DECISION TO DONOVAN

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1930, Page 3

DECISION TO DONOVAN

TOO GOOD FOR GILLESPIE i

BOUT GOES FULL DISTANCE.

NEW PLYMOUTH TOURNAMENT.

For the fifth time at New Plymouth in his meteoric career Tommy Donovan; Waitara, has met and defeated overseas boxers, his latest success being on Saturday night, when he comfortably accounted for Norman Gillespie, the Australian lightweight champion. The bout went the full distance but Donovan held a commanding, lead throughout, winning practically every round. The referee’s score-card had the points of only one round equally divided —the sixth. To those who have seen previous contests in which the Waitara man has participated the display was somewhat disappointing, there being less of tho fireworks usually associated with his efforts. It must be remembered, however, that it takes two to make a fight. Tommy was willing and forced the pace, but his opponent was wary and was prone to keep to the defensive, giving the impression throughout that he was holding something in reserve for an opportunity that never came. He was apparently waiting for a chance to connect with his right, which is reputedly deadly, but Donovan gave him no opportunities. The Waitara boxer is showing improved science with each bout and is making better use of his straight left. Though his punch does not appear to passess the potency it did in the early days of his career, it totted up scoring points. Gillespie; who was taller and more rangy than his stocky opponent, found Tommy an elusive target, his weaving tactics frequently nonplussing 4he Australian.

, Gillespie, who was attended by Trainer Sammy Chapman, was first to enter the ring, and was accorded a good rezeption from the moderate crowd. Donovan. attended by Trainer A. McGregor, who has been his mentor from the jommencement of his professional career, looked even more robust than usual as he nonchalantly took his corner to the accompaniment of greetings from the audience. The announcer (Mr. P. E. Stainton) gave the weights: Gillespie Ost 3Jib, Donovan Ost 41b. Donovan was more than 21b heavier than usual.

SPORTSMANSHIP OF VISITOR.

Though beaten Gillespie earned the goodwill of the crowd by his sportsmanlike manner, this being particularly in evidence on one occasion when accidentally hit low he made no murmur of protest but shook hands and boxed on.

Mr. A. Maxwell as referee handled the bout in a capable manner. The six amateur preliminaries put the crowd in good humour for the big event. Unfortunately the efforts of the association to match R. Furze and D. Roebuck with provincial champions from either South Auckland or Wellington failed. Furze, however, was seen in action with Russell, and though giving away considerable weight the Tikorangi boxer emerged a comfortable winner. Of the other bouts that between Christiansen and. Morton reached a very high standard science being the predominant feature. Both boys should have a good future if they follow the game.

Mr. P. E. Stainton was announcer and other officials included: —Timekeepers, Messrs J. Bennett and F. C. rerry; call stewards, Messrs W. Roebuck ,and -R. Harvey; ring stewards, Messrs A. F. Aldie, G. A. Clarke and B. Hume; weight steward, Mr. J. Horlor; Move steward, Mr. C. E. Roebuck; official!seconds, Messrs G. Lawrence, C. Tippins, J. Allen, E. Pankhurst; house manager, Mr. H. C. Collier; assistant house manager, Mr. V. S. Pruden. The arrangements for the conduct of the tourney were splendid, a tribute to the organisation of the committee, and particularly to the acting-secretary, Mr. P. E. Stairiton.

THE PRELIMINARY BOUTS.

G. Adlam (9.lOJ).defeated S. Brereton (9.10) on points. Brereton went in early and landed with both hands, but found his opponent willing to mix it, though inclined to hold. Towards the close of the first rpund there was a willing set-to, each landing. with tho left. Adlam. was inclined to swing a little wildly. The second round saw Adlam aggressive and adopt rushing tactics but Brereton steadied him with rights and lefts to the face. Warmed thoroughly the pair set to in real earnest and a mix-up saw each connect solidly. The final round saw Brereton take the upper hand at the start, shooting in both right and left to the face and body and evading his opponents returns. The effort, however, appeared to tire him and Adlam scored over the final stages to gain the verdict. G. Thomas (8.12) defeated J. Sheehy (8.8), on points. Sheehy, using his straight left, scored to the face, but Thomas in close landed solidly to the body with his right and appeared to have the better of the infighting. Sheehy at times poked in his left neatly. Early in the second round Thomas, who possesses a solid punch, landed heavily to the' body and was keen to bring the fighting to close quarters. Sheehy was content to rely on his left, which found its mark several times. The third round Sheehy opened aggressively, using his

