Kevin Barry boxes to impressive victory

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 3

Kevin Barry boxes to impressive victory

By

JOE HARNETT

Kevin Barry, the pride of Canterbury boxing, was too powerful and was an easy winner over the highly-rated Aucklander John Gillespie in the main bout of the Eric Pocock memorial tournament at the Caledonian Hail yesterday afternoon.

In the first round Barry used his long straight left punch to build up a narrow lead, but was several times caught with telling straight right punches to the solar plexus by the smooth-mov-ing Gillespie.

In round two Gillespie hustled Barry from the outset and the tall Canterbury man forsook his points-win-ning left punch for half the round and allowed the Auck-

lander to make up some of the lost points.

Barry settled down however and regained ascendency. Round three was all Barry’s and twice he had Gillespie reeling with crashing right-cross pucnhes to the head. Barry improves with every fight and it should not be long before he wins national laurels.

In another bout, organised by the Canterbury Boxing Association, Paul Graham, of Barry’s Gym, continued his winning way by comfortably outpointing nuggety Colin Moss of Timaru.

Graham bases his fighting on a nifty straight left punch, close defence and splendid evasive footwork. Brian Witheridge, also from Barry’s Gym, impressed

with his hard left jab and his ability to follow up with a solid right cross punch to the head in his winning performance against Dick Fahey of Bell’s Gym.

Fahey, a rather wild puncher, was not easily beaten and fought with grit and courage, particularly in the last round when he had Witherridge backpedalling constantly.

In a willing battle, stylish John McKeown of Nelson narrowly outpointed Crichton Cobbers’ Les Gallop. This bout was notable for the excellent punch delivery of McKeown, and the tenacious fighting qualities of Gallop. Clive Bishop, a popular member of the Crichton Cobber’s club, took the fight to his opponent Kirk Robin-

son of Timaru in his relentless style and by dint of this and his ample boxing ability won the fight unanimously. ’ Robinson fought well but was short of experience to match a fighter of Bishop’s ability. Other results: Shane Everest (Barry's) beat Wayne Jones (C.C.C.); Garry McCaw (Fidows) beat Warren Gillespie (Nelson); Brent Davis (C.C.C.) beat Kevin Rickerby (R.W.M.C.); Peter: Freeman (W.W.M.C.) beat! Brendon Boyd (Barrys); Noel: Clayton (Nelson) beat An-' drew Wallace (Ashburton);! Craig Keeland (W.W.M.C.): beat Steven Wills (Timaru).

The judges were Messrs H. Lloyd, E. Platts, H. May and D. Wilson. The referees were Messrs May, Wilson and M. V. Drury.