HEGARTY WINS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1547, 17 September 1912, Page 6

HEGARTY WINS.

SPLENDID BOXING CONTEST. . CLEVER FEATHERS. THREE GOOD AMATEUR BOUTS. Seldom has a better nll-round boxing entertainment been teen in Wellington than that which the "Wellington Boxing Association' provided v to a crowded , house ut the Opera House last evening. There was not a vacant space in the theatre, and, among .those present were the Hon. W. Frascr, and a number of prominent sportsmen. Before tho amateur contests commenced, the association's president (Dr. A. W. Izard) introduced "Denny" Murphy, of "Wellington, and "Lcn."' Truseott, of Australia, who have been matched for the welter-weight championship of the Dominion on October 4 next. Both -boxers were given a good reception. ■

' The boxing which' followed, was spirited and'interesting.' Singularly enough,' the losers of two of the amateur bouts Were counted out .in the second 'round, while, in'the professional contest; Theo. Burns, of Sydney, called for, the, .towel after being sent to the boards several times by J. Hegarty, of Timani. The latter, who carried all before him -,in jtlie ' amateur ranks,'came to "Wellington with an unbeaten ;reco'rd, and; with the title of professional feather-weight '.champion' of tho Dominion. 'He easily maintained his | title and his reputation, and-registered as I clever a display as the most exacting of the' onlookers • could• have' desired. . His opponent, -Burns, is undoubtedly clever too, .butj-ho was.unable,:to 'withstand: the lightning-attack of'.the Timaruvia'n, and, against ..the .latter, he wa's.bertainly ill-ad- , vised in "adopting a ".crouch, when' it '.was apparent'that height and reach'.were his most •va'hia.ble assets: ■ Uegarly, who. is a fine stamp of. ..feather-weight, came-into the ring in-wonderful'condition, and.from the 'beginning to the end' of the seven rounds'he hold. the mastery and showed slackening of. speed; and no lack of skill! His whole, attention was ever centred on, bis. opponent, and if the latter had .lasted the contest out, Hegarty would undoubtedly most .surprised man in the house.'.'.The spectators will not' 'soon, forget the winner's clever .exhibition. , :',■.!. PRELIMINARIES.:. ■W, Martin (Patone), Bst. 131b., knocked out F. Leary (Wellington), Bst. 101b.;.in the second round. Tho .opening, round .saw ..both boxers .sparring for-an -opening, '.until 'half-way through, w:hen : Lea'ryV, i|>ft connected'.' Martini replied',. and.,his." left .'landed on Leary's .right eye. Towards the end of tho round Leary landcd.'left.and right effectively,' and'. both ' boxers retired to corners looking tired. Tho second round opened' vigorously, .with Martin hitting hard and-Leary .ducking'pleyerly. .'Martin wais presently down,.but c?ine up in.two seconds, and following up Leary hit him witli botli..hnnds almost . simultaneously. Leary "was then down for eight seconds, and had scarcely got; to his 'feet again when'ho was down and out to a right cross.. : It was a case of• strength prevailing oyer skill.

Welter T wetflhts.—J; Murphy (lOst. 91b.) knocks out G. Ryder (lOst. 51b.).

J. Murphy (provincial'." welter-weight champion) upheld his reputation by knocking out G. Ryder (Wellington). Tho weights'were given as: Murphy, lOst. 91b.; and Ryder, lOst. 51b. Thero was 'very little doing in tho first round, both men hitting freely without much effect. In the second, Murphy's early attack did not seem to affect. Ryder, who had the satisfaction of seeing Murphy down for a couple of seconds. On the latter regaining his feet, some hnrd slogging -ensued, and Murphy's superior skill enabled-him to follow a left lead with a right to the point, and Ryder ; hit the boards, to be counted out after a game encounter. Feather-weights.—W. Mack, Wellington (Bst. 101b.) beats C. Leary, provincial champion (Bst. 101b.). A feather-weight contest between C. Leary (provincial champion), Bst. 101b., and W. Mack (Wellington), Bst. 101b., proved to be a thrilling affair while it lasted., Mack is a'good-natured Cockney, who continues smiling when he. is hit, and Leary is a clever boxer, who persists in moving into the battle when his opponent desires to put him put. From the outset the pace- was fast, Mack landing a blow early in the round, and doing most of the leading, but Leary's defence was clever, and he evaded most of his opponent's best blows. In the second round Mack forced the pace, and as Leary was quite willing to'do his'share of the boxing the crowd roared with delight. It was a clever exhibition, but, by the end of the round, the contest had turned in Mack's favour. , Leary was -warned for some trifling breach' earjy in the last round, and a little later, when Mack was warned for using his elbow, a section of the crowd hooted.. Mack used both hands vigorously on his opponent right through the round, and though the latter stood up to his man .with, more than ordinary pluck, Mack- had the contest to- himself at the close, and the decision in his favour was received with lend applause. It was a capital' close'to three ' first-class amateur bouts.

