Local Critic Comments On Saturday’s Boxing: Notes by “Southpaw”

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 96, 7 November 1947, Page 5

Local Critic Comments On Saturday’s Boxing: Notes by “Southpaw”

On Saturday night visiting boxers from Gisborne, Mangakino, Matamata, Rotorua, Tauranga, Opotiki and Katikati participated in what was probably one of the finest boxing tournaments ever conducted in the Bay of Plenty. The standard of boxing was first class, with D. Bruce, South Auckland Middle and Light Heavyweight Champion and W. Pemberton, South Auckland Lightweight Champion, being outstanding. Among the local boxers to shine was W. Penny who fought his best fight to date. This boy has improved considerably and if the form he showed on Saturday night is reproduced next season he is a sure title winner at the Bay of Plenty Championships, which the Whakatane Association is endeavouring to obtain. Following is a summary of the bouts held during the evening. B. Plank, Edgecumbe, 4.6, v J. Butcher, Whakatane, 4.11. In a close contest Butcher obtained the verdict by his superior guard and nimbleness.

Bill Baty, Edgecumbe, 9.11, G. Francis, Whakatane, 9.7: Francis with his longer reach received the verdict after quite a good fight. J. Odey, Tauranga, 11.0, K. Talbot, Opotiki, 11.9: Odey received his usual good reception from the crowd on entering the ring. He was announced as “killer” Odey but although receiving the verdict in a slugging match, he never at any stage looked a killer. S. Ellery, Katikati, 12.12, S. Hunt, Taneatua, 13.8: These big boys pleased the crowd with their slugging but for every one blow that landed six finished almost at Whale Island. Ellery won on points. Hunt is to be commended on his game showing. J. London, Tauranga, 9.4, J. Love, Whakatane, 9.8: London’s ability to use a straight left and his wider experience gained him a points decision.

J. Curtis, Opotiki, 7.6, C. Matchitt, Edgecumbe, 8.3: Won by Curtis on points, after a close fight. J. Maxwell, Whakatane, 11.4, P. Jacobsen, Whakatane, 11.6: Jacobsen was a last minute substitute for Terry Patterson who was scheduled to meet Maxwell and although only a novice boy gave an excellent account of himself. His hard hitting and rugged physique was a bit too much for Joe, who lacked nothing in gameness. Maxwell has been seen to much better advantage in previous bouts and the writer thinks that Joe would be well advised to call it a day. He is too game a boy and a sport to take the hard knocks he had to take on Saturday night. The referee stopped the fight in the 3rd round.

W. Pemberton, Mangakino, 9.4, R. Graham, Gisborne, 9.7: In a firstclass boxing contest it was refreshing to see two good and capable exponents of .the game after previous slugging bouts. These boys put on a first rate fight, clever at in-fight-ing, and punching cleanly and hard. Pemberton, South Auckland title holder, lost a close decision on points to a better lad on the night. J. McKenzie, Whakatane, 6.2, J. Cairns, Taneatua, 6.10: McKenzie, a keen boy was awarded the decision on points. Good footwork, also a straight left and ability to defend himself earned him . the decision. Cairns, a novice, will improve. T. Hona, Whakatane, 6.10, M. Hudson, Opotiki, 7.6: Hona showed an improvement on his previous fight and gained a close points decision. L. D’Almida, Opotiki, 11.6,- R. Wood, Whakatane, 12.0: This was quite a good contest. Both boys were wary of each other and a draw was the only possible verdict. G. Simons, Otakiri, 8.7, B. Williams, Opotiki, 8.0: The aggressiveness of Simons earned him a points decision.

W. Penny, Whakatane, 9.6, H. Webby, Rotorua, 10.0: Bill Penny revealed boxing talent of a highclass in the first two rounds. Punishing his opponent with hgrd rights to the head Penny had Webby very weary. The final round was a dingdong battle with Webby’s bigger weight telling on his opponent. But Penny received a well earned points decision, reversing that of the Rotorua bout.

C. Curtis, Opotiki, 8.6, A. Mclntyre, Gisborne, 8.6: Both boys mixed it willingly but Mclntyre’s experience won him the decision on points. Curtis is as game as they make them.

H. Candy, Whakatane, 11.0, B. Reilly, Mangakino, 11.10: Candy, a veteran of many amateur fights, reversed the decision which was against him at Rotorua. He fought really well against a much younger and tough opponent. Candy won on points.

J. Baty, Edgecumbe, 10.0, B. Digglemann, Katikati, 9.10: An excellent fight with Baty just shading his taller opponent by cieaner hitting. Decision to Baty.

N. Crawford, Katikati, 10.10, T. Connor. Opotiki, 10.3: Crawford, the Bay of Plenty title holder, met Connor at his best and Connor received a well earned points decision.

S. Cand , Whakatane, 13.0, J. Turnbull, Gisborne, 12.10: The boys sized each other up in 'the first

round taking no risks. In the 2nd round Turnbull rushed Candy and with a left and a right to the head had Candy in ’ difficulties. Candy arose at the count of eight but Turnbull seized his opportunity and with another hard left to the’head dropped Candy who was counted out. J. Hunt, Katikati, 11.4, R. Bruce,' Mate.maia, 11.0: This was probably the best fight of the night with both lads runehing cleanly and hard. Bruce apier-like left had Hunt bewildered many times but Hunt fought back in gallant style. Bruce was .ntly leading and piled up enough points to emerge a comfortable winner. Hunt received a special trophy awarded by Mrs C. Candy for the gamest loser. The Nicholls Cup for the most scientific boxer went to W. Pemberton who will hold this cup till' next year,