SARRON-DONOVAN FIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1930, Page 7

SARRON-DONOVAN FIGHT

OPINIONS OF A RINGSIDER. Throughout the Dominion much comment has been made regarding the Sarron-Donovan boxing contest which took place at New Plymouth last Saturday, and between those who witnessed the event there is a diversity of opinion which reflects the general impression of the crowd of fully 8000 assembled to witness the bout, says the Wellington Evening Post. The decision which ended the bout has given rise to much argument, as also has the nature of the blow which caused the referee to decide in favour of Donovan. The issue as to which is the better man is regarded in various quarters as still being in doubt. The impressions of a “ringsider,” whose opinion is held in high esteem by boxing authorities throughout New Zealand is, therefore, of interest, especially in view of the return bout which has been arranged to take place shortly under the auspices of the Wellington Boxing Association.

“I have seen both Sarron and Donovan in most of their contests in this country and, taking a line through their respective styles, I went to New Plymouth fully anticipating an epic struggle between the pair,” said this well-known enthusiast. “Both men up to the time of meeting at Western Park had beaten all the best of New Zealand’s boxers at the weight, and the imported men from Australia were dealt with in a similar manner in turn. It then became the subject of much speculation as to what methods Sarron, the finished boxer-fight-er, would employ to combat the aggressiveness, coupled with the bulldog tenacity, of his opponent in this matchqualities which have characterised all Donovan’s work in the ring. DONOVAN’S PERFORMANCE. “After a review of all the circumstances, apart altogether from Sarron’s unfortunate disqualification, it would be hazardous to venture an opinion with certainty in regard to the outcome of the next meeting, and I make this remark after giving due consideration to the following points: —-Sarron, heralded with an international reputation behind him—what was the effect on Donovan’s morale? Donovan has done all his boxing in New Zealand, and naturally the importance of the occasion could reasonably bo expected to take its. toll. Such was actually the case. “The stipulated weight for the contest was Ost 11b at 2 o’clock on the day. Donovan weighed Bst 111 b and Sarron Ost ilb. It is well known that Donovan usually takes the ring a fraction of a pound under Ost. In point of fact he actually weighed Bst 131 b at Waitara on the freezing works scales the night before the contest. With training at an end, the two pounds lost in the intervening hours could only be attributed to fretting—the worst possible way in which an athlete can lose weight. The effect of Donovan’s unnatural loss of weight was reflected in the cautious manner in which ho opened the first round. He was nervous without a doubt, and this was all the more noticeable when one remembers that under ordinary circumstances the sound of the first gong usually synchronises with the swish of Donovan's gloves in his opponent’s territory. “Donovan settled down after the first round and exchanged punch for punch with the redoubtable Sarron until the termination of the sixth round. Both men fought.with plenty of ‘devil,’ with Donovan on the improve as the fight progressed. Sarron’s footwork was uncannily clever, and he was certainly boxing well within himself. As matters stood at the termination of the sixth round, the margin of points was slightly in favour of Donovan, or, at the worst, an even break. It snust be said, however, that Sarron did not take undue risks with his left hand. Sarron is a master both at long range and in close, and the clever manner in which he minimised Donovan’s wonted ability to score freely at close quarters was a revelation, knowing, as we do, Donovan’s devastating tearipg-in tactics. SARRON’S BOMBARDMENT. “The seventh and last round was a disastrous one for Donovan, and the key of the whole fight was undoubtedly, to my mind, the. perfectly-timed punch to the solar plexus by Sarron after a minute of the round had gone. Donovan was not allowed a let-up in between his several visitations to the mat in the course of the round, but try as ho would, Sarron could not administer a conclusive knock-out to the body, upon which ho concentrated during his bombardment. “Donovan evolved an effective smother for the body in the south-western angle just prior to the last punch of the fight, and in a flash Sarron changed his tactics by- stepping back prior to shooting his right downwards to the point. In my judgment the punch landed under Donovan's left ear, and was, therefore, perfectly legitimate. However, the referee ruled otherwise, and Donovan was awarded the fight. To my mind the gong would have saved Donovan had the count tolled for the final knockdown, and it is reasonable to assume that the minute spell would have brought Donovan up comparatively fresh for the eighth round, since the punishment he l ad received was mostly to the body and therefore affected the wind only. A minute spell to a fit man works wonders, and there is no telling what would have happened • upon .the resumption of the contest.

FINAL PUNCH CONTROVERSY.

REFEREE’S IMMEDIATE ACTION.

Two things are clearly shown by the film of the recent Pete Sarron-Tommy Donovan fight, which was shown at the Roxy Theatre, Auckland, for the first time on Monday morning (says the Star). One is that Sarron had the battle won when he landed the blow that earned his disqualification; the other is that there was no suggestion of hesitation on the part of the referee (Mr. Dick Meale) in ruling the little American out.

When Sarron and Donovan clashed at New Plymouth they provided one of the hardest battles ever fought in a New Zealand ring. The only unfortunate thing about the match was the ending,

and over the past week there has been some controversy about the action of the referee in disqualifying Sarron for landing on the back of his beaten opponent’s head. The film story of the fight shows that the final punch landed on the back of the Waitara fireman’s head and warranted the disqualification of the American. There seems little doubt that the blow was accidental, but it was a foul nevertheless.

It has been published in a Southern paper that Mr. Meale lost his head in that he actually started to count Donovan out before declaring him a winner on a foul, but the picture of the fight does not bear this out. Donovan is seen to drop to the boards and Mr. Meale to bend over immediately and raise the ben.t»” Tl’-'*’’" 1 ’-'*’’" is

absolutely nothing to indicate that there was hesitation on the part of the official or that he actually commenced the count. Aucklanders who have seen Mr. Meale counting out a man in the Town Hall will remember (concludes the Star) that he is very definite in his action, marking every second with a movement of his hand. The film of this fight would go to show thjit as soon as the illegal blow landed his mind wasmade up and that he declared Donovan the winner with the minimum amount of delay. The return match takes place at Wellington next Saturday, a special night train leaving from Taranaki on Friday night. Much interest is being displayed, ami the contest should determine whether Donovan can beat the visitor.