Boxing

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 16, 25 July 1949, Page 5

Boxing

SAN LONDON WINS STAR BOUT AT WHAKATANE BOXING TOURNAMENT Thought there were no visitors from outside the Bay of Plenty to take part in the Whakatane Boxing Association’s tournament at. the Winter Show Building on Saturday night, it turned out to be one of the best staged here in recent years. There was little top class talent billed, but the boys were well matched, and in nearly all cases willing battlers. lan London, of Tauranga, at 10 stone won the star bout of the evening against Pat Knight, Rotorua, 10.2, after four hard-fought rounds. Knight, • who started well, faded in the second round when he dropped his previously sound defence, tried to slug it out with looping swings against a straight hitter with a long reach. Injudicious use of the ropes in the last two rounds made him fairly easy., meat for London’s long left in a slogging match that brought roars of applause from the crowd. The announcement that Knight had won the trophy for the gamest loser on the night was enthusiastically received.

The trophy for the most scientific boxer in the tournament went to lan McKenzie, of Whakatane, and R. Cunningham, Rotorua, won the secretary’s special trophy. Judges were Messrs N. Semmens and E. Nichol, and referees Messrs A. Hogg, Whakatane, and Les Palmer, Rotorua. Out of condition and in wide open retreat most of the way, K. Dines (Whakatane) list was no match for A. Dunsmore (Matata) 11.1 £ who worked hard through three rounds to win a well deserved points decision. R. Kelly (Edgeucmbe) 10.13 won on a foul in the third, round from C. O’Rourke (Whakatane) 10.5 who, though outclassed as a boxer,, showed up as a rugged fighter. Greater experience, a longer reach and consistent agressiveness, gave B. Candy (Rotorua) 10.5 a close decision over J. Lowe (Whakatane) 11.0.Though the lighter, J. Hoffman (Rotorua) 8.11.- proved himself a far better boxer than game D. Kepa (Matata) 8.7, who lasted three rounds by sheer stamina. Hoffman won a well-deserved points decision. R. Meir (Taneatua) 7,92- and R. Kinley (Matata) 7.21- fought to a draw in a fast, but not particularly exciting bout. With a win each in- two previous meetings, A. Wright (Mt Maunganuh) 7.2 and lan McKenzie (Whakatane) 7.5 sailed into each other with no punches pulled, Wright winning a close points decision with a'great finish in the final round. More aggressive than R. Kepa (Matata) 8.10, B. Aislabie (Rotorua) 8.2 collected a points decision from an opponent who gave the impression he could have done better.

R. Zinsli (Whakatane) 5.3 and G. Cunningham - (Rotorua) 5.11 fought an action-packed three rounds for a popular drawn decision. i

Both fast, hard hitters M. Cunningham (Rotorua) 6.71- and N. Raureti (Matata) 6.8£- put .on a crowdpleasing three rounds, with the latter a shade better on points at the finish.

T. Ellingham (Mt Maunganui) 11.9 knocked out G. Thompson (Whakatane) 12.8 in the first round of a scheduled three rounds.

Advantages in height, reach and weight gave B. Goodson (Rotorua) 9.11 the verdict over M. Riddell (Matata) 9.42-. J. Stevenson (Ohope) 9.8 disposed of R. Gregory (Rotorua) 9.10 in the first li minutes, referee A. Hogg stopping the slaughter after Gregory had hit the canvas twice and was obviously unable to carry on. Non-Decision Bouts ? Jim Harland v Bob Ruffles, Colin Harland v Ross Morgan, Mick Orchard v Tub Stewart, Neville Thomas v Phil Lynds, Hugh Francis v Rodney Hxarndell.