SOUTHLAND BOXER BEATS CHAMPION OF BRITISH ARMY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 171, 22 July 1942, Page 7

SOUTHLAND BOXER BEATS CHAMPION OF BRITISH ARMY

Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, July 21. Sapper George Muir (13.0), the Invercargill boxer, who is a member «€ the New- Zealand Forestry Unit, beat George Mark wick (13.11), heavy-weight cham-1 pion of the British Army. The referee stopped the fight in the third round, when Markwick s left eye was bleeding profusely. Muir has now won ten fights in succession, six of them by a knock-out. The victories included a points decision over the Canadian Army champion. Muir. who is aged 29, was keen to beat .Markwick on a knock-out. He won the first round after a cautious opening, and might have knocked out Markwick in the second round if he had not been over-eager after he had broken through Markwick's guard and connected with two swinging rights to Markwick's head. These shook the Briton, but "he fought back and connected with left and rights to the body. Still it was Muir's round. Markwick opened the third round with left, right, left to the body, and made Muir miss badly with a ferocious uppercut. They mixed it in the centre of the ring, after which Markwick's eye was bleeding badly, and the referee stopped the fight at the end of the round.

Ted Broadribb, formerly Tommy Farr's manager, was Muir's second. Broadribb is taking an interest in the New Zealander, whose string of victories is attracting attention.

Muir was in the pink of condition, being fit through forestry work. He trains regularly, sparring with Sapper Derek Sutherland, of Roiorua (who shortly is having his first professional fight) and also the Aucklunder, Sapper John Brown. They use a gymnasium fitted with light and heavy punchballs.

Brigadier K. S. Park, of "the New Zealand Fortes in the United Kingdom, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Elliot IHawera), who is ollicer commanding the forestry companies, saw Muir win.