BOXING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 61, 5 December 1919, Page 9

BOXING

I'REN DEFEATS iIEENEY

A ONE-SIDED CONTEST

A bis .jreiit jn the local boxing world traa striked in the Town Hall last evenw 111 the shapo of a professional contest between "Tommy" Uren, middle una' welter-weight champion of Australia, and Jack Heeney, of Now Zealand, a middle-weight, The hall, stage, and ringside were" packed with an oudienco which throughout the evening gave evidenco of . both good-humour and patience, and not a single discoroant note of. partisaushiD could'bo detected. TJren took the mat at 10st. SJlb., uid Heeney at list. 21b.. hut never was the Australian's superiority in doubt. Ho is built on remarkably clean lines, . keen-faced, end litho, and in tho matter of footwork wonderfully active. Uren operated with coolness and speetf, and was never really extended. His victory was a foregone conclusion, and tho only wonder was that his opponent, li-ited out till- tho • ninth round. The boxing was • practically all confines to close quarters, in-fighting beiutr tho order of the evening. The niidienca were never swept of their feet «!' t for the simple fact that the contest was devoid of any open work and high-strung rallies. It was too onn-sia'ed. . The Australian's-clean boxing -was tho subject of favourable comment on all sides, as was also tho New Zealander's ability to take the punishment which naturally came his way. Uren gave taste of much clever work in evasion as well as attack, but the combat was wjged close up as a rule. Uren repeatedly notched • jabs and I°i 0 ," Zealander^s body,and some of his punches wore weighty. Thero was' -lot that snap to Hcenejn? movoments that was so conspicuous in all the Australian's work, anil his advantage in weight.and muscle cut- no ice against the finished exhibition of his opponent. With th 6 certainty of victory in sight, Uren seldom forcc'd matters, and then only for a second or tivo. Ho conceded to Hoenev every courtesy and was scrupulous in not exacting unnecessary punishment. The Contest Described.

Both-men were greeted with applause as they stepped into tho ring, and the »"®torof ceremonies, Mr. TV. G. Talbot, made the announcement thlit they had agreed upon a clean break, and on being Allowed to hold until ordered to.break, ■the opening rounds were all fought very close, with Heeney standing: up to his punishment well, and often assuming the ergressive, only to let himself in for a T rm u jePPering body blows. in the fifth round Uren commenced to force tho paeo a b'!t, and in ths closa ho delivered teJing blows—tho kidneys preferred. Ilneney stood up gamely to Ms late. More punishment was dealt out to Heeney in the opening stages 'of tho axth round, but about half through ho got at. least one telling.blow homo. Still remaining nnperturbably cool, the ins-" tralimi got'in somo elfective work in tho eovpntn round, and to the crowd it 6eemqd as if now all were over. Whenever Heeney who still led occasionally, aimed a well-directed blow, Uren, by" dint of nis last footwork, placed himself just beyond its range.' The eighth round saw uolli men mix it on several occasions, and hut for what feeined the kindly Latitude on tho Australian's part it would have gone muen harder with the New Zealander, who was visibly tiring. Tho ninth round was never comoleted. TJren rained in some hefty blows, one of which landed 011 Heeney's ear. Til's provctl his finish, as shortly afterwards his second . skyed tlii) towel." Mr. T. Tracey gnvo every satisfaction as referee. The Preliminaries.

Three amateur contests, each comprising four rounds of two minutes'duration, wore.staged as preliminaries. The first contest was a fly-weight match put on by James Leslie (6 stone); and C. Taylor (sst. 71b.). Both lads boxed gamely throughout the four founds, givin' nn d taking points,- but the odds were against Taylor on account of hi* opponent's superior weight, The latter was also very elfective in his body punches, nnd_ ill the last round he meted out punishment to Taylor, who obviously did not possess the-same staying power.'Both made it willing, however, and it was a pretty .match to watch. Tho\efcreo'B announcement that there was so very little difference between the. two boys that ho had deeded to call it a draw moved very popular with the crowd. Prom a spectacular viewpoint the lieht-weight combat which followed Paled into insignificance. The 'contestants were V. Dealey (list. 61b.) and E, Dixon (9st. 41b.). From the start Dealey forcea the Dfice, but ho fell away in the second round, and'at-the-end of tho third lie was showing sfons of wear. In the final Tound both were showing marked signs of fatigue, and were hitting out aimlessly and recklessly. The referee's decision, which was in favour of Deftley, was annlau'ded. ■ ■

In the welter-weight class R. ■ (lOst. 81b ) met A. M'Kinley (10st. 71b.). The contest was marred from ntnvt to finish by excessive wrestling. The referee was kent in a pefspi ration oodsing m between the contestants and forcing them to break. Ncale was accorded the referees verdict—another popular decision.

Mr. Allan Maxwell was referee of all three contests.