HAWKE’S BAY BOXING ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1576, 8 July 1920, Page 3

HAWKE’S BAY BOXING ASSOCIATION.

CARNIVAL AT HASTINGS.

HAVILAH ' UREN (N.S.W.) DEPEATS BERT JARVIS (VICTORIA).

The Municipal Theatre at Hastings was well filled on Wednesday, June .23, the occasion being the final of the Hawke’s Bay featherweight, bantamweight, and heavyweight boxing championships, which had been commenced on the previous evening. A further attraction was the professional contest of 15 three-minute rounds between Bert Jarvis, of Victoria, and Havilah Uren, of New South Wales, for a purse of £250, including expenses. The attendance at the ringside constituted a flattering tribute to the popularity of contests arranged by the Hawke’s Bay Boxing Association, which body is recognised far arid wide as one of the most progressive of its kind in New Zealand. With Mr. I-I. M. Campbell, M.P., as president, and Mr. A. Rosenberg as secretary, the association certainly have two capable officials, who are indefatigable in their efforts to give patrons a first-rate programme. Mr. A. Ellingham, a wellknown sportsman, acted in his usual capacity as timekeeper, .while Major E. Stewart, of Wellington, filled the important role of referee, his decisions meeting with universal approval. The big contest went the full 15 rounds. Both men appeared to be in capital form physically, but the contest was nothing to enthuse over, far too much clinching being indulged in round after round. The result was that from a spectacular point of view the match was shorn of considerable interest. Uren was always leading, while Jarvis, who was acting on the defensive, lacked the aggressiveness of his opponent. Both men on occasions landed innumerable clever body blows. In the fifth round Jarvis, with a hard blow to body forced Uren to remain down for two seconds, at the end of which he rose and continued the contest. Some excellent infighting was witnessed at times, Uren always appearing to have the best of his opponent, and the referee’s decision in awarding the fight to the Sydney man met with approval on all sides.

Prior to the big attraction, the finals of the amateur championships were got off, and resulted as follows:—

Featherweight.—J. H. Carr (Wellington), 9.0, defeated G. Curran (Wellington), 9.0. This contest, which was very even, was of a spirited character, but- Carr’s clever work in the last round enabled him to gain the verdict by a narrow margin. Bantamweight.—C. Maddox (Hastings), 7.12, beat C. Lane (Hastings), 8.1%. Both lads gave a capital display of boxing, but Maddox proved the •more finished boxer, and gained the verdict by a good margin. Lightweight.—P. Hannah (Hastings), 9.9, beat W. H. Walker (Hastings), 9.11. Both men handed out considerable punishment during the bout, but Flannah displayed the better ringcraft, and gradually wore his opponent down I by several heavy body blows, and secured the verdict.

Heavyweight.—E. Statham (Wellington-) beat M. J. Brownlie (Hastings). Neither appeared to possess much boxing science, and the main feature of the bout was its willingness. Both men put plenty of steam into their blows, and were about even at the end of the last round. The referee ordered another round with a view to deciding the winner. Some heavy exchanges took place, and at the finish both were well nigh exhausted. The decision of Major E. Stewart- was in favour of Statham.