BOXING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16906, 4 December 1922, Page 3

BOXING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “ CKSTUS.”) Young Purdy, the seventeen-year-old featherweight champion of Australasia suffered the first defeat of bis career at the hands of M. Hatton, at Auckland, on November 27. Last year Hatton w r on the featherweight champiou- . hip of New Zealand at Greywonth and Now Zealand at the Australasian championships, being defeat e<i in the final by Kay, of Victoria, though good judges would 3iot agree that the decision was correct. This year Hatton and Purdy met- in the final Vo: the Auckland championship, Purdy gau.ing the decision after a very exciting battle. Both competed at the South l.daud championship meeting at Palmerston North. and here again Purdy proved successful, defeating Gverend. of Hawke’s Bay, in tho fiiiai. Hatton lost to Overend in the semi-final. Of the bout on November 27 v/hich was over six rounds, the “• Star " savs :- ”It was a hard-fought pulse-quickening contest, that brought tlu- audience to tlieir feet at tho conclusion. Hatton being accorded an ovation such as it falls to the lot of few amateur> to receive —especially iioni an Auckland audience. Hats were thrown i t the air and tho cheering and applause were deafening. Like the good sport that he is. Purdy took the decision cheerful]v. realising that his opponent had won’ a good ' fight.” Hatton scaled B*l 10£lb and U'-.rdy Bst lllh. The reports of the bout indicate that Purdy lie Id the lead in the opening rounds, but was gradually worn down b> his older and stronger opponent, who appears to have forced Purdy into in-fighting and done the bulk of his scoring there. The professional bout at Auckland on November 27 between H. May, Australasian light-weight champion in 1921. and Paul Demsky. the Queenslander. appears to have been a battle of styles. May is distinctly an outl\gliter and Demsky ail in-fighter. Being taller and longer in the reach May scored heavily in the opening rounds. The more experienced Demsky ultimately worked his opponent to close quarters, and then came Demsky’s opportunity to score, and he did not neglect it. Afterwards it became a question of tactics. May did his hest to evade Demsky’s efforts to bring about in-fighting, while Demsky continued to manoeuvre for openings, keeping away as much as possible from May s longarm deliveries. These tactics compelled tHe referee to inform the competitors that if more action were, not forthcoming he would declare the- bout “no contest.’ Thereafter the contestants boxed each according to his style, the balance in points swinging two and fro. May gained the- decision which appears to have met with general approval. By defeating Gleeson at New Ply mouth on Thursday, V hittaker is mains M’Quarrie. and possibly some bringing his field of opponents near to the vanishing point. There still reassociation will promote another bout with AF Cleary. the only man who has succeeded in defeating Whittaker. Pat Gleeson, the popular lightweight has returned to Sydney. His mission is for the purpose of endeavouring to secure a match with Hughie Dwyer, the present lightweight champion of Australia. Last year, at Auckland, Dwyer secured a point decision over Gleeson.

Air E. A. Dawson, of Wellington, who was manager of the New Zealand team which competed at the Australasian championship meeting at Hobart and the New Zealand Boxing Council s representative at the Australasian Conference, has been actively identified with the control of the sport in Wellington for a number of years. Rreviouslv he was associated with Rugby Football, in which to-da.y his interest is as keen as ever. About twelve I months ago, Air Dawson, who was [ stationmaster at Wellingtonretired j on superannuation, and having more i leisure at his command, he lias since given close attention to the problems which confront those closely indent-ified with the control of boxing in New Zealand. At Greymouth and at Auckland lie played a prominent part in the discussions on the many important questions brought forward, and his knowledge and mature judgment; materially assisted in enabling delegates to reach a decision A thorough sportsman, popular villi all sections, fearless in tlte expression of his views, but always ready to listen to and give the other side a fair hearing, he is a great asset to the sport. It was only in the order of things that the members of the Ntv Zealand team should take to him and make a confident of him. Airs Dawson, also, was a member of the party, a dear motherly little lady who looked upon “ the boys ” as youngsters on an outing and requiring a mother’s watchful eye to see that various little services were not missing. No wonder. therefore, that the team should desire to show in some tangible form bow nit.ri they appreciated which was done for thorn during their eventful trip ; but it came as a great but pleasant surprise to Mr and Mrs Dawson to receive the following letter accompanied by a silver teapot inscribed “To Dad and Alum, from the Boys, 1922 ” : To Air and Airs Dawson.—Dear Alum and Dad. We are writing you both in order to place on record our very sincere appreciation of the way in which you both helped us on our long tomjust concluded. To you Dad with your keenest and readiness to help us at every turn and Alum for her influence and good advice we owe a debt we all feel we can never repay. With those IL.C3 from the Auckland members of the team to try and express our feelings (and which our old pal Laucliie Al’Donald would no doubt endorse) we ask you to accept this little present from us all. We are sure that you both must miss us hoys as much as* wef miss you, but, when you look upon this little token it will remind you of th-’ very very happy times we spent together. '.Signed).— D. Aleale. middle; Fred. Hansen, welter; L. M’Donald. light; O. Purdv. feather: Henrv Donovan, trainer. v »»w Zealand Amateur Boxing Team 1922.