PETE SARRON THE VICTOR

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1930, Page 3

PETE SARRON THE VICTOR

DEFEAT OF JOHNNY LECKIE POINTS MARGIN IN GREAT FIGHT. TERRIFIC FIFTEENTH ROUND. (By Wire —Special Reporter,) Palmerston N., Last Night. By a terrific two-handed bombardment/ in the fifteenth round, when he had a slight margin of points in his favour, Pete Sarron (8.12) made-sure of being awarded the verdict in his contest °with Johnny Leckie (9.0) at Palmerston North to-night. The American looked pinched and wan as he entered the ring, and when he slackened off midway through the contest the crowd thought Leckie was a certainty, but it was not to be, for the American brightened over the concluding stages while Leckie appeared to tire. The New Zealander scored his points with a rapier-like straight left which he played incessantly at Sarron’s jaw, while he occasionally slammed' a right hard to Sarron’s heart. Had he followed up the advantage he would probably have swayed the verdict in his favour, but he was exceptionally wary and not inclined to mix it. The contest packed the Opera House, and amongst those present were several familiar Taranaki faces. _ , A torrid pace was set immediately, and midway through the opening round Sarron connected with a solid right hook to Leckie’s jaw. The New Zealander was momentarily shaken but soon recovered and was fighting back at the gong. LECKIE’S STRAIGHT LEFTS. In the second session Leckie landed often with straight lefts to the head. The American was using his feet like a dancing - master and was quick to seize any opportunities presented. In close work he used both hands to Leckie’s body like ramrods. Leckie was tryinw to follow his left lead with a right hook to the head, but Sarron made him miss by stepping in close. A vicious right swing in the third round landed flush on Leckie’s chin and the New Zealander was visibly shakeft. Sarron bounded in, both arms flailing, Leckie going down before the rush but taking no count. The fourth wae a torrid session for the New Zealander, a right chop to the jaw sending him down for the count of seven. Sarron swung both hands to the head and the body when Leckie rose. Sarron’s method was to wait for L ckie’s left lead, draw his head back slightly and then crash over a right to the chin. The plan succeeded for a while but eventually Leckie foiled it by rolling his head with the punch. The American appeared to be tiring and was fighting spasmodically, while Leckie, with upright stance and straight lefts to the head, started to make up the leeway, and there was little between the.pair when the seventh round concluded. - SARRON EMPLOYS UPPERCUTS. / Nine straight lefts to the head in succession were landed by Leckie in the eighth before Sarron returned a blow. The American scored well when he changed his tactics and concentrated on right uppercuts to the body, but Leckie was apparently unaffected. Several times Sarron, crouching, swung terrific right uppercuts from the region of his bootlaces and had he connected the. contest would have been over. He feinted such a blow in the tenth and. Leckie attempted to block it when suddenly a left hook flashed across and caught the New Zealander near, the ear. Leckie was shaken to his toes and the American opened out in a two-handed barrage to finish it. Gloves rained on the New Zealander from all angles, but before the gong sounded Leckie was plying his straight left again. The New Zealander was again groggy \in the eleventh round as the result of a right chopped down to the jaw, but Sarron cased up and was surprised when Leckie jumped in and connected Hush between the eyes with a straight left. Sarron set the pace in the thirteenth and the fourteenth. The commencement of the last round saw him with a lead on points. The crowd was on tip toes when the gong for the final round sounded, and what was expected resulted. Sarron met Leckie in his corner and opened out in a furious two-handed burst. The New Zealander, attempted to smother but was rocked with a stinging left hook to the chin. Crouching low, Leckie tried to stave off the punishment, but the American was connectino- with blows coming from every conceivable angle. Suddenly Leckie straightened and by sheer strength hurled Sarron clear. The American a"a in endeavoured to get close, but was jolted to his heels with a beautifully timed straight left. Stung by the blow Sarron worked inside and slammed left and right up to the body. Leckie closed but stopped several right chops to the jaw. When the gong sounded the New Zealander was very tired, while Sarron was jubilant with victory. The finals of the Manawatu amateur championships preceded the professional contest.