left and just missing with a right uppercut, but Thomas got in and a lively rally followed. Just on the close Sheehy made Thomas miss badly but Thomas’ aggression gave him the verdict. T. Murray, Eltham (0.4) defeated R. Hill, Motunui (9.7), by a technical k.o. in the first round. Murray, who possesses a hefty punch, was aggressive from the opening and landed solidly to the face with the right. Hill stood up to him gamely and tried to mix it, but solid left hooks had him in trouble before the close of the first round and the referee stopped the bout. J. Morton (9.13) defeated L. Christiansen (10.6) on points. They opened with fast exchanges. Christiansen, who showed speed and clever footwork, shot in his left and showed cleverness ,in evading. Morton landed heavily with both hands just at the gong. The second round opened with a great rally, the pair standing up and mixing, it in an even exchange. Morton, however, appeared to have more power ‘in his punches and had Christiansen tiriiig at the close. Christiansen went in and landed with the left on opening the final round and this seemed to rouse Mqi'ton, who went in with both hands, scoring.'heavily. Christianseen stood up well ami poked in his left again and again towards the close, but he could not-'quite make up the leeway. L.- Kavanagh (9.7) defeated H. Hill (9.5) on points. The dads, who; were evenly matched in height, opened quietly, each sparring for an opening. Kavanagh led but Hill did not let him have matters his own way and scored with both hands. The second round' opened quietly but the pair war.ined'.up and the last minute saw a willing'.mix-up, each scoring with straight lefts. The final round found Kavanagh still the more aggressive and he secured the verdict. R. Furze (Tikorangij defeated Russell (Motunui) on points. This was a catchweight cojitest, but Russell, who was taller than his . opponent, • appeared to have the advantage of over a stone, a good margin. .By the speed of his footwork both in attack and defence Furze invariably gained a position that enabled him to' hit fast and hard to the head and body, he. having little difficulty in getting under or over Rusrell’s guard, though the latter showed he is by ho means lacking in science and is the possessor of a solid punch that would work havoc against a slower mover. Furze started quietly but in the second round livened up and shook his opponent when he shot a left to the body and crossed the right heavily to the jaw. The third round found both men tiring, but Furze maintained his advantage.

THE PROFESSIONAL CONTEST. ’

Hardly had the gong sounded for the commencement 'of hostilities than Donovan as usual bounded from his corner and, meeting the Australian more Jhan half-way, shot out his' left, connecting to the head. He immediately repeated the dose and crossed with the right. Gillespie retaliated inside with short left and rights to the body. He cleverly backmoved from a left, but stopped a repeat. After some infighting the Australian hooked a couple of lefts to t(ie body. Donovan then got home solidly with his left to the face, driving the Australian back on his heels. Several times Donovan flicked his left to his opponent’s face, but the blows lacked force and, moreover, Gillespie back-moved cleverly. He made Donovan miss with a swing, but when . they got to close ' quarters Donovan hooked with his left, Some close work followed in which the referee was seen to speak to Donovan for not breaking quickly. In the second roudd Gillespie opened by 1 leading twice, but Donovan backmoved out of the danger zone and, hopping in quickly landed with both hands to the head and connected a heavy right to the ribs. Gillespie stepped in fast with a straight left. Donovan flicked in his left again and again, not doing much damage, but scoring points. He missed with a right upper-cut that would have ended the fight had- it connected, and shot a couple of lefts to the face. Gillespie scored with his left to the face but the Waitara lad came in fast and doubled ■ the same hand- -under his opponent’s cjiin. \ 1 . The third round saw Donovan open at a fast pace anff, t)ien the..pair got to close ■ quarters,, exchanging short blows to the body. There was a. good deal of holding, ‘ tlie referee giving a - word of cautioh. Donovan used a snappy left which Gillespie avoided by side-step-ping, but, like a shot, Donovan sent in two more. Feinting with his left, Donovan swung his right to the body but could not connect, and then the Australian, drawing his. lead,, shot his right neatly under Donovan’s heart. Gillespie again - made. Donovan miss, but just on the gong Donovan’s -left - found' its mark three times.

At the start of the ..fourth; round Donoyan swung his' left to ..the .body, appearing to land low, but Gillespie made no complaint, and after shaking, hands they boxed on. Donovan scored with straight lefts , and left, hooks, and then the Australian slipped his lead but failed in an attempt' to connect with the right to the heart. Donovan’s left swings were‘not connecting cleanly, but he was scoring with his straight lefts when suddenly Gillespie, who had'been so far on. the defensive, made a vicious right hook which Donovan was lucky to dodge. Round five saw the pair at close quarters early, and Donovan landed lightly with the" left, the Australian taking a right counter to his ribs. Donovan scored with left and right hooks over the Australian’s guard, Gillespie appearing somewhat worried. Donovan exploited a shift,, but his manoeuvre was offset by .the Australian. Repeating the dodge a few seconds later the Waitara man scored with double left hooks to the body. An exchange of lefts said Gillespie’s superior reach win out. Donovan with vicious hooks to the head drove Gillespie to the ropes, but when they got to close quarters the Australian, who had the inside running, scored neatly with left and right to the body. Starting the sixth round Donovan danced round his opponent, who foiled lis attempt to land a double left the

head. ' Coming back fast, however, Dono van landed both hands to the body. Feel ing with his left brought its penalty Gillespie shooting a snappy right unde> the heart. He also landed heavily t« the face with a straight left, lifting . Donovan on to his heels, but the Wai tara man staged aj.vicious| rally, though he could not pass' the Australian’s defence. Again Gillespie scored with i straight left to the head, Donovan replying in kind ,and cleverly ducking th< counter. Clever footwork kept Gillespii / out of trouble, and in close work h« : .'.H scored with his left to the head and wai having the better of the mix-up when the gong sounded. It was his, /best round.

