BOXING TOURNAMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 34, 28 May 1947, Page 5

BOXING TOURNAMENT

TE PUKE SUCCESS LOCAL MEMBERS PARTICIPATE Members of the Whakatane Boxing Association recently travelled to Te Puke to attend a very successful boxing tournament staged in the Capitol Theatre. All those who attended from this district were high in their praise of the high standard attained by Te Puke in their first tournainent. On several occasions names of local boys figured in the list of winners but in conversation with a representative of the Beacon an official of the Whakatane Association gave as his opinion that the local boys were not fit and. had received only a small amount of training as yet. It is to be hoped that soon the local lads will be able to give a much better .account of themselves. A complete report of the tournament* is as follows:

Officials

Patron, Mr W. E. Hookey; president, Mr F. W. Holden; vice-presi-dents, Messrs N. Grafas, A. S. Austin and L. F. Harrison; secretary and treasure!’, Mr D. Harrison; committee, Messrs. F. A. Burrett, G. Schick, J. JBoyd, A. Burt and N. James (trainer). Tournament Officials: Referee, Mr Bradshaw (Tauranga); Hon. Surgeons, Dr.'L. Randell and Dr. T. Macallan; judges, Messrs. A. Hogg (Whakatane) and N. Sinclair (Tauranga); timekeeper, Mr P. Smith; assistant timekeeper, Mr W. Monkhouse; weight stewards, Messrs. A.. Burt and G. Jensen; glove steward, Mr L, F. Harrison; ring steward, Mr N. Valder; call steward, Mr G. Underwood; official seconds, Messrs. Ray and B. Burt, and announcer was Mr Cliff Vercoe. The following are the results of the bouts:— Paper Weight, three 1-minute rounds. Between A. Raymond (6.2) Mount Maunganui and T. Hunt (6.5) Taneatua.

Hunt was the taller of these two young lads but the stocky little Raymond bored in and landed numerous head blows. Raymond was announced the winner and left the ring with a crimson nose.

Welter Weight, three 2-minute rounds. Between D. Conway (9.13) Edgeeumbe and. T. Harrison (10.11), Te Puke. j

Harrison took a great deal of punishment in the early stages of the second round after being a little outboxed in the first round, Conway being very aggressive and possessing a strong stabbing left. In the third round Harrison went in after his man and a fierce exchange ensued, both taking severe punishment and neither appearing to bother about covering. Conway brought his right in with telling effect and both had drawn blood. The verdict went to Conway, but we should imagine the margin would have been small.

Bantam Weight, three ' 2-minute rounds. Between M. Crawford (8.4), Mt. Maunganui and D. Bennett (8.6) Taneatua.

This was a good exhibition of boxing, Bennett being perhaps the more aggressive, but Crawford kept him away with a beautifully timed straight left. In the second round Crawford went in but Bennett gave a clever exhibition in taking everything on his gloves. Crawford made most of the attack in the third round but Bennett weaved and ducked and landed several body blows with telling effect. The result was a popular verdict of a draw.

Middle Weight, three 2-minute rounds. J. Maxwell (11.0), Whakatane and Tony Fugle (11.4) Te Puke. Fugle dazed Maxwell with the weight of wild punches in the first round and the latter, though taller than Fugle, could not withstand the repeated onslaughts. He went to the mat. In the second round he made a valiant attempt to box but was sent to the mat in quick succession. Gamely he rose again and was obviously out on his feet. As. the referee' passed between them Fugle made certain with another that landed on Maxwell’s chin and the bout was over.

Fly Weight, three la-minute rounds. Between C. Summers (7.12), Mt. Maunganui and N. Fergusson (8.8), Edgecumbe. Fergusson was no match for his opponent, Summers being a more mature boxer. The loser put up a good fight but was forced to |take punishment. Summers was thg winner..

Welter Weight, four 2-minute rounds. Between G. Wallace (9.10),. Auckland and Henrikson (10.0), Edgecumbe. This was -an interesting bout between two wary boxers. The Aucklander had some years of ringcraft

behind him but Henrikson was not trapped into over much in-fighting. . In the first round Henrikson madethe rare aggressive moves againstan elusive crouch. The second round gave Wallace the chance of coming in underneath but Henrikson also landed good rights which set him * back on his heels. Wallace went in more in the third round and doubtless gained most of his points with a series of short uppercuts. Henrikson straightened him up with left and right in the last round. The result was a draw. Middle Weight, three 2-minute rounds. Between J. O’Dea (10.10), Tauranga and G. Schick (10.11), Te Puke.

O’Dea was judged the winner *of - this lively bout in which experience was matched with a wide open fighter. Schick delivered punishing blows but he had.no defence. Heavy Weight, - three 2-minute rounds. . Between Jim Raymond (13,0), Alt. Maunganui and Jim Boyd (12.6) Te Puke.

For his display in this match Boyd was awarded a good trophy for the gamest loser in the tournament. Jim Raymond kept punishing him with, a left that seemed to be suspendedin mid-air and every now and then, was rammed at Boyd’s .face.- With further training Boyd should go a long way and in the last round he went into Raymond and landed punches that rocked him considerably. Both lads wei% given a big hand as they left the ring after the decision. had been given to Raymond. Bantam Weight, three 2-minute rounds. Between the Meyle brothers of Auckland. ■

The Meyle twins gave a clever exhibition of bright boxing and demonstrated an ; all-round ability. A draw was announced./ Middle Weight,/ three 2-minute rounds. Between Joe Raymond (10.7), Mt. Maunganui and M. Matchitt (10.12) Edgeeumbe. / ; Still another- Raymond was on the programme but in this case the verdict went to Matchitt, who proved a very capable lad, able to keep his opponent off and time his punches so that he was in and away very powerfully and cleanly. It is understood that this is the sixth decision to Matchitt in a run. The Big Attraction Feather Weight, four 2-minute : rounds: Between Vic Gummer 8.11) Auckland (Auckland FeatherWeight Champion), and Neville " Hastings (8.6), of Mt. Maunganui (present holder Auckland BantamWeight Championship). There was much speculation as to > the outcome of the meeting between Hastings and. Gummer. To the Mount boys, most of whom were in. attendance on Monday, Hastings was their idol. After his four rounds he remained firmly on his pedestal. In the first i;ound Hastings took the initiative but the in-fighting did neither harm nor good. Hastings landed a late punch when breaking but was quick to rush in and shake . hands. ,

The second round was much faster “but Gummer was unable to hit anything but gloves. Hastings bored in and his short punches continued to rock Gummer.

The third round was more quiet though Gummer appeared to be showing signs that he was being extended. In the. final round Hastings went straight in,, landing blows to the head and body,. Gummer retaliated but for the most part a glove was in the way. At the gong Hastings was still sending in punishing blows that straightened Gummer. It was a lively bout and both lads, were given much applause. At the conclusion of the tournament the Mayor, Mr W. E. Hookey,, preesnted the trophies to the winners. Supper was made available downstairs.