MURPHY TO CONSIDER RETIRING FROM BOXING

Chronicle (Levin), 1 March 1947, Page 4

MURPHY TO CONSIDER RETIRING FROM BOXING

Les. M.

Murphy)

: . nf" WILL NOT MAKE HA'STY DECISION

(Special— From

WELLINGTON, Friday. ' Acting on medical .advice Bos Marphy, the pride of the New Zealand boxing ring, informed me, when I visited 'him at Lower Hutt City ffospltal last njght, that he was seriously considering retiring from the ring. The doctor advisea him not tp rpturn to the ring for at least nine months as further injury to the nose in its present stat'e would more than likely impgir his health. He said it was hard to listen to the doctor's advice, "but I suppose I must aqcept it for piy own good." "As you know I love boxing and it hurts me to think that I might have to give it up for good," he said. "However, I do not intenc| making a hasty decision, even though my manager -and close advisers are persistent in their views that I turn it in. I will wait the advice of the specialist who i§ to examine the nose later in the week. I am conscious of the fact that I will be obliged to stay away frqm the game for a long period, but there- are many boxers whp have come back after receiving broken noses and reggined their former places in the game. Advice is heavily against my again entering the ring in a professional contest, but — well, I will consider the matter later."

Chance Ruined in First Round He said that Jpnes' right, which eqnnccted pn the" point in the firsi round, ruined whatever chance he held, as from then on he was more or less dazed for the rest of the contest. No matter how hard he tried he could not clear his head. The nose injury was also a big handicap. jQnes, Jie said, was fasfc and quick .in followipg up and his two-fisted punches to the head. carried weight. When asked why he" did not follow up with a second ieft to the body when he had Jones rocking in the second round, the ohly reply received was that, "J did not realise that that puncn was as loaded as Jones said it was, .and then again, you must not forget that I was still sufferipg from the upnencut I received in the prQvi' us round." He said that several othr ers asked the same question. He now realises that he did let a good chance go by. Realised Jone$ Cleyepnpss He said that Jones carried a powerful punch in both hands and was exceptionally clever in his footwork. Though dazed he realised he was up against the cleverest and fastest boxer he had yet experienced, hence his precaution in ngt standing off and trying to box a man who also possessed a longer reach. It would have been more disastrous. ' When t.old what Jones had said about liking to take him in charge for say six months and teaching him what he lacked — two-fisted punching and smarter footwork — Bos smiled, but would make no comment. It is understood that Bos Murphy will shortly join the matrimonial ranks.