Boxing COOPER BEATS CHRISTENSEN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28260, 24 April 1957, Page 10

Boxing COOPER BEATS CHRISTENSEN

Accident Ends Bout

The professional welter-weight boxing contest in the Civic Theatre last evening ended in the fourth round, in unusual and .unfortunate circumstances. Johnny Cooper, of Australia, met Ulf Christensen, of Wellington. Midway through the fourth round Cooper ducked beneath an attack by Christensen and was struck by one of Christensen’s knees. A huge gash from which blood spurted swiftly was opened above Cooper’s left eye, and he was not allowed to continue. As he was ahead on points to that stage, he was awarded the bout.

It .was a most disappointing situation for the Canterbury Boxing Association’s new committee, which had arranged a first-class programme. An almost full house enjoyed six excellent preliminary bouts, and the professional contest began on a very high plane, with every promise of becoming a really memorable encounter. Cooper— although his narrow failure to make the weight limit cost him a £2O forfeit—need have no regrets about the bout. He showed undoubted ability and should be a good draw when he fights in Christchurch again. Cooper, at lOst 81b, was two and a half pounds heavier than Christensen, but he was at a disadvantage in reach. The bout began with unusual briskness, with Christensen doing most of the leading but Cooper counterpunchingl efficiently. Christensen appeared- to have the harder punch, but in the few rounds of the fight did not concentrate on body blows as much as he has done in some of his bouts. He kept moving in, but in the second round Cooper earned applause for the smooth and effortless manner in which he moved inside Christensen’s gloves and counterattacked.

Cooper continued to have just . a shade the better of the fight in 1 the third round, in which the • willing pace of the first two was • maintained, and he scored quite ; regularly with stright lefts. . Christensen was confident, how- ■ ever and quick-moving, and the mishap in the fourth round cut : short an excellent display of boxing. Amateur Bouts Perhaps the most interesting of the amateur bouts was that in which H. Hunter, an 18-year-old who left Scotland for New Zealand about two years ago, beat R. Williams, one of a family of proficient Christchurch boxers. Hunter, neatly' built, well balanced, ’ and competent, has a growing reputation as an amateur, and he , will almost certainly be asked to i fight again soon. He gave a very fine display, but only just beat ! Williams on points. Williams fought most of the bout southpaw, although he reconciled his stance to the situation on occasions. His open stance appeared to invite punishment, but he was an elusive target, and his style appeared to unsettle Hunter in the first round or two. Williams looked too strong to be worried by Hunter’s best punches, but he was half-knocked and half-slipped down in the third round. Williams held on in the clinches rather often, but his swift ‘movement and occasional hard punching left him little behind Hunter at the start of the fourth round. In this round he went after Hunter, who seemed unwise to mix it as he did, but Hunter connected with clean blows more frequently than his opponent and won a narrow decision. There was a particularly close fly«weight contest between K. Newsome and L. Nye, which also produced some excellent boxing. Newsome, a little quicker to the punch, and better able to use his right as well as an efficient straight left, established a useful lead in the first two rounds. He tired in the final round, in which Nye made the pace a furious one, but Nye’s run came a little too late to affect the decision. The feather-weight bout between E. Williams and D. Green did not produce much straight or clean punching, but there was tremendous activity, and it was another very hard fought and close bout. Green was cool under pressure, but both boxers missed more frequently than they scored. Green was knocked down in the fourth round, but put in a tremendous finish to take the decision. Although R.' Tau, in a light welter-weight bout, did not extend K. Pope, sufficient was seen : of Pope, in his first tournament bout, to suggest he has a future in boxing. Calm and purposeful, quite lacking in the mannerisms which mark some less capable ’ performers, he boxed correctly • and hit hard. Before the professional bout the ! Canterbury Boxing Association 1 made a presentation to its former - president, Mr E. Percival. The ’ presentation was made by the new 1 president, Mr M. Parr. Results of 1 the amateur bouts were:— Flyweight: K. Newsome (St. Anne’s) beat L. Nye (Celtic) on points. Featherweight: D. Green (Crichton Cobbers) beat E. Williams (City) on points. Catchweight: T. Mulcare (St. . Anne’s) beat I. Armstrong (Rangi- ' ora) on points. . Welterweight: K. Pope (City) beat R. Tau (Rangiora) on a , technical knock-out in the second round; T.- Newsome (St. Anne’a) ‘ beat D. Herrett (Crichton Cob- . bers) on points: H. Hunter (Kaia- s poi) beat R. Williams (City) on ' points. Lightweight: J. Williams (City) beat J. Maunsell (St. ‘ Anne’s) on points.