'." PROFESSIONALS. ' J. Hegarty (Bst. 13J1b.) Dofeats T. Burns ■■ttst. 121b.) ; It was ten minutes past nine when the competitors', in the professional contest stepped into the ring. Bums was taller and finer than his New Zealand rival, who bore a muscular appearance and looked exceedingly well trained. Hegarty stepped into the corner, which had been sending out losers all thOjeveiiing, but this was not ah ill' omen. Indeed, tho corner commenced to recover its reputation from the first riund. The men. agreed to adhere to the "clean break" and were presently at work. Hegarty opened hostilities and was leading with his left most effectively, and Burns *t once commenced to colour round tho mouth arid in parts of his chest. The Australian, replied with little left taps, but Hegarty was mostly missing when they t arrived. Burns stepped back from a vicious right and Hegarty slipped to the ground, but was up again in time to plant his left glove on Burns's jaw and then the gong sounded. Hegarty's round. Thero was no wasting time in the second round. Hegarty followed up the attack and Bnrns, though busy in defence, found time to get his left home on Hegarty's face. The latter then drove the Sydney lad on to the ropes and landed left, right, left, in quick succession. Presently Hegarty slipped down again, and the "house" cheered as Burns assisted him up. Towards the end of the round Burns was on tho ropes again with both of Hegarty's fists whizzing about the region of his nose.

The third round was nearly all Hegarty again. Burns was ducking well and directing replies when the lime seemed opportune, but Hegarty's defence was too clever and his attack was too swift and vigorous -to allow Burns any sprfre time. The New Zealander was now well ahead on points.

Burns started early in {he fourth and directed a straight left with good effect, Hegarty's noso being hurt. Burns then proved elusive for a minute or more but Hegarty was fast and persistent and when he was not punching his opponent ahout the faeo he was pommelling him about the body: Burns wis in trouble on tlio ropes on one side, and when he got nut of that dilllcuUy Hegarty bailed him up again on the other side. Still forcing the pace in the fifth round, Hegarty mot with a warm reply from Bums, but the latter got all (he worst of the encounter and went down for eight seconds. Ifo came back gnniely, and there was another hot exchange, Hegarty having the Inst word us the gong sounded. Burns landed his left on Hegarty early in the sixth, but the latter came looking for more. Bum?, however, appeared to be holding him own until halfway through the round, when Hegarty again commenced a fierce onslaught with both hands, and shaking his opponent with a right-tipper-ciil, floored him with a straight left, 'the Australian Kas down for nizht seconds once more, bul) fought en fplendldly till the rouutl cloned. Ti» And owe in tha next round, Barns,

was- quite nnable to stem the furious attack, though he tried all the side-step-ping, ducking, and countering "at his command. Hegarty led with his substantial left, and then bringing a right upper-cut into play, again sent Burns to the boards, and the towel'came into the ring, AN AMERICAN MATCH. Ur TcloEra-Dh— I'ress Association-CoDrrisht Pittsburg, September 1">. At Springfield, Mn., Luther. M'Carthy beat .lames Barry in a six rounds' bout. Barry was knocked to the floor three times. HEAVY-WEIGHT. CHAMI'JONSHIP. New York,-September 'ls. News from Pueblo,- Colorado, states that Jim Flynu will claim the heavy-weight boxing championship on the retirement of Johnson. According to the "Referee,". M'Vea and Langford are to meet shortly at. Perth (W.A.), for the fifth time. The fight has been, arranged by.' Mr. Hugh M'lnt'osh. Both of tho men left Sydney for Perth last week. , • . ' -•