IMPRESSIVE DEBUT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 8, 2 October 1937, Page 18

IMPRESSIVE DEBUT

australian boxers against english stars Fully 16,000 excited Scots at Shawfields Ground, Glasgow, on August 20, cheered two Australian boxers— Roy Underwood when he lost a gallant battle to that dour little Scot flyweight champion, Benny Lynch; and Jimmy Purcell, who decisively outpointed the Scot, Jake Kilrain, British welterwcight champioix. When the programme was finished the crowd refused to leave the arena until the Australians were brought back in the ring. When they returned they received a further ovation. Benny Lynch, on the admission of liiw trainer, fitter than he has been for his last four. fights, was extended early by the Sydney boy. Underwood, fighting like a man inspired, held the first round even, won the second, fought the third square, lost' the fourth well, the fifth by a narrow margin; and then came the end. In a rally in the third round Under-, wood badly damaged his right hand. This was noticeable in the fight; and, almost at the end of the sixth round,

the Australian's trainer, Tom Hurst, skied the towel and explained to the referee that he didn't propose to allow Underwood to continue to fight a champion when he only had one hand to do so. t Underwood's great battle agaxnst the champion brought roars of appreciation from the crowd, and cries of "Go on, little Digger," drowned the cheers for Lynch. After Lynch had left the ring in victory, the announcer spoke through the "mike" and Underwood was given an appreciative roar — great balm for his defeat. On his way out of the ring Underwood shook the hands of many wellwishers, using his left, save twice— when Sir Harry Lauder, in full Highland rig, left his seat at the ringside, and for a lady in evening dress. Led From the Start. Purcell gave the British welter champion the shock of his life when he nearly floored him with left hooks early in the fight, and finished the battle having «Kilrain hanging on ^ to avoid the knock-out. His slashxng attack, his clean-cut punching, and his fierce two-handed battling in close, soon gained for Purcell the admiration of Kilraln's backers, whp finished up adding their vocal chorus to that of the Purcell faction. Purcell watched the fight from the ringside and dashed back to the dressing room to change. Five minutes later he was back, and in five minutes he had pelted the British welterweight champion, Jake Kilrain, with sufficient left hooks, or swmgS, to bring roars from the ringsiders and sighs of concern from Kilrain's supP°Jimmy;, in that round, twice half dropped Kilrain with left rips to the body. When Tom Hurst has finally coached Jimmy to hit wth the knuckle part of his left glove.he'? going to spill -em all. Sufficient that he rocked the champion three times and finished the rouqd looking a 10 to 1 on favourite , for the decision. . The Austrr lian made no mistake m the last round. He came o.ut with a smile playing round his gory Ups, and into a smashing, slashing last round attack, giving everything he had to put Kilrain on the .floor. Plam and fancy holding saved Kilrain, and then, almost on the bell, Purcell got a shot at his opponent's jaw, and over he went for a "no count." Tlie bell and the issue never in doubt, Purcell the winner.