BLAY VERSUS DONOVAN

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 9

BLAY VERSUS DONOVAN

SATURDAY’S BOXING BOUT. The interest that is being taken throughout Taranaki in the DonovanBlay boxing bout, to be staged at Western Park, New Plymouth, on Saturday afternoon is shown by the bookings that have already been received from all parts of the province. :• The Taranaki Boxing Association is making ample provision for all. Already the erection of the large stadium is proceeding apace. The bout promises to ‘ be quite up to the standard of the Sarron-Donovan contest, which made history on the same site II months ago. Blay gained a reputation iu Wellingtou on his first appearance, when he defeated Leckie, and he has added to that by successive defeats of Tommy Donovan at Wellington and Hughes at Auckland on Saturday. In the Auckland contest, it is reported, Blay was the aggressor practically throughout, and iu three rounds only did Hughes share the points. “Blay came with a great reputation, and he certainly lived up to it,” says the New Zealand Herald. “He is one of the cleverest boxers seen in Auckland.” Of slim build, Blay is said to be most as regards weight and punching ability, while his deefnee is well-nigh impregnable. He is a born fighter, being after his opponent from gong to gong as round follows round.

Blay will arrive in New Plymouth tonight, accompanied by his trainer, J. Campbell. Donovan is hard at work at Waitara and is now in the pink of condition. He has shown in the past that he knows how to profit from lessons taught by his opponents, and on Saturday it is confidently expected he will have something new to show Blay. Mr. A. Maxwell will be the referee.