BOXER DIES AFTER BOUT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 9, 4 October 1937, Page 7

BOXER DIES AFTER BOUT

-Preaa Asaocfation.) '

Suffer s Haemorrhage in Knock-out BIow GREYMOUTH TRAGEDY

(Bj Telepraph-

, a. . GREYMOUTH, Last Night. . The lightweight professional boxing bout in the Town Hall on Saturday night, when Jacky Sharpe (Australia), 9.9, knocked out Stan Smith (Wellington), 9.11, a minute after the statt of fhe third of a 12-round contest, had a tragic outcome. Smith had to be carried out of the ring and was later taken to the Grey Hospital, where he died at, '6 o'clock on Sunday morning without, regaining eonsciousness. An operation was found to be impossible owing to Smith 's unconscious condition and the fac't that the injury consisted of a haemorrhage of the brain. Prior to the contest a dotftor certified that deceased was in perfect ,physical condition. Smith opened well, scoring righ'ts in the first round, but took the count for fhree in the sjecond, when Sharpe connected with a hard right to his head. Sharpe was relying upon force rather than frequency of punches, but had no difnculty after his opponent first went down. The end came when Sharpe connected with a right swing and a right jab to the jaw, Smith sagging to the mat. There was no suggestion of foul play, the bout being extremely clean and of high class. Smith was 26 years of age and was a native of England, having been in the Dominion for seven years. He was an amateur before arriving in Now Zealand and subsequently fought in the Dominion championships, being defeated in the final for the lightweight by Murray, Two years ago he became s professional, fighting first in Australi& and later in New Zealand. He beai Glengarry twice and drew once. He also beat Ralph Aitken, lost to Henry Dunn and Don Eddington on points, drew with Tommy Loveridge and beat him on points in 15 rounds at Wellington on September 23. Smith, who had no relatives in New Zealand, became engaged two montha ago to Miss Anita Abbott, of Wellington. The body is being forwarded to Wellington for burial. Deceased wa* employed as a storeman for Messra Smith and Smith, Ltd. at Wellington. A post-mortem was held to-day and an luquest will be held to-morrow.