"WHAT A PUNCH."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 227, 24 September 1940, Page 13

"WHAT A PUNCH."

ONE ROUND SENSATION NO "KID" IN ALABAMA'S K.O. AUSTRALIAN tES BRANDER STOPS TERRIFIC UPPER-CUT. Crowded into the space of two minutes and ten seconds, the professional light-heavy-weight fight between Alabama Kid (nee Clarence Beeves), of U.S.A., and Lee. Brander, of Sydney, began and finished at the Auckland Town Hall last night—the shortest and most eeneational professional bout witnessed in Auckland for many yeans. An attendance that just about filled the hall to capacity with enthusiastic fane had the thrill of a lifetime in witnessing the most spectacular knock-out ever seen locally, in that rarest of anaesthetics of the ring, a perfectly timed upper-cut to the "point," administered by the Kid. It not only straightened Brander up, it lifted him to his full height and clean off his feet, to telescope to the mat and take the count. When he came to and opened his dazed eyes some two minutes later, he was on the seat in his corner being medically examined for any possible trace .of jaw fracture. Meantime the occupants of the crowded hall had just stood and gaped in awe-stricken semi-silence, murmuring to one another "What a punch!"

Bolt From the Blue. That perfect upper-cut came like a thunderbolt from a clear sky to the spectators, as to Brander. Choice of gloves 'vent to Brander on the spin of the coin, and his chief second, Eugene Donovan, made the selection, while Johnny Hutcheaon, In the corner for the Alabama Kid, took the other pair, unaware that he got one with a horse-shoe in it. Johnny was a bit hesitant over the business, apparently feeling that his luck was out. The contestants were announced at Brander 12.11, and Alabama Kid 12.2, and both stripped In fine condition. The dusky skin of the American negro made a strong contrast with the Australian's pallid whiteness, and he seemed f> bit the harder. As the gong went the Kid crouched and bored in, while Brander back-moved warily at the same time flicking both hands to th» Kid's head. As he slipped away from the ropes and was backed across the ring he repeated these sparring flicks. The Kid scarcely deigned to counter them, out made fast, sharp drives at the body, which Brander blocked. Again Brander side-stepped from the ropes, and again he was backed across, the ring. Just about to slip aside again he failed to keep his right elbow down, and the Kid flashed In a left hook to' the body that caused ■ Brander's knees to sag. With both hands going' In a flurry he straightened and went for a clinch. Backing up for the first time, the Alabama Kid got the inside position at close quarters, and on the retreat he thudded short pile-drivers to Brander's body with each band. Withdrawing his tortured midriff from these teasers, Brander pulled back in a semi-crouch. Then it came, like a flash, and travelling only a couple of feet to the target. A right uppercut, perfectly timed and delivered, exploded on Brander's chin and lifted him Into the land of dreams, while Referee Joplin tolled the count. Were the spectators a disappointed crowd? Not that you could notice. They were paralysed too, and went towards the exits babbling of the upper-cut they had waited years to see—hung on someone else. Just about the main entrance one of them partially recovered consciousness, and was heard to remark that If he had seen a couple of rounds of action before the curtain fell It would have Been a perfect night. "And I thought Brander had a chance," murmured another of the early home-goers. The "Preliminaries. The preliminary bouts resulted:— L. Williams. 11.7 (Leys Institute), beat B. B. Turel. 11.1 (Clevedon). With neither the footwork nor guard to withstand Williams' straight and hooked lefts, Turel was outclassed and punished so severely that the referee stopped the bout In the second round, Williams letting the verdict on a t.k.o. N. Wakeneld, 8.10 (Northern), beat L. B. Salmon, 6.10 (Fire Brigade) after a lively bout that prompted the crowd to call for a draw. A special trophy was presented to the loser for his game fight, the donor being a ringside spectator. W. Judd. i 0.4 (Northern) beat T. Underwood, 10.4 (Facoory's Gym.), after a bright and briskhitting bout, in which the winner's snappy short punches to the head kept him well in the lead, though Undevwood fought back game, and was awarded a special prize by a gallery admirer of his gameness. A special catchwelght oout between R. Sharpe (11.8) and D. Rolllnson (12.2) for the B. o. Brldgen's Cup, provided a thrill for the crowd land a deal of work for Referee Brien, who insisted on breaking up the clinches In view of the fact that It was a ratchwelght bout, with Rolllnson having an advantage of over half a stone. Rolllnson showed the faster and heavier left punch, but at times was beaten to it by Sharpe. who often followed in to even up at dose quarters. The decision for Rolllnson after five rounds had a mixed reception. At the interval the prizes won at the recent Auckland amateur championships were presented Ito the winners ay President Neil McLean.