HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CONTEST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1550, 8 January 1920, Page 18

HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CONTEST.

TRACEY DEFEATS POOLEY. SOME KEENLY-FOUGHT AMATEUR BOUTS. The carnival held by the Northern Boxing Association at the Town Hall, Auckland, last week, proved to be of a most entertaining character, for in addition to the Tracey-Pooley contest, which was without doubt one of the best heavyweight encounters ever witnessed in the Dominion, the amateur bouts were exceedingly keen, providing plenty of excitement for patrons. Notwithstanding Pooley’s easy defeat by Clabby a few weeks back, the match made between the Aucklander, and the young Australian heavyweight Jim Tracey was expected to furnish a far more even contest than the Clabby-Pooley clash, and as matters turned out this anticipation was realised. The 15 rounds contest between Albert Pooley and Jim Tracey was for a purse of £2OO, provided by the Northern Boxing Association, and though the latter’s wider ring experience was naturally accepted in boxing circles as a sure indication that the Australian would account for the local heavyweight without much trouble, the match was in no way one-sided, interest being maintained throughout all of the 13 rounds which were contested before Tracey succeeded in winning with a knockout. Pooley fought with greater confidence than when opposed to Clabby, while he was far more aggressive, his forcing tactics being repeatedly in evidence until up to the end -of the tenth round when Tracey commenced to pile on the points at a rapid rate, and dispelled any doubt that may have existed as to his ability to defeat the Aucklander. The Australian’s advantages in height, weight arid reach were factors of which he made good use in bringing about the defeat of his opponent, his straight lefts to face, though not of a particularly weighty character, being delivered with unerring accuracy, constantly worrying Pooley. Tracey’s right swings, . however, threatened greater danger for the Aucklander, for they were frequently

executed at lightning speed, in addition to which they had plenty of weight behind them, though at times a trifle wild, missing their objective on more occasions than was expected from a boxer of Tracey’s experience. Tracey took matters very coolly throughout, displaying better ringcraft than his opponent, and was not in the least distressed at the finish of the contest, while he- bore little evidence of the encounter, a few marks on the body being the only signs of wear arid tear. For a heavyweight he is a good deal faster than the average exponent in this class, and being only 22 years of age, and therefore almost certain to thicken out considerably, he should do well for himself in the roped arena, especially as the result of the experience he should gain during his forthcoming trip to America. Pooley was much more at home with Tracey than with Clabby, for whereas the latter repeatedly had the Aucklander baffled by the rapidity of his work and his unlimited stock of blows, Tracey did not demonstrate his superiority over Pooley to anything like the extent as did the American. In fact, so aggressive was Pooley during the greater portion of the contest that Tracey did not establish anything of a lead to speak of until after the tenth round, when he commenced to assert his superiority, getting in much effective work with both hands, Pooley showing signs of fatigue, while during the remaining couple of rounds his right leg appeared to be troubling him. He stuck to his task in a determined and very plucky manner, and though exhaustion had much to do with him finally falling a victim to Tracey’s punches the better man undoubtedly won after a clean and cleverly-fought contest, which was remarkably free from clinching. Both men fought with a degree of fairness that earned universal admiration, there being a total absence of any inclination to point, while there was not the slightest tinge of brutality about the contest, even the knock-out being executed with the masterly touch of an experienced boxer, Tracey sparing his opponent as much as possible when effecting the coup de grace. When Tracey and Pooley entered

the ring for their combat they presented an interesting contrast. The tall, slim Australian almost towered over his stockily-built opponent, yet hardly looked his weight (13.2), Pooley turning the scale at 12.5. Pooley opened the initial round well by scoring with rights to ribs and connecting with a series of lefts to face. Tracey mainly relied on his lefts to nose, but the Aucklander had the best of the round, his work being the more effective. The Australian showed to better advantage in the second round, a hard right to cheek in particular shaking his opponent. The third session opened with Tracey using lefts to cheek, his superior reach making Pooley’s task the more difficult, though the latter was loudly applauded when he rattled home a couple of telling rights to nose. Tracey continued to make good use of his straight lefts to face, while his right swings occasionally got home. The fourth round again saw the Australian scoring consistently with lefts to face, but he failed to put much weight in his blows. Pooley, finding that he was considerably outreached by his opponent, retaliated principally with body punches. The fifth roijnd was almost a repetition of the preceding session, Tracey persistently worrying the Aucklander with his piston-rod lefts to> face, while Pooley experienced difficulty in penetrating the Australian’s defence. Pooley made a determined showing in the sixth round, cleverly evading many of his opponent’s punches, which frequently were wide of the mark. He freely swapped blows with the visitor, who, however, was responsible for the better ringcraft. The seventh round was of an exciting character. Pooley opened hostilities, getting home a telling left to cheek amid applause, while he executed several good hooks to body. Tracey sent in a smart left to cheek, but narrowly missed with a right swing, the round being very even. The eighth round also proved an excellent one. Pooley boxed with great determination, and while the pair were battling at close quarters he shot a heavy right to chin, and later connected with a series of good lefts. Tracey was also aggressive, but

