Australian Wins

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 155, 19 July 1937, Page 3

Australian Wins

HASTINGS BOXING McMahon ,0n Verge of Taking Knock-out SAVED BY FINAL GONG Staging a whirlwind finish, Billy Martin, of Australia, scored his second win over Jack McMahon, of Palmerston North, in their retuxn fight at the- Hastings Municipal Theatre on Satuxday night* when they fought under the aegis of the Hawke's Bay Boxing Association. The fight went the full ^distance, Martin securing the decision on points though he had McMahon on the verge of taking a knock-out as the gong went TJntil tlie final round, the boui lacked anything in the nature of the spectacular, and v though there was a f air amount of action in every round, there was little to make the crowd excited. The crowd ©ertainly appreciated the fact that it was McMahon who_ made the fight, and from start to finish he weaved in to his man, taking plenty of punishment, though none of it, until the final rally., was of a serious^ nature. His very ruggedness made Martin wary and the Australian at times had to back-move quickly and dance about the ring tb keep his distance. The decision aroused a section oi the crowd to express disapproval, but thero is not the slightest doubt that the ketter man won, though it was not until the final two or three rounds that he placed the issue beyond doubt, winding up with a great rally to have the Palmerstonian actually taking the count wh^a the final gong sounded. He was clearly the better boxer, with a good defenCe for straight blows, though on occasiona he appeared to leave a wide "gate" to entice his man into close quarters, and then dance out of reach without revealing and particular purpose other than to tantalise hie opponent. It was all so much wasted effort and detracted from the morit of his performance. The opening round saw McMahon (10.8) concentrate upon body punishment, Martin (10.7) _ early giving an exhibition his "daucing." They both produeed left swmgs, but without much effect. In* the second TOund Martin warmed up a little as McMahon shifted his elevation to the head and for a time there was some good long-range work, with Martin having the better of it. McMahon Busy. iieturning once again to liie in- ' lighting McMahon spent a busy time in the third pummelling at the Austraxian's body, but each time they broke Martin brought snappy lefts into uperation to the head. In the next session Martin was more aggressive, ind with lefts and rights he made McMahon meet him in the open, finishing o S the round with a good left eo the body and a snappy right swing chat shook McMahon. £> Th© Palmexetonian kept up his in-dii'l-out tactics, malung Martin bacainove. A good rap from a left hook stung MarUu into retaliation with both gloves, but as the iifth round' ended he took a hard. right jab near the solar plexus. Good footwork ny Martin in ihe sixth made McMahon mass a good deal with his swings, but for the most part the going' was nearly all at close quarters. As though preparing for the first exciting moment of the bout, the eeventh session opened tamely, McMahon seeking to get into his man, but the Australian kept on the move. A hard left hodk and a right swing to the head shook McMahon, and Martin proceeded to use both gloves, but McMahon met him halfway and forced his way in close. There was little to the eighth round and the ninth was also quiet, though Martin did produce three stingmg. lefts, and a few swings to keep his man at long range, but eventually McMahon did get his way and hammered awav at the body. Bout Livens Up. The next two rounds were very similar to the last two, the tenth being tame and the eleventh finding Martin a little more aggressive.. They finished tlxis round with a lively rally of good rights and lefts and then rested upon . their laurels for the twelf th round. Martin gave the thirteenth canto a good opening with two hard straight lefts, then proceeded to use both glovos to the head to shake the Palmerstonian, but the latter took it all and came back for more. The next was quiet, McMahon having his own way at making the fighting at close quarters and he took as good as he gave. The Australian came out smartly for the final set-to. A left rip to the body and a snappy right to the chin startefl McMahon on the slide. The Australian followed him with both gloves and he had McMahon on the back-move. A stinging right glanco to the chin .sent the Palmerstonian rceling against the ropea and another right dropped him to the mat for three seeonds. On rising Martin handed out another solid riglit and this time the referee was up t,o six with the count when tlio gong went. Preliminary Programmo The preliminary programmo opened with an intetesting exhibition bout between Kex Davis, 8.1 and Joe Mclvor 8.13. ' H. Mclvor (Hastings) 9.2 aefeated H. Pearson (Manawatu) 9.0 on points uver threo rounds. It was a splendid rtontcst with plenty of action in every round. The visitor had the better of ihiniis in tho early etagos and, was tho superior boxer but the more ruggcd Ilalxting of Mclvor told its tale and Ihe local man finished op (op after an intercsting bout. A. Kitt (Hastings) 10.5 defealed J. Davis (Hastings) lO.'l on points over six rounds. Starfhig o(T wilh plenty of Iieavy body punching Kitt took a uasty jolt with a stinging right cross in the second round but closed in on his man. In the fourth Kitt deflnitely scored on points, his hitting being cleaner and jDavis was angling for a short cut. In

ihe fifth session Ihe paeo was hot with both stopping rights and lefts, Kitt coming out oti top to have his man showing signs of distress. IIo followed this up in (he final round and gave Davis tio poare to. scoro a surprisingly casy win on points. The officials were as follow: — Referee, Mr J. Steevens; judges, Messrs P. Shadbolt and Forbes McHardy; aninouncer, Mr D. M. Campbell.