chops to the jaw. going down for nine. Up again and Donovan concentrated on his head with his right, sending him to the ropes. Griffiths was out on° his feet, but managed to get an arm over the top :ope aril hang ou, although he had no defence. Donovan had swung several hard left to the. face and jaw. when the refciee intervened and stopped the fight. THE GAME IN ENGLAND. CUTHBERT AND DALY.' (By Eugene Corri. —Special to News.) While Len Harvey and Jack Hood are haggling about terms—they do not consider an offer of a purse of £3OOO handsome enough—Johnny. Cuthbert and Pat Daly make no bones about signing articles to engage in a twelve rounds contest at the Stadium club on the ninth of next month. They are to take the ring at 9st lib., I congratulate both on their readiness to fight—more particularly Cuthbert who, if would appear, thrives on fighting. It should be a wood match, at least it will be one in winch a boy will meet a full grown man and the featherweight champion. Greatly daring is this lad Daly, and yet he may be excused for his. temerity: there really seems - to be small limit to his possibilities. From one triumph to another-does he go. So far, he has not been matched against one so experienced nor yet one who has accomplished so much as Cuthbert. If Daly, who, I understand, has yet to have his seventeenth birthday, wins, then he will have definitely proved that he is of championship stuff. The remarkable thing about this Marylebone lad is that he not only appears to be a complete boxer but he can hit harder than most of those of his poundage. Every credit I would give to the tuition of Andrew Newton, but to me, Daly provides one of those exceptional instances of a boy being a naturally good boxer. It is natural for him to fight, and he likes fighting immensely. If it be that fighters are born, not made, Daly 'may be said to have just happened. I can recall ■no more remarkable boy, save Baldock, within recent years. And about Baldock I see that he has been installed in a <camp, .the proprietor of which is Gus Wilson who. built up an international reputation as trainer of Carpentier and Dempsey. He has chosen his quarters well and will have much to interest him; for Campolo, so it is said, is preparing at the same- place. THE BATTLE OF GIANTS. Apropos of the impeliding battle between Scott and the giant Argentinian, I hope there will be no postponement, as it has been reported there is likely to be. There is some talk of Campolo having suffered an injury. There will have'to be something radically wrong for the fight to be put off for a time. Postponements have never been the fashion in the States. And for' that reason I am expecting that the big fellows will toe the mark according to schedule. In hi® work, Scott, I learn, has gained much favour. It is predicted that if he will only let himself go in the same thorough manner as he has done during his preparation he will be the winner. I am too old to be guided by what happens in any training: the best of a man is when he is in the ring. Why, if Bombardier Wells had been little more than a suggestion of the boxer he was in private, he would have finished world’s champion almost for a certainty. But Wells, like so many others before and since his day, was two separate- entities. In the' gymnasium he, was often truly wonderful: in the ring with the public looking on, his self-consciousness left him diffident, apprehensive, it was never possible to know what he would do. No, whatever the intentions of Scott my be, when he sets out to fight Campolo we have no guarantee that he will carry them out. Still, I have some regard for-his chance. I will even go so far as to say he will win; for, though the physical power of the Argentinian is tremendous, the fact remains that he has had small experience.

I see that the New York Commission during the week has. allowed Tommy Loughran, who declares that he will never again attempt to fight- as a cruiser to enter the field as contender for the’ heavyweight title. It is assumed that shortly he will take the ring against Jack Sharkey and the winner will be matched against the winner of the Scott-Campolo affair for the title. I write before Hood and Harvey have had a 'further conference. The ' suggestion is that they will see how high Mr. Jeff Dixon will bid for a fight between them. But what, it may well be asked, will be their position in relation to the Board of Control if they commit themselves to fight at the Albert Hall, say, under the auspices of the French promoter? So far as I know the Board of Control have in no way weakened from the position which they took up when Mr. Dixon first applied for a promoter’s license. If they persist in that attitude they must automatically throw Harvey and Hood overboard. From Paris has come the news Fidel La Barba will be in that city this weekend and that he is hoping to fight for Mr. Dixon at the Albert Hall. Also that Frankie Genaro ia agreeable to defending the fly-weight title against Johnny Hill. As to La Barba, who is now a bantam, I expect that he is hoping for a victory by Al Brown over Baldock and in that_ event the negro would make for Paris so as to meet him. There is promise of most interesting developments. Gypsy Daniels has done the proper thin<r in agreeing to meet Harry Crossley at the cruiser-weight. And as the result of their fight I hope that Frank Moody will as soon as possible be asked to defend the belt. We have got to have the question as to who is our best light-heavyweight definitely and satisfactorily settled.