A SENSATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 100, 30 April 1938, Page 4

A SENSATION

AMBROSE PALMER’S WIN

DEFEAT OF RON RICHARDS

K.O. IN THIRTEENTH

AUSTRALIAN HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE Ambrose Palmer caused a sensation at the Sydney Sports Ground this month (April) by knocking out. Ron Richards in the thirteenth round, in a contest for the heavy-weight championship of Australia. Richards was down three times before he took the final count The crowd of 10,000 was stunned at the sudden and unexpected turn of events. Not even the most ardent supporters of Palmer anticipated as the fight progressed that Richards would lose his title on a knock-out. Indeed, Richards appeared to have the fight well in hand when the end came.

Palmer had taken a severe battering to the head from an attack which Richards never let up, and he was compelled many times to retreat in order to avoid punishment. The betting, which was 2 to 1 on Palmer when the fight began, changed to 2 to 1 on Richards in the eighth round. The first Knock-down was followed by an amazing roar from the crowd. Richards fell for six from a short left to the chin, says the Daily Telegraph. He rose, and fought back savagely until Palmer sent him down again for “six” with a right to the jaw. Richards rose a third time, with his defence wide open. Palmer chipped him with a left to the nose, and Richards again fell. He remained sitting on the canvas until the referee, Joe Wallis. counted him out.

As far as the fight went, Richards was ahead on points, although Palmer was making up the headway in the last few' rounds. Palmer show ed easily

his best form since his “comeback.” His defence, which was based on speed and sound technique, caused many of Richards’ blows to be caught up on the gloves. Palmer weighed 12.7, and Richards 11.12.

The first round was not long in progress before Palmer was bleeding from wounds over both eyes and a cut at the side of his nose. Richards caught him with a smashing right hand to the jaw, which seemed to flatten his face. But Palmer stiffened his defence in the second round, and allowed Richards to make the fight.

Richards landed a snappy left hook to the jaw, but towards the close of the round Palmer took the lead off his opponent and showed more confidence. Palmer Through the Ropes Palmer continued to hold Richards off with his left, but in fifth round was shaken by a terrific right to the side of the head. The force of the blow catapulted Palmer back several feet to the ropes. Richards rushed Palmer in the sixth round. He had Palmer sparring for position, but not until a few seconds before the bell did he break through with a short left hook to the jaw, shaking Palmer off hi.s balance. The betting had taken a decided turn, and Richards in the eighth was 2 to 1 on favourite. In the ninth ana tenth rounds he firmed still more in the betting, and by the twelfth was 10 to 1 on.

In the twelfth round Palmer began to take the lead off Richards, ana scored with a number of snappy left hooks to the jaw. Then a sudden change came over the fight. Richards fell to the floor for "six” with a right to the jaw, and he took the full count with a left, to the nose. The crowd was stunned by this extraordinary ending. They could scarcelyrealise the position.