BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19989, 4 November 1927, Page 2

BOXING

PATEA TOURNAMENT SPARKLING CONTESTS N.Z. FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION The Patea Town Hall was well filled by supporters cf amateur boxing on Tuesday evening, when the Patea Boxing Association presented another attractive piugiamme. Pupils of Mr C. Gardiner, of Patea, opened the evening with four exhibition bouts cf one r.'und each, and eight contests were presented in which the decisions were given by Mr C. Breed, of Wanganui. A capable committee combined with the president (Mr P. S. Finlayson) and the joint secretaries (Messrs. C. Gardiner and A. Partridge) in the control of the tourney, arnd; excellent organisation was maintained. The star attraction of the programme was a hectic contest of six rounds in which T. C. Donovan, of Waitara, the amateur feather-weight champion of New Zealand, defeated E. J, Mercer of Patea, though the latter was not disgraced. Donovan scaled Bst 121 b. but Mercer was just over the feather limit, his weight being 9st lUb. Evenly matched in height and reach, the pair presented an attractive appearance as they were introduced. In. the first round each showed; eagerness to make clinches. Donovan’s superior footthe pace, but fell into occasional work appeared evident in the second round. Mercer was game, but was unable to hold out the rising left, followed by a right cross, started by the champion from his characteristic crouch. In the third and fourth rounds Donovan continued to annex points, but just before the gong Mercer got home with a nasty left hook which staggered Donovan. Mercer was twice floored in the fifth round, but came up with a grin each time. In the concluding two minutes the pace was furious, but the punishing agent was Donovan, whose clever evasion was notable, and only one 'decision could be given. The bout next in point of interest to the star attraction was staged when J. Crowley (Wanganui), Bst 131 b, defeated R. Forward (Wanganui), 9st 51b, over six rounds. In the first two honours rested with Crowley, who, while conceding the advantage in weight and height, proved much the more clever of the two’ In the third round Forward made the pace, but met an elusive tar-

get. In a glove smacking exhibition in the fourth Crowley’s left connected occasionally. Forward was the aggressor in the fifth, but never connected, while Crowley’s retaliation seldom missed. The sixth provided a rattling exchange, in which Forward was again the pacemaker, but was unable To match the cleverness of Crowley, who was given an indisputable decision. Two well proportioned heavy-weights, Gus Carlson (13st 71b.) and A. Reid, (13 stone), both from Wanganui, fought four rounds. The first opened promisingly, with rapid exchanges, in which Beid was the fight maker, but had to cede points in defensive work. Wild swings which smote the air were the main feature o.f the second and third sessions, though Carlson’s smoother and successful counters brought him points. Reid did all the leading in the last round, but could not recover the lost ground, and the verdict went to Carlson. L. Dombroski (Waitara), lOst 31b, and A. Burns (Wanganui), lOst 101 D, fought a swift four rounds the decision going to Dombroski. In the first and second rounds the left lead of the Wanganui boy proved effective, and twice sent his opponent to the floor. A stinging return by Dombroski in the third round put Burns down while the referee called four. In the final round Burns did the leading, but Dombroski received a doubtful verdiet. F. Shirtcliffe (Patea), Bst 71b, and W. Jamieson (Wanganui), Bst 111 b, gave a poor opening round of a scheduled four. In the second honours went to Shirtcliffe. A willing third session left nothing to choose but in the last round Shirtcliffe came to light with both hands, and twice sent his man to the mat. Shirtcliffe received an easy verdict which proved very popu-

H. Scown (Patea), list, and R. Benjamin (Wanganui), lOst 91b, showed iip in a brisk opening round and Scown went to ‘his corner with a beautiful eye. In the second round;, however, he inflicted severe punishment, and Benjamin was saved by the gong. Benjamin was game in the third round and recovered the leeway. In the final flutter both men mixed exchanges freely and the referee raised an arm of each to signal a draw. T. Fleetwood (Wanganui), 4st 81b, defeated G. AV. Waterland (Patea), sst 111 b, on points in a bout of three two-minute rounds, the former, though giving away over a stone in weight, proving the more aggressive of the pair. A couple of paper-weights, L. Bloomfield (4st 41b), of Wellington, and Vivien Gordon (4st 61b), of Patea, put plenty of action into three rounds, the award going to Gordon. —Star.