BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 247, 19 October 1936, Page 4

BOXING

BRIGHT CONTESTS BOUTS' AT OPERA HOUSE WANG AN UI TOURNAMENT DUNN BEATS R. AITKEN The second of a series of contests promoted by the newly-revived Wanganui Boxing Association was staged in the Opera House on Saturday night. Fans were treated to some good displays, the principal bout of the evening, that between H. Dunn and R. Aitxen, providing plenty of thrills, some very clever work and hard hitting predominating. There was only a moderate attendance of the public, a fact that is to be regretted, for it is extremely discouraging to the officials to find that their efforts to revive the game locally are not being rewarded by the support of the public of the city. It was apparent in the amateur bouts that several of the contestants had neglected their training, One or two of them finding it difficult to see out tlie three two-minute rounds. During the evening Roy De Gans, coloured light-heavyweight American boxer, was introduced to the audience and extended a challenge to anyone in his class in the Dominion. During an interval between the bouts, the president, Mr. A. H. Hurley, presented the trophies to the winners of the amateur preliminaries as fol-lows:—-Mr. W. McKernan’s trophy: T. Tullock. Mr. F. Bristol’s trophy: J. Imlach. Mr. A. Hurley’s trophy: K. Fitzwater. Cann Bros.’ trophy: M. O’Neill. The officials were as follow: —President Mr. A. H. Hurley; announcer, Mr. J. Pawson; referee, Mr. C. Cann; hon. secretary, 'Mr. A. H. Dobson; timekeeper, Mr. W. J. McKernan, hon. surgeon, Dr. Cooke; glove stewards, Messrs. A. Carlton and G. Cann. The following are the results of the amateur bouts: — Welterweight H. Christiensen (Palmerston North) 9.12 v. T. Tullock (Foxton) 9.12. Opening in whirlwind fashion, both bo vs traded heavy blows and gave

and accepted solid punching without flinching. Tullock employed a nice left hook, but hitting with an open glove spoilt a good deal of his work. Christiensen showed to better advantage in the second session, doing most of the leading. A slashing final round had the spectators keyed up with excitement, and Tullock was declared the winner of a remarkably even bout. Welterweight J. Imlach (Wellington) 10.6 v. R. McNeill (Wanganui) 10.0. McNeill attacked immediately, but the majority of his blows were wild and lacked direction. Imlach boxed cooly, but even when his opponent commenced to tire early in the second round he failed to force matters. McNeill was fought to a standstill in the third, and Imlach gave him a torrid time, the decision going to the Wellington boy. McNeill fought gamely but was sadly out of condition. Lightweight H. Norris (Palmerston North) 9.0 v. M. O’Neill (Wanganui), 9.0. O’Neill attacked from the gong and had Norris on the defensive throughout. The Palmerston boy had a distinct advantage in reach and O’Neill found it. difficult, to get inside his guard. Fighting tirelessly O'Neill continued his forcing tactics and took a comfortable decision. Middleweight K. Fitzwater (Taranaki) 10.10 v. C. Foster (Manawatu) 10.11. Action was the keynote of this tight, both boys going at it hammer and tongs. Cheered on by the crowd, they mixed it in rare fashion, and a splendid first round was topped by an even better display in the second. Foster was inclined to stand off his opponent, a fact that must have told against him in failing to get the decision in a very even and exciting bout. Professional Bouts.

Alan Parker (Manawatu) 9.12 v. Barney Downs (Wanganui) 10.3. This bout provided a sensational ending in the first round, Downs landing a blow to Parker's jaw that had the Palmerston boy groggy. The referee interposed and awarded the bout to Downs on a teohnical k.o. R. Aitken (Wellington) 9.0 v. H. Dunn (Lower Hutt) 9.2. Opening rather quietly the two boy’s were content to spar for ownings, Aitken being the aggressor, but Dunn fought cooly and proved hard to nail. In the second round Aitken went into a series of smothers and although Dunn tried hard to land a knock-out clever work by Aitken nullified his efforts. The third was evenly contested, Aitken doing most of the leading. Both boxers wore putting plenty of sting into their punches and the fourth was the best round of the bout so far. Dunn assumed the offensive in the fifth which was packed with thrills. Penning Dunn in a corner Aitken dealt out heavy punishment but the manner in which Dunn fought back left no doubt as to his ability to measure up to his man. Although matters were quiet early in the sixth the final minute was a hectic one, the boys standing toe to toe in a slashing rally. This was repeated in the seventh, the psectators cheering the work of the two boys who were giving the fans full value for their money. The pace slowed somewhat in the eighth, but periods of clever boxing enlivened the round. Dunn was on the defensive during the greater part of the ninth, but came to light with a fury attack ihat caused Aitken to resort to smothering up tactics. The final round provided fireworks, each boy doing his best to impress sufficient to obtain the verdict. Wading into each other, first one and then the other would carry the fight to his opponent and a really good bout ended with Dunn being awarded the decision

Both boxers are to be commended on their display and the margin in favour of Dunn must have been small. Aitken was unfortunate in that, after being the aggressor in every round he was on the losing end, but there is no ddubt that he is an exceptionally clever fighter, and will improve still further (he is only 18 years old!. Dunn is a particularly’ cool customer and packs a nasty wallop in both hands.