JENKIN CLAIMS TITLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21183, 2 November 1938, Page 12

JENKIN CLAIMS TITLE

New Middleweight Champion Hanham Outpointed Speed and cleverness were the deciding factors in a change in New Zealand’s premier middleweight boxing honours, when in the Theatre Royal last night, Stan Jenkin, of Oamaru, became the new title holder with a win over Cliff Hanham, of Waimate, by the narrowest margin of points. Hanham became middleweight champion at the expense of George Allan, of Gisborne, at Timaru a short time ago, but before he won the Dominion crown Hanham was beaten at Dunedin by Jenkin. The contest, which attracted a good house, was of a standard which fully repaid the Timaru Association for their enterprise, and it was a pity that public interest was not greater. Jenkin displayed clever footwork in the early stages, and frequently making Hanham miss he peppered him with rights to the body. As the bout progressed, however, Jenkin was slower in his backmoving and Hanham, a hard puncher, made up a great deal of leeway following solid two-fisted attacks, with his left always prominent. Hanham tried hard to pull the fight out of the fire, but in the last round Jenkin, apparently thinking that he must be slightly ahead, refused to be a longrange target and kept matters close. In the last half minute, however, the new champion unloosed a series of lefts and rights and according to the official opinion it was only the last round that gave him victory. Although the referee was obliged to issue warnings to both men for low hitting, the infringements were accidental, the bout being fought in the best spirit and at a good speed from the opening gong. Jenkin, who won seven rounds, was always superior in the in-fighting. Three rounds were even. Hanham’s weight was announced at 11.4, Jenkin, a former welterweight champion of New Zealand, being two pounds lighter. Hanham Made To Miss In the first two rounds Hanham was made to miss badly with his left, and he often ran into trouble when Jenkin evaded him cleverly and gave material effect to what his opponent intended. It was largely through these tactics that Jenkin won the first, third, fifth and sixth rounds, the second and fourth being even. In the fifth session Hanham hit Jenkin hard with a left and right to the head, but the Oamaru boy immediately returned the compliment. Hanham scored decisively in the seventh round, which opened with brisk exchanges, and in the next round the South Canterbury boy was timing his punches better. Jenkin, however, was making the most of Hanham’s body and several telling rights to the heart were point getters to even matters. Hanham, in the ninth and tenth rounds, was endeavouring to speed things along. He hit out aggressively with both hands but he ran into a hard right and left to the head. Jenkin was back-moving cleanly and his swift excursions to Hanham’s body ' were largely instrumental in giving him the honours in these rounds. More Effective Punching Forcing the pace in the eleventh session Hanham had his left working more effectively, while in the twelfth he had definitely made up leeway when Jenkin’s footwork was not as smooth as earlier and he stopped several hard lefts and rights to the face and head. Hanham sought more points in the thirteenth round, but Jenkin preferred close quartrs and there was little action. Jenkin rocked Hanham with a hard right to the jaw at the start of the fourteenth, but Hanham continued to force the pace, and it was evident that the last round would find the winner.

The South Canterbury boy was out of his corner eager to mix it freely but Jenkin was careful and again preferred infighting in which he had an advantage. In a stirring finish Jenkin became middleweight champion when he broke from a clinch and landed solid blows with both gloves to Hanham's face and body, both men being hard at it on the ropes when the final gong sounded. The decision was well received, both boxers being given an ovation for their exhibitions which should do much to assist the sport in this district. The referee and sole judge of the contest was Mr E. Pocock, of Rakaia. The Preliminaries The preliminary bouts were for the most part full of interest. The referee was Mr T. Segar and the judges Messrs R. McGlashan and C. Campbell. Lightweight R. McMahon (Timaru) 9.6 beat L. Ennis (Timaru) 9.6 on points over three rounds. Ennis who was filling a gap was down for eight in the first round and fought gamely against a younger opponent. Flyweight The aggressor for the greater part P. Dwyer (Timaru) 6.0 beat G. Hunter (Oamaru) 6.0 on points in three rounds. The bout was bright throughout. Welterweight E. Prattley (Timaru) 10.0 beat L. Eddington (Timaru) 9.6, on points in three rounds. Exhibition Bout An exhibition was given by Tiger Mills welterweight (Timaru) 10.0 and P. Fleming, lightweight (Timaru) 9.0, over three one and a half minute rounds.