In the seventh round Gillespie countered Donovan’s left with a right to the heart and then placed his left s.’.appily to the face. In close Donovan landed to the ribs. There was a good deal of . wrestling on the ropes till the referee broke them. Donovan was short with his left and smartly ducked a counter. Twice in quick succession he landed a couple of left jabs to the head. Donovan’s attempt to use his right was < countered by the Australian landing his right to the body. He appeared to be / livening. Commencing the. eighth round they exchanged lefts but in /infighting nothing serious happened. Gillespie appeared to/;”’/ be waiting his chance for the solar plexus, and just missed it with his right as Donovan came in with his left. Bapkstepping prettily and moving his head cleverly, Gillespie was making it diffi- •? | cult for Donovan to get home with his lefts, though the crowd did not relish so much defensive tactics. Donovan landed solidly to the ribs with a right hook but Gillespie’s right to the head was a better reply. He scored on the gong. / Donovan danced round his opponent on starting round nine, but in several at- . tempts could land only twice. Gillespie '■ poked down with his left to the bac|< of Donovan’s ear as he ducked. Donovan landed heavily with both hands to the body and right to the ear, but the Australian was game, for he merely shook his head and smiled. Donovan, how- r ever, soon removed the smile with a right to the plexus, Gillespie retaliating. ./? Clever dancing prevented any danger in close. Donovan sent a left to the chin but his second lead was beaten by the. ' Australian’s right to the ear.

Gillespie was the quicker with his lead in opening the tenth but Donovan came back with a hot one. He weaved under a right swing and infighting followed'. A left hook to the jaw was Donovan’s . counter to a threatening move by his .■/ opponent, who then calmly brushed Donovan’s left aside. Before the close he had landed three times, Gillespie having slightly the better of the infighting. Donovan was aggressive to open the : 7 eleventh round, his left just brushing . Gillespie’s nose as the latter countered heavily to the body. Donovan weaved right to the ground to avoid a right swing to the body. In a bout of close- .7 work Gillespie landed to the body, but Donovan chased him to the ropes, landed a left swing to the jaw and brought the right in. Gillespie shot two left jabs to the face, scored with rights to the. ribs, and one up and over to the ear. As the gong sounded Donovan swung his left hard to the jaw, the best blow of the round. . .- ■ ' . The twelfth round saw Donovan first 1 the centre of the ring, but the Australian (sent him back a step with a left.” hook to the side of the head. Donovan , had his revenge with a rip to the ribs ■. 7 and at infighting it was tit for tat. Donovan’s punches did not laud cleanly when infighting, but he hooked his- left cle.nly to the jaw. Donovan laffded three times to the face-with the leit, but as tl.ey wrestled the Australian’s right did good work. He appeared to be waiting to use the right to the solar plexus, but .; the wary Waitara man gave him no chance. •' . -

Donovan opened the “devil’s round” by flashing his left to his opponent’s face, and weaving neatly from Gillespie’s threatening left hook, Donovan landed the left to the body and a right to the ear. On the ropes Gillespie did better, but in the open, again Donovan, made his opponent miss and sent in & solid left to the jaw and beat the -Australian’s attempt to counter with the right to the heart. Near the close of the round Donovan "sent in left and right chops to the jaw which lacked force: The fourteenth round saw Donovan prance in with his left lead and retreat quickly from the Australian’s right counter. Gillespie scored with his right inside Donovan’s left lead. Donovan hooked the right and left to the ribs. Gillescpie went after his opponent but was cautious about going too far, and Donovan scored with a right chop to the side of the neclj: and in resultant infighting was superior. The Waitara • man tried to spring off the ropes, but Gillespie was not to be trapped. , Fast work marked the opening, of the final round. Fists were flung with abandon but seldom reached their mark. As Gillespie dropped his guard Donovan shot in short left and -right to the diaphragm. Slipping well under Gillespie’s left lead Donovan came In smartly with a right swing to the head. Gillespie came back, with plenty of vim and followed Donovan along the ropes, scoring'neatly. Donovan went in and landed a left to the jaw, sending Gillespie’s head - back with a snap, but the Australian was, too wary to be caught again and the gong sounded with Donovan an easy winner. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. ..

Gillespie and S. Chapman were taken for a trip to Parihaka yesterday by members of the association. They were shown round th© pa and were greatly interested in . all they saw. They .leave to-morrow morning en route for Gisborne, where Gillespie will box a return match with Donovan on November 1.

At the Opera House on Saturday night it was announced that the Taranaki Association had arranged to match Young Llew Edwards, the Australian featherweight, with Donovan at New Plymouth on November 15.