missed with a number of dangerouslooking punches, the round being in favour of the Aucklander. There was not much effective work in the ninth round, in which Pooley made good use of his left swings, Tracey not doing so well, many of his blows failing to find their mark. Tracey was the more consistent scorer during the tenth round, though Pooley was responsible for an excellent showing throughout. Tracey did most of the leading in the eleventh round, but his blows lacked weight. He gave Pooley little opportunity of landing effective punches, the majority of the Aucklander’s blows coming in contact with the visitor’s shoulder. The tw'elfth round was all in favour of the Australian, who repeatedly scored with right and lefts to cheek. Pooley jabbed a hard left to nose, and followed up the blow with a series of right swings, which failed, however, to ruffle his remarkably cool opponent. The punishment was beginning to tell on Pooley at this stage, while he appeared to be lame towards the end of the round. The thirteenth round not unexpectedly brought about the finish. Tracey became the aggressor from the start, scoring .with telling rights and lefts in quick succession, leaving Pooley distinctly groggy, but none the less game. A hard right uppercut to the jaw sent the Aucklander down for six seconds, nothing but sheer pluck causing him to continue a hopeless battle. Tracey then ended the combat by handing out a right to the chin, with just sufficient weight to make the Aucklander go down for the count. Both men were given an ovation at the conclusion of the contest. Mr. Frank Burns was referee. AMATEUR BOUTS. Bantamweight. C. McCarthy (8.1) v. J. Whittome (8.6). —McCarthy was the more aggressive in the first two rounds, using right and left swings, which, however, were not always well directed. Whittome was the cleverer boxer in the exchanges, and showed much skill in skipping out of range of his opponent’s punches. Whittome opened the third round with a series of smart lefts to face, McCarthy replying with right swings, one of which came in

violent contact with Whittome’s cheek just before the sound of the gong. The fourth round was responsible for several lively exchanges, McCarthy driving home a number of rapidly-delivered lefts to face and right hooks to body. Whittome’s clever defence was much in evidence, but McCarthy’s vigorous tactics frequently broke down Whittome’s . attack. Just before the gong sounded Whittome missed with an evil-looking left uppercut. while a couple of left swings met the same fate. In the 'fifth round McCarthy forced the fighting, but his lefts failed to get past Whittome’s right guard, while the latter repeatedly scored with straight lefts. The sixth found saw Whittome constantly scoring with straight lefts to face, completely outboxing his opponent, whose lefts were cleverly countered. The verdict in favour of McCarthy did not meet with unanimous approval. Featherweight. W. O’Connor (Christchurch) 8.4 v. J. Fletcher (Auckland) 8.3%. —The meeting of these two lads was productive of the best featherweight contest seen in Auckland for many years. The first round was of a willing character, O’Connor setting off at a whirlwind pace with right and left swings, which were not always well directed. Fletcher met his adversary with a fusillade of blows to face with both hands. In the second round O’Connor dealt out considerable punishment with the aid of straight lefts and lightning right swings. Both were palpably tired towards the end of the round and were hitting out wildly. Fletcher appeared in danger of a knock-out just before the end of the round in consequence of O’Connor’s hurricane attacks, and as the pair went to their corners they were loudly applauded for their thrilling display. The third round opened with Fletcher putting considerable weight behind his straight lefts, while O’Connor’s neat footwork was particularly noticeable. The latter missed several times with dangerous right uppercuts, but caused Fletcher to back up against the ropes, the Christchurch lad, however, being too fatigued to take full advantage of an admirable chance of turning the scale in his favour. O’Connor made the pace torrid in the fourth round, but Fletcher sent a hard left to nose which dazed the southerner, and repeated the punch with effective results, leaving O’Connoi’ so visibly done that his second threw in the towel — a wise proceeding—Fletcher thus proving the winner. Both victor and vanquished received a rousing reception when they left the ring. Mr. Fred Farrell announced amid tremendous applause that in consequence of O’Connor’s pluck and endurance the Northern Boxing Association had decided to award. the Christchurch lad a special trophy. J. Smith (9.1) v. H. Hickey (8.10).— , This pair boxed a fast four rounds, in which both displayed considerable cleverness, there being a total absence of hard hitting throughout .the bout, which was declared a draw. Lightweight. A. G. Lewell (9.13) v/ G. ‘ Brown (9.10). —Brown got home with a good right to chin just after the start of the opening round, during which he scored with a series of lefts to face. Shortly after the second round commenced Brown floored his opponent with a right uppercut to chin, but Lewell was on his. feet again after the count, of “Two,” and connected with several good lefts to . head. Clinching was much in evidence in the third round, ’ which proved uninteresting. Lewell did much better in the fourth round than previously, scoring with many punches to head and body, while he countered Brown’s persistent attacks ;in good style. Lewell continued to evade his opponent’s blows in the fifth round, though the latter had the best of matters, his blows not being very effective, however. In the sixth round Brown sent Lewell .to his knees, the blow causing ' the latter little uneasiness, but Brown outpointed him throughout the remainder of the round and gained the decision. Welterweight. J. Graham (10.10) v. L. Cadman (10.13). —The first round was devoid of excitement, honours being even throughout. Just after the second session opened Cadman rushed Graham and floored him with a left haymaker Jo chin, but Graham was up again immediately. Cadman hit out wildly, Graham easily evading his opponent’s attack and tattooing Cadman’s body with both hands. Cadman’s rushing tactics were much in

evidence in the third round, Graham countering well and dealing blows to body, the round being very even. In the fourth round both used blows to ribs, Graham showing improvement in his work, scoring more consistently than his opponent, whose body blows lacked judgment, Graham having the best of the round. In the fifth round Graham set the claret flowing with a left to nose, Cadman scoring a moment later with an effective left to face. Graham outpointed Cadman in the infighting, and increased his lead in points. Graham consistently connected with a left to nose in the sixth round, while he also used a good right hook with success. Cadman boxed wildly, missiiig badly, Graham scoring repeatedly throughout the round and gaining a popular decision.

The well-known Auckland sprinter Cardrona, who was operated on last month for a growth, succumbed after lingering a few days. Many will sympathise with Dr. Beveridge in the loss of the Lupin—Natator gelding, who had a number of good performances to his credit.