HOKITIKA BOXING TOURNAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1920, Page 4

HOKITIKA BOXING TOURNAMENT

ROBBO WINS SPECIAL BOUT. The Hokitika Boxing Association held a very successful amateur boxing tournament in the Princess Theatre on Saturday night. There was a satisfactory attendance, and the various events were promptly run off, the first bout commencing with very commendable, promptitude. The several