MURPHY WINS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 8

MURPHY WINS.

BOXING AT THE TOWN HALL.

' KEYS OUTPOINTED.

'An. interesting bill of faro was provided by tho .Wellington Boxing Association at the Town Hall last night-, and on prospects and actual results a hotter attendance could reasonably have been expected. There were only about 2000 people to watch tho contests. The principal item of the evening was a lifteen-round trial between Hock Keys (Sydney) and Denny Murphy (Wellington). The former has appeared here on two previous occasions, and by his record, extending over fifteen years, he is considered one of the cleverest light- ! .weights in the Southern Hemisphere. Murphy, though ho belongs to this city, had only previously made one professional appearance ill a local ring. This was when he lost to Lyn. Truscott,, of Sydney. For some considerable timo Murphy had been entitled to claim the welter championship of New Zealand, and he recently captured the middleweight title by defeating B. Ireland, at Masterton. This was, indeed, a unique record for a boxer, who was last night pitted against Keys at the light-weight limit. The local man was certain to bo favourite, the only question being as to whether ho could safely train down to the weight without . ruining his ■chances. All doubts on this point wero set at rest as soon as ho appeared in the ring, for he looked in splendid-con-dition.

Murpliy always was a slow beginner, and last night ho had points to make up on tho first four rounds. Ho proved equal to tho 'task, and in the last few rounds ho piled up'the points so thick as to give him victory by a comfortable margin. Keys, however, gave a display or which any boxer might proud, and his defensive work, side-stepping, back-moving, ducking, and countering, showed plainly that the veteran is losing no tiling of his skill. It was Murphy's persistent straight left that principally bothered Keys. In the early stages of the contest, ho'kept walking, round from it, but varied his tactics later on, with the Tesult that he frequently met Murphy's left. Such excellent condition, however, was the Australian in that ho actually had the better of tho ninth round, and quite held his own in the tenth and the twelfth. But the last three rounds were so much in favour of Murphy that Mr. T. Sampson had "no difficulty in deciding upon the local man as t'ho winner. The Preliminaries. W. Oliver (Cross Creek), Bst. 21b. defeated T. Spearman (Wellington), Bst. 21b. on points in a three-round bout. Both boxers gave a clean exhibition) Spearman doing well in the first two rounds. In tho final round Oliver rushed, his man from tho sound of the gong and tho reach and height of the visitor proved too much for Spearman, who had to take quito a deal of punishment before time was called. Mr. Simpson's decision in favour of Oliver —tho only possible one—did not please a section of the crowd.

T. Weatherbupi (Wellington), • 9st. lib., proved too'goocb for W. Martin (Petone), 9st., at tho end of five twominute rounds, in which an absence of science was balanced by the presence of vigour.' The pace was fast in the opening round', Martin having, if anything, the' better of it. In tho second, round Weatherlrom showed a disposition to rest, and scarcely appeared • likely to finish tho bout, but in the next he did' liis share of the boxing, and the spirited work , that followed roused, the crowd's enthusiasm. Baqh boxer ; was ; down,,for a oouplo of-vsecond3'. in • r .this.y-oiuid', l For tho last couple of rounds, Weatherburn had all the better of tho contest,' though Martin's showing was a plucky one and eaimedi as much applause as his opponent's victory. ■W. Macfarlaino (Wellington), 9st. 91b., and 11. Thomas (Wellington), 9st. lll'b., were to boxthree 3-miniute rounds, but in actual faot they never, completed one. As soon as the first round opened) Macfarlane set out to hit his man as often as lie' couldj', and almost. every time he did hit Thomas, the latter went to the boards. The affair wa3 so hopelessly one-sided' that the refereee led Mactailano forward and declared him tho-Tvinner before the sound was through. The Bis Contest. Golden (for Keys) won the toss from Muir (for Murphy) and chose the corner that had seni? out two losers in the three amateur bouts. Mr. F. Gale announced that both men had weighed out at9st. 131b. The gong sounded and' hostilities, commenced. Tho first round was a.quiet ono, Keys having the better of what littlo argument .thero was.

In the second, round Keys early scored with a right to the head, _ and later feinted, with the left and missed with a right uppcrcut. Murphy then got points for a straight left to the face, and a spirited oxchange followed; Keys tried left and right uppercuts without success, and the men closed up to deliver sharp body blows. In a warm exchange towards tho close of the round Murpny appeared to do well. Without doubt, Keys had a lead in tho third round, and when at one stage Murphy was down on his knees tho crowd roared approval of the Australian, who was exhibiting his best form; Murphy warmed up in tho fourth round, and to Keys's right ho replied with short left jabs to, the face. Next lie swung his left in the direction of Keys's head, :hut only beat the air. A brief spell of sparring for position followed, and then Keys got home with his left and drew .blood from Murphy's lip. Matters were, fairly well balanced for tho remainder of tlie round. "Good boy, Denny," came from the crowd in the fifth round, for the local man did such good work as to just about wipe off the deficit of points resulting from the earlier stago of the proceeding^. The sixth round saw Keys come again. He used both hands to advantage, and troubled his opponent a good deal;. Both men were busy throughout the seventh round, which proved fairly even; Frequent jabs with that straight left saw Murphy puzzling Keys iii the eighth round. The Australian countered tho attack by dashing out his own left, but Murphy dudked neatly, and led back to Keys. ' The last-named was busy avoiding tho persistent left, when a. right swing caught him on tho jaw. The pace warmed right up till the end of. the round, Murphy improving his position a great deal. Though Murphy scored early in the ninth with a left to tho body and left to the jaw, ho had nono the better of the Tound. Keys missed a right uppercut, but ono of his right swings connected, and towards tho end ho was pommelling Murphy about tho body, and really . had the better of the three minutes. Matters became lively in tho tenth, but the Wind ended rather evenly.- Keys attacked hotly in tho noxt, but Murphy stood up to his task so well that Keys had to drop attack and fall back on defence. It was easily Murphy's round. The twelfth round was quieter and even, but after 'that the tide of battle went Murphy's way, ■ ■Without giving Murphy time, to think about matters, Keys tried a left uppercut at tho outset of tho _ thirteenth round, and this was tho signal r for a fierce exchange -between "the coniba.tiuifcs } Murphy having tho better of what work "was done, and finishing tho round with a good.lead. Keys opened vigorously again in the penultimate round, but- it was of no avail, for Murphy replied with equal vigour, and plainly rattled the Australian towards the Sound of the •gon'g. Tho concluding .round only served'to increase the lead already gained by Murphy, and tho referee's dcci- : sion in his. favour was received with cheers.