BOXING LOCAL LADS MAKE GOOD IN CHRISTCHURCH

Grey River Argus, 3 June 1948, Page 6

BOXING LOCAL LADS MAKE GOOD IN CHRISTCHURCH

Greymouth boxers who are making a name for themselves in Christchurch as members of the Buller representative boxing team are K. Martini and J. Porter.

A report from Canterbury states that at the recent amateur tournament Porter gained a points decision after a good exhibition of fast clever boxing’ in which he showed speed and good timing with a straight left which was followed by a right, cross that carried power. Porter, who has done much of his boxing at Greymouth, and who performed well at the last Dominion championships, defeated the New Zealand featherweight champion, K. Murffitt, of Christchurch, in a special six-round bout. One of the best amateur bouts seen in Christchurch for a long time was between K. Martini or Westport and formerly of Runanga, and J. Grant (Canterbury). Both boxers showed a willingness to exchange punches and while the hitting was fast and hard both men showed splendid defence in clever evasion and in taking blows on the gloves. Martini appeared to hold a slight advantage at the end of the third round, but in the fourth session the younger and stronger Grant piled up points that gained him the verdict. The decision, a very narrow one, met with a slightly mixed reception. Canterbury w'on five matches to three won by Buller, but the visitors were described as being unlucky in a number of bouts, some decisions against them meeting with mixed receptions. ___ '