BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 4

BOXING

DONOVAN ON A FOUL VICTORY OVER GRIME BIG BOUT AT HAWERA | Per Press Association. J NEW PLYMOUTH, April 25 The largest crowd which has ever attended a boxing match at Hawera last night saw Tommy Donovan (9.3) gain the decision from Billy Grime (9.4) on a foul midway in the eleventh of a fifteen-rounds bout. The blow that caused Grime’s disqualification was accidental, a left rip that started low and ended in the solar plexus, doubling up Donovan with pain. Referee Earl Stewart did not hesitate to give his decision. Up to that stage Donovan had a slight lead on points.In a thrilling fight Donovan was troubled by Grime’s unorthodox style, but the Waitara man did good work with a straight left. Good judges said it was the best exhibition given by Grime in New Zealand. Hundreds were unable to gain admission to the Opera House. The crowd crushed against the front of the building until glass showcases were smashed and the police had difficulty in controlling them. The Hawera Association has secured the first refusal of the return bout.

WAS DONOVAN FOULED? OPINIONS DIVIDED DOCTORS' EXAMINATIONS (Special to "Chronicle.”) HAWERA, April 25. In a highly sensational manner Tommy Donovan, of Waitara, won from Billy Grime, of Australia, on a foul midway through the eleventh round of a scheduled 15-round bout at Hawera on Thursday night. The spectators to-day are divided into two camps—those who consider Earle Stewart’s decision justifiable, and those who are of the opinion that Grime’s final blow was a fair one. The contest attracted a huge crowd. The greatest difficulty was experienced in maintaining even a semblance of order, and once, when the mob rushed the barriers, two glass show-cases and a window were broken. The unorthodox stance and methods of the Australian, as well as being upsetting to his opponent, upset the crowd for a while, but the spectators were before long forced to sink its prejudices. Grime kept on finding the target with neat precision, and many times outwitted the rushing and tearing Donovan. Throughout he fought coolly with superb confidence, but when he was spurred he became rather more decisive in his methods.

For ten rounds Grime crouched and weaved in front of his bouncing opponent and hit only when the opportunity present itself, but when he did connect it was with punching power beyond the ordinary, and he sometimes shook tho stocky fireman from headlight to tender. His favourite method, one that he adopted until the sensational eleventh round, was to draw his opponent’s lead and then connect with a terrific right drive to the heart. In the eleventh, however, he feinted with his right and whipped the left hook to the body.. Donovan fell to the canvas groaning in agony and clasped both hands around his abdomen. Immediately pandemonium reigned and although tho referee disqualified Grime his voice could not be heard above the din. Hundreds surged about the ringside and in the body of the hall. The referee disappeared and some time elapsed before an announcment could be made. Donovan was subsequently examined by two doctors, and one expressed the opinion that the blow had grazed forbidden territory before sinking into the solar plexus. The other stared that from, an external examination no injury was apparent, but it was impossible to state whether Donovan had been fouled or not untii a few days had elapsed. At the time of the incident Donovan had a slight margin in his favour. He had won five rounds, Grime had won Th U ,A T . round was drawn. Throughout the contest ho was the aggressor, and but for his furious fighting the bout would have been uninteresting. He exploited a straight left to considerable advantage, but often missed with Wild rightwing, to “he