BOXING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18939, 9 December 1929, Page 11

BOXING.

CRIME AVENGES HIS DEFEAT BY LECKIE. (Special to the “Star”) NAPIER, December 9. Amidst a demonstration of derision from a large section of a crowded house, the referee (Mr Earl Stewart) raised the hand of Billy Grime, onetime triple champion of Australia, at the close of a fifteen-round return encounter with Johnnie Leckie, New Zealand feather-weight champion, here on Saturday night, giving the decision to the visitor on points. 800-ing continued for some minutes, and there was little cheering for the victor. At the same time it must be admitted that the house was distinctly for Leckie. The Dunedin boy made himself immensely popular here, and the fans were with him all the way. Good judges at the ringside admit that the decision was correct, though there could have been little between the men. The fight was disappointing as a spectacle, both boys fighting with caution all through, and neither was marked much at the close. Both were splendidly fit and cat-like in their quick movements, but each showed a generous respect for the other and boxed warily. Leckie did most of the forcing, using a lightning left to Grime’s face, frequently shooting three or four of these in in rapid succession. Grime, however, worked at close quarters, where he was distir Leckie’s master, rapping his ribs and jolting his jaw with short arm ’ lows. Grime was clever in evasion and frequently made Leckie miss leads by ducking. Twice when Leckie had ‘be Aussie on the the latter stood -t on his feet •and dodged a shower of blows by simply swaying his head an inch or two tc one side or the other. The fight, perhaps, may be summed up by savin?* that Leckie was the stronger and cleaner in the open work, but Grime was the better at close quarters. and in dodging trouble. Many had thought that had Leckie forced the fight from long range he would have won. As it was, Grime dodged Leckie’s leads, and br-ed i:> close, scoring in the clinches. There was a great deal of in-fighting, with the men often wrestling in the clinches, and in the tenth round the referee told the men to brighten up. From then on the fight was faster, but Leckie did not show the fierce two-handed attacking work usually seen from him. Each fighter, in fact, seemed little over-awed at the calibre of his rival and took no risks. The crowd several times demonstrated against G-rir e for holding. When the decision was given, Leckie stood in the middle of the ring as if dumbfounded, but he was the first to dash over and congratulate Grime. Grime’s victory avenges the defeat Leckie gave ' Australia. It is understood that a third match may be arranged to settle the rubber.