HEENEY A WINNER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20112, 5 December 1939, Page 10

HEENEY A WINNER

W. LITTLE OUTCLASSED OUTSTANDING AMATEURS LAST NIGHT’S BOUTS AUCKLANDERS WIN ONE Confirming the decision of the judges at the national amateur championships, Darcy Heeney last night again defeated W. Little, Auckland, who was his chief rival for the welter title at Invercargill. It was a magnificent fight, and would have been worth while as the main bout on any boxing programme. The programme was full of action, and the crowd never had a moment's boredom. .A lively opener for the amateur programme was provided by P. Thomson and J. Kay, the first-mentioned at 9.2 being half a stone the heavier, but a bit shorter in the reach. Kay made good play with both hands to the head in the opening round, and had rather the better of the points, though he gave ground before Thomson’s forcing tactics. In the second round he took a full share of the initiative, however, and lie was a clear leader on points when they started on the last round, Thomson fought hard to overtake his opponent's lead in the last, but walked into one straight left after another, and the issue was never in doubt. Kay scored a good win in a popular fight, A complete stranger to the public ring, J. Manuel, 11.2, met R. Warner, 11.0, in a whirlwind haymaking riot that included shoulder-charges, dives through the ropes, and one mutual stumble in which both boys went down to the canvas. The first round was a thriller for* the crowd, and just on the gong Warner was half through the ropes, taking swings from Manuel, who punched him down outside the ring just as the round ended. The crowd were thoroughly enjoying things in the second round when the Maori, Manuel, put. Warner down again, and in his excitement swung a punch at him while he was still on all-fours. The referee promptly disqualified him, much to the disappointment of the spectators. A special four-round bout, between J. McAlpine, Auckland, 8.12, and T. Baty, Gisborne, 9.1, opened quietly, with Baty steadily working into his opponent, who fought cagily, yielding ground but connecting well with both Wands, and using a good defence. Baty’s best punches were to the body. Early in the second round McAlpine went down suddenly to a right cross, and was down for “nine,” coming up to meet Baty’s rush with nice straight lefts and then carried the fight to the local boy with a pretty right uppercut. Baty fought his way in again, however, and in the last minute MeAlpine went down again, once more staying down the full permissible period. Baty took some hard punches in the last few seconds, and McAlpine steadied him noticeably. The third round found McAlpine fairly fresh and full of fight, and he took the points up to the last 10 seconds, when Baty got him in a close rally and tumbled him again with a right jab. The gong stopped the count, and when McAlpine came out for the final round he he was slow but still very willing. Twice more he was down for the count of nine, and Baty, with the fight well won, refrained from pressing for the final knock-out, which he could have registered without trouble. McAlpine received a good hand for his game showing and clever boxing against a tougher and harder-hitting rival. Auckland Scores a Victory i The second inter-district bout, between H. Robertson, Auckland, and R. Hadwen, Gisborne, both 10.12, looked like giving the northern team ‘evens,” judging by the first round. Robertson carried the fight to Hadwen, showing speed and placing his blows well, Hadwen’s essays being slower and telegraphed in advance, though he was by no means outclassed. Robertson was the better infighter, as he demonstrated in the second round, but Hadwen swung some rights and lefts to the head which slowed the Aucklander for a time. He came on strongly for the last round, though, and the promise of the first round was realised when the judges and referee gave Robertson a unanimous decision. Finalists in the welterweight championship at Invercargill in September, W. Little, Auckland, and D. Heeney, Gisborne, met for the second time in a special four-round bout which closed the amateur programme. The weights were even, 9.9, 'but Little had important advantages in height and reach. Heeney made light of these in the opening round and carried the fight right to him all the way, pinning Little in a corner and registering freely to the head with both hands. Little came out fast for the second, tried to overbear Heeney in close lighting on the ropes, and found he had caught a Tartar. Heeney laid his shoulder back on the top rope and slammed away with both hands, eventually forcing Little away and then following him across the ring to drop him with a hard right over the heart. Li title was up quickly, but for the rest of the round he lay on his opponent and waited for the gong.

The third was a repetition of the first, with Heeney hitting cleaner and constantly anticipating Little’s leads. The Gisborne boy was a street ahead on points as they entered on the final round, and everything he did in the fourth confirmed the impression that he could not possibly lose. At the finish he was hitting Little just as often as he could get the Aucklander lined up, and Little was completely outclassed.

It was the best display Heeney has given in the Gisborne ring to date, and his win was as deserved as it was popular. The final amateur bout of the evening, between D. Callaghan. 9.10, and J. Blanc, 10.0, was an anti-climax, for though both were very willing, thenstyles were too dissimilar to provide a real match. Blanc was long and reachy, but Callaghan got inside his guard in most of the exchanges and never seemed to be troubled by any of Blanc’s blows. Blane made a game showing, but he has not yet advanced to Callaghan’s class. Mr. R. Blackwell refereed the amateur bouts.