BRIGHT BOXING MATCH

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1935, Page 3

BRIGHT BOXING MATCH

JARVIS DEFEATS RAYNER MANY OF THE ROUNDS EVEN. 7 CHAMPION’S RALLY NEAR END. Boxing patrons were well pleased with the professional fight between Jack Jarvis and Clarrie Rayner for the New Zealight lightweight title at Eltham on Friday and a good display was seen in every round. The contest was drawn. Jarvis, the title-holder, made a very satisfactory showing. He made the fight from the first gong and made a good impression all through. At times he dominated the position. At others he found himself before a clever opponent who profited much from his crouching style and was able to dodge blows most successfully. Rayner showed much ability in drawing his opponent, often ducking his head and coming in with a fine left. This gained him many points. Jarvis never appeared to be in danger of losing the title and improved towards the end as he usually does. Although he opened well he did not get properly into his stride until about the middle of the fight, when Rayner appeared to have lost all chance of obtaining a knock-out. Both shaped encouragingly in the first round, Jarvis’ defence being perhaps a trifle better. Rayner showed an early ability to get out of reach. The round ended evenly after a bright display. Jarvis opened the second round aggressively and he had Rayner against the ropes. The latter retaliated ably and scored with snappy lefts. A clinch developed and the referee warned Rayner for hitting after the order to break. This warning was repeated in a later round but otherwise the fight was perfectly clean. Jarvis swung uppercuts but Rayner escaped the blows, which would have had done damage had they connected. Another even round ended with perhaps a slight advantage to Rayner. STRAIGHT PUNCHES BY JARVIS. Straight punches were sent into Rayner’s face in the third round, and he was fending wildly. Jarvis scored with an uppercut and put in body punches, but Rayner connected with a left on emerging from a clinch. His two hands played a fast duet on Jarvis’ gloves. The ability of Rayner to make Jarvis miss was again seen, and this round was adjudged an even one. Rayner forced the fight in the fourth round and had a distinct advantage, boring into Jarvis with his lefts to the head and face, the title-holder being caught in a sluggish movement. Jarvis endeavoured to return the attack.

Rayner, after making Jarvis miss in the fifth round, was soon in trouble on the ropes, and in a clinch both contestants took much body punishment, Jarvis showing to advantage after Rayner had aroused him with a hard right. Honours were divided. The sixth round went to Rayner, who scored with a left to Jarvis’ eye. In a keen exchange Rayner found Jarvis’ defence somewhat open and scored with his left in well-measured punches. He was pleasing his supporters and appeared to be improving. RAYNER TOO ELUSIVE.

Rayner continued well in the seventh round and there was a brisk exchange. The round was a close one, the visitor perhaps having a slight lead. Jarvis had Rayner missing badly in the eighth, and he sent in several rips to the body. He was constantly aggressive and connected frequently until clinches slowed down the pace of the combat. The ninth round was opened with a good display of boxing by Jarvis, who sent in well-judged blows. Rayner replied with ugly body punches. In a clinch against the ropes Jarvis earned his second round- in succession, using hard rights to the head and body punches.' . Rayner scored with a nasty jab in the tenth'round. To this Jarvis replied with 3 burst of punching, but Rayner was too elusive and the Eltham boy missed. After clever feints the challenger scored with a solid head punch that sent Jarvis backwards through the ropes. He made a good recovery, but the round was Rayner’s. ■ Both mixed it freely m the eleventh and Rayner scored with several punches. Jarvis evened things up in a hard-hit-ting round. The twelfth was a determined round, Rayner making, the most of his chances, and brisk exchanges gave the public something worth watching. Rayner made his left work solidly all through. Jarvis used both hands heavily, but Rayner ■ could not be shaken. The thirteenth was not a lucky one for Rayner, and he commenced to fade. There were hot exchanges in clinches and Rayner had Jarvis missing badly, but the latter sent heavy punches to the jaw and Rayner was in difficulty on the ropes. Rayner went to his corner looking worried. With two rounds to go there appeared to be doubtful prospects of his taking back the title to Blenheim.

The fourteenth round was also in favour of Jarvis, who was now outboxing the challenger. Rayner was missing and received punishment in clinches. Jarvis dodged as Rayner swung round. He followed up with two-fisted attacks that found head and body and gained the round for the title-holder. Tense excitement prevailed in the final round and there was a vigorous battle at close range. Rayner made Jarvis' miss. Jarvis sailed in and boxed solidly, but Rayner kept up his splendid

defence, and although the final rally was fast and vigorous there was an even distribution of honours. Jarvis made a last effort to get a decision, but Rayner showed a recovery and the referee, Mr. Alan Maxwell, declared the result a draw.