WINS WITH SPLIT EYE

Chronicle (Levin), 22 October 1946, Page 5

WINS WITH SPLIT EYE

Les. M

, Murpby)

larpfry Otftpotnts Kirkham VfelTOR- SHOWN TBE WAY

- (Bbdcfal— From

WELLIN GTO'lxr, This Day, Fi'ghting uheier great di-ffiGulty' after the seventh round, Bos" Mtfrp'hy g'a've' J!ack i5ii-khani (Aus-bia-lia y a ooxing lesson to go on andffitt ori poi'nts in the W elling-ton' rowri' - Mi l'ast nig'ht before . a' pack'ed1 house. ft was hot an- ihspir.rig. nghx, dlCie' in a degree to the Austra'hafi's erpuc'h an-d method of pinnfilg Murphy with' an upward' xift. ''Ihe iign't was- devoid of the g'reat inceres'C eVineed, principally uiiroUgh tffe methods employed by uhe.'visifor. The opening round- was more or less- easy, but in the s'econd session Mhrpli-y dropped' Kirkham with a doubie left to the head and a right j'ab1 tio' the plexus. The gong. saved the visitor. K'irkha-m came OUt fuil Of hghting in the third', but the- strai'ght lefts of Mu'rphy steadI'ed him. The loeal boy was using his left' to good- advantage and aithough Kirkham made sevefal dives in her got no further than the guard, each time working his blind ally rushes- to get into a clinch to save what was a "dirty" left upper^ cut. This went on until the sixth round, when coming out of hard InngHting Kirkham lifted his head suddenly to open an old wound aoove' Bos's left eye. This inspired tlie Austra'lian, for he came out full oi fight i'n the seventh, but the inspii'ation was short-lived, for Murphy fought back in his scien-ti-fic ability and his aggressor to the uunch eVery time. Fqam then on it was Murphy's fight. Iii trying to drive home two s'ond punches Kirkham sprawled on the rnat in two successive rounds, which certainly did not appeal to the judges. The decision in favour oi' Murphy was popular. Kirkham showed himself to be a game fighter, particularly at inri'ghting, and he, should go a long way With associa'tions in this particul'ar braiich oi boxing. Unfortunately he has a bad habit of using his nea'd when coming out oi a clinch; this will certainly not meet With the satisfaction of all vef GrGGS. On account of the eye injury, Murnhy might not be able to meet the wishes of the various associa-t-ions which hope to match him against overseas importations, as the injury necessitated severai sti-tches. Outside of this, Murphy showed no other sign of mark on his body. Referee Phin Stone made a rather serious error in not checking Kirkham's gloves in the last three rounds. No doubt it was accidental',. but each time he' came uo for those bounds the gloves were definitely wet. Fos noticed it, but being the good sport he is. he carried on contentedly. In the last round Kirkham rushed from his corner with water on his shoulders and chest. Still Murphy disregarded the breach and carried 011. This boy Murphy is as they class him — New Zealand's gentleman boxer.