HANHAM WINS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21155, 30 September 1938, Page 5

HANHAM WINS

Middle-weight Title Champion Outpointed The New Zealand professional middleweight boxing title changed hands last night, when Cliff Hanham, Waimate, defeated George Allan, Gisborne, holder of the title, on points in a fifteen round contest. The fight, which was held in the Theatre Royal, attracted a good house. When the pair met in Timaru a little time ago they provided an interesting contest, the judges giving the decision to Allan. Last night, however, the contestants were wary of each other, and as a result the fight, as a spectacle, fell below the previous encounter. Not until the last three rounds did the pair put any life into their work, and during this period they gave and received fairly solid punishment. Allan, who had allowed Hanham to carry the fight to him, had a fair amount of leeway to make up, and although he scored cleanly at intervals, he was unable to make very much headway. Half way through the final round, Hanham connected with a hard right to the jaw which staggered the champion, and he then had the title within his grasp. He inflicted very heavy punishment, knocking Allan through the ropes, but the Gisborne man revealed remarkable stamina to weather the storm. He was practically out on his feet, and deserved praise for the gameness he displayed. Quiet Opening The early rounds were unusually quiet, the pair watching each other very closely. Hanham followed the same policy as previously, that of rushing his man into a corner, but Allan generally fought his way clear with solid body blows. Hanham displayed, better judgment than in his previous fight, but was slower in his movements than his opponent. The challenger scored cleanly to the head with left and right in the third round, but Allan was making Hanham miss a good deal. One vicious right swing, had it connected, might have spelt disaster, but it was wide of the mark. Hanham used his right well at close quarters, two hard upper cuts getting home. The fourth round went to Hanham by a narrow margin, but there was still nothing between the pair, who had hardly warmed up. Allan concentrated on the body, scoring at close quarters, whereas Hanham relied mainly on his left, with which he occasionally scored. Tire title-holder moved more freely in the sixth, landing cleanly to the head and body with both hands, and ended with a slight margin in his favour. The seventh was fought mainly at close range, with Allan still scoring more cleanly. Often Hanham appeared to land good blows, but frequently Allan’ was moving back, thus rendering the attack ineffective. From this point on, however, the Gisborne man lost ground. Hanham became more aggressive, and gave Allan no respite, frequently rushing him to the ropes to score to the head. Challenger Forges Ahead Tire ninth and tenth rounds saw Hanham fighting solidly and he was using his left tellingly. A simmer ran through the crowd as Hanham unleashed a solid right upper cut, but the glove sailed harmlessly through the air. Both rrien were Inclined to hit low occasionally, and were warned by the referee. At this stage Allan appeared to have lost his sting, and his only chance of success appeared to be by the short route. Hanham drew blood in the twelfth, in which he landed solid lefts to the head and body. He chased his man round the ring, and took the round by a fair margin. Good, clean hitting characterised Hanham’s work in the “devil’s” round, and sensing that he had the fight in hand, he fought with determination. The fourteenth was the most willing of the bout, both men handing out solid punishment. Hanham got home several hard rights to the head towards the close of the round, which went his way. The final round was expected to be a good one, but few anticipated the sensational turn it took. Though appearing to have no chance of success, Allan fought strongly until a hard right caught him on the jaw and sent him reeling. Hanham bored in, landing a left and a right to the head, the last mentioned blow sending the Gisborne man through the ropes. The crowd were now on their feet shouting wildly, and as Allan crawled back, Hanham went after him. Twice the pair fell into a clinch, but the referee separated them, and the challenger came in again to deal out heavy punishment. Allan was practically out on his feet, and only his gameness kept him going till the gong sounded. The decision in favour of Hanham was heartily cheered. The bout was controlled by Mr E. Pocock, of Rakaia, while the judges were Messrs H. D. Johnston (Ashburton) and A. H. Curtayne (Wellington). AMATEUR BOUTS Flyweight P. Dwyer (Timaru) 6st 61b beat W. Fitzgerald (Timaru) 6st 61b, on points. Middleweight W. Jack (Timaru) lost 91b, amateur middleweight champion of New Zealand, met defeat at the hands of W. Tonks (Ashburton) lOst 41b, in a sixround bout. The first two rounds were very willing, with Tonks scoring well in the second, although Jack landed several good lefts. Tonks continued to force the fight in the third, which was somewhat quieter, but he won the fourth by a good margin, scoring well with his right to the head a»d body. The next was even, but the last was sensational. Jack scored heavily with lefts to the head, and just on the gong went after his man, who connected with a right to the chin, sending Jack to the canvas. He was definitely dazed, and fell when attempting to rise, the gong saving him. The decision went to Tonks, who had a good margin to spare. Welterweight E. Pratley (Timaru) lOst 11b, beat C. Horsburgh (Ashburton) lOst 61b. At one stage it looked as though Pratley would be knocked out, but he came back to secure a popular win in a bout which, if not scientific, was willing. Mr J. Stewart contrast these bouts, the judges being Messrs C. Campbell and C. E. Triggs.

RAYNER WINS ON A FOUL By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, September 29. Another disappointment was in store for followers of boxing to-night when the professional contest between Clarrie Rayner (Blenheim), New Zealand light-weight champion, and Joe Franklin (Gisborne) lasted less than four rounds. The champion opened confidently and had his opponent on the defensive for the first three rounds. In the fourth round Franklin was warned for hitting after being ordered to break, and a little later, when the pair were in a clinch near the ropes, Rayner collapsed to the mat and the referee, Mr Alan Maxwell, disqualified Franklin and awarded the contest to Rayner. This decision met with a hostile reception. Rayner was hooted as he left the ring. A well-filled house had some recompense in the second professional contest, in which Em Jacobs (Wellington), New Zealand light-heavyweight champion, outpointed “Kid” Fisher (England). The men fought at catchweights and Jacobs had a decided advantage in height and reach, and also appeared to be much heavier, risher proved himself a clever boxer and the crowd were greatly pleased with the brave showing he made against heavy odds.