MURPHY OUTPOINTS STEVENS

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1946, Page 5

MURPHY OUTPOINTS STEVENS

-Press Association

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Oct. 7. A professional middleweight boxing contest between Bos Murpby, Wellington, 1.1st. lilb., and Roy Stevens, Auckland, Ilst. 51) b., staged at th# Auckland Town Hall tonight, was won by Murpliy on points at the end of ten rounds. Murphy was making his first appearance in Auckland as a professional. He impressed with the strength of liis left haud blows and also ability

to land scoring punches in in-fighting. ►Stevens, who was having liis first fight after a long absenee from the ring, gave a very game display and cleverly countered Murpliy 's attacks. The fight was for a purse of £500 but Stevens ' middleweight title was not at stake. Stevens won tlie first round but Murphy took at least five rounds, the remainder being very even. There were very few spectacular exchanges but tlie large attendance appreciated the elever taetics displayed by both contestauts. Murphy began to force the fight in the ninth round and in the last h.e landed several heavy punches to Stevens' body. Stevens went down for the co,unt of eight after a hard left rip and was again down for eight shortly afterwards. Stevens was hurt and clinching in a desii.erate effort to stay on his feet. The crowd was calliug for a knoclcout and it was certainly close. Murphy, however, was eontent to fight in tlie elinches instead of holding his opponent off and endeavouring to land a knockout blow. A f.eatur.e of the bout was the very clean spirit in which it was fought.