BOXING TOURNAMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 51, 9 July 1947, Page 6

BOXING TOURNAMENT

TE PUKE TOURNAMENT WHAKATANE BOXERS PARTICIPATE Before a large crowd of local and outside boxing enthusiasts, the Te Puke Boxing Association staged a very successful tournament in the Capitol Theatre recently. The attendance was about the same as at the first tournament. It may be said that the fighting on the night was of a higher class than that seen at the first tournament, and the boxers themselves seemed to be better matched. The evening went ofl with little delay, and slight hitch in the beginning and a few minutes prior to the big bout of the evening, being the only time lost. Once again the Tauranga Club kindly loaned their ring and gear.

A number of boys from Whakatane and the district participated. • A full report of the tournament is as follows: The first bout was a Paper-weight contest between V. Plank (5.3) of Edgecumbe and T. Carson (5.6) of Tauranga, and was of three 1-min-ute rounds. In the first round Carson moved in and gained points. Both lads made wild attempts during the fight, ’ but however, Carson showed better boxing ability. In the final round the lads went hard at each

other, and at the conclusion the decision was given as a draw. Bout two was a Light-weight contest between P. Johnson (7.7), of Tauranga, and K. Crawford (7.4) of Mount Maunganui, the bout consisting of three 2-minute rounds. In the first, round Crawford Doxed scientifically and landed a series of hard punches. Johnson seemed more content to defend in this round, and let Crawford use up his energy. In the second round, however, Johnson showed his worth and plastered Crawford on many occasions and he was on top up till then. The final round saw both lads landing punishing blows. Johnson was given the decision.

In the third bout between J. Baty (9.12) of Whalcatane, and J. Marsh (9.12) of Tauranga, the crowd saw a fine example of a hard left from Baty which had Marsh groggy, and with a fine upper-cut he sent Marsh to the floor, to win his bout in the first round. Marsh was carried out of the ring and St. John men had to attend' to him for some time before he came round.

Bout four, of three 2-minute rounds, between M. Crawford (8.8) of Mount Maunganui and C. Curtis (8.10) of Opotiki, was undoubtedly the most interesting, spectacular and brightest bout of the evening. This was a Light-weight contest. Right from the commencement both boys did their best, with Curtis being perhaps the more aggressive, but Crawford kept him away with a nicely timed left. In the second round Crawford went in and both lads gave a fine exhibition of hard hitting. In the final round Crawford made most of the attacking, but Curtis landed his share of lefts and rights. In the latter stages, however, both boys seemed to be very tired and neither had the energy to land a telling blow. The result was a draw, a very popular decision for a wonderful exhibition from these two lads. The fifth bout was a Middleweight contest of three 2-minute rounds between T. Fugle (11.8) of Te Puke, and T. Patterson (11.8) of Whakatane. Patterson attacked from the start and landed some good lefts. Fugle, however, had a good defence and did not take all the punishment. Early in the second round Patterson landed an upper-cut which sent Fugle to the mat, and Patterson held the lead throughout. In the final round Patterson used a good left, and Fugle could not protect himself. However, Fugle put up a good showing and showed a marked improvement in his boxing. Patterson won the decision.

The sixth bout saw W. Wallace (10.10) of Auckland, and T. Connor (10.7) of Opotiki, matched in a Welterweight contest of three 2-minute rounds. The first round opened with fast movement from Wallace who sent Connor through the ropes. He had a terrific right which in the first round sent Connor to the floor twice and through the ropes once. Connor could not cover those weighty punches, and in the later stages of the second round Wallace was given the decision, Conner being obviously “out on his feet.”

The seventh bout was a Bantamweight fight between K. Baty, of Mt. Maunganui and W. Baikie, also of the Mount. Baty more than held his own in the first round with hard lefts. But Baikie, however, had a fair defence. Baty showed more experience and soon found his opponent’s weak points. In the second round these boxers exchanged telling punches and appeared to “crack even” in this round. The last round saw Baty again take the initiative when he dealt two upper-cuts and a straight left, it taking Baikie some time to recover from these punches. The latter got a couple of hard lefts in just as the gong went, but Baty was awarded the decision.

Bout eight was a Welter-weight contest of three 2-minute rounds, between R. Hendrickson (10.1) of Edgecumbe and W. Francis (10.5) of Whakatane. Hendrickson made a good connection with a hard right in the first round and he showed good defence. Francis had the advantage of a longer reach than his opponent. In the second round Hendrickson dealt a series of lefts, but Francis rallied round to send Hendrickson through the ropes with a hard right. The last round saw both fighters dealing out punishing blows and it was a tough duel with both showing ring science. Francis seemed to gain a slight advantage in the finish and he was given the benefit of the doubt.

The ninth round was a bright exhibition between two well trained boxers in E. Wallace (9.8) of Auckland, and W. Penny (9.9.) of Whakatane. It was a bout between two matched lads. Penny appeared to overwhelm Wallace with a hard

right and Wallace was unable to find a defence. Penny, however, fended Wallace off with a well timed left. In the second round Penny followed up his first round exhibition for a while, but Wallace by now was protecting himself better and sent Penny around the ring with a series of hard punches. The final round was a duel in which both boxers showed their ability and a draw was a popular decision.

Another good exhibition was put up by S. Ellery (12.10) of Katikati, and J. Raymond (13st) of Mount Maunganui, in a Heavy-weight contest of three 2-minute rounds. Ellery seemed equally at home with lefts, fights and a variety of strokes, where as Raymond relied more on his hard hitting left. Ellery was more capable of combating Raymond’s tactics than Jim Boyd was in the last tournament, and he met a boxer more of a match. Ellery was a little taller and had an advantage in his reach. The last was very exciting as Ellery chased Raymond round the ring with a large variety of punches and giving Raymond few chances of landing any telling shots. Ellery was declared the winner.

The eleventh round was between A. Mortimer (11.3) of Auckland, and N. Crawford (11.4) of Katikati, in a Middle-weight contest. Mortimer appeared to gain most points in the first round with all-round punches, but Crawford took his punishment in good style. In the second round both fighters showed good boxing brains, but as the final round began Crawford plastered Mortimer and never gave the latter any chance to deal out any punishment. Crawford was given the decision. The big bout of the evening was of four two-minute rounds, between Vic Gummer (8.13) of Auckland, and Auckland Feather-weight champion, and Neville Hastings (8.6) of Mount Maunganui, present holddr of the Auckland Bantamweight championship. This was a return bout.

There was considerable speculation as to the outcome of this second meeting in Te Puke, as to whether Gummer could avenge his previous defeat by Hastings. Both fighters were applauded as they entered the ring, but Hastings received boisterous cheering from his many Mount and district supporters during the bout.

In the first round Gummer ' appeared to get slightly the better of Hastings. The second round was much faster, but Hastings was now coming into his own form. He began to take the toll with his hard hitting rights, lefts and upper-cuts with body blows very prevalent. He sent Gummer to the mat during one of these series of hard exchanges. The third round was quieter and Gummer appeared to be showing the signs of being extended. This round and the fourth saw Hastings going in and landing beautiful blows to the head and body. Gummer connected with an occasional blow, but never looked like beating Hastings. Hastings was given loud applause as his hand was raised, and both left the ring amid much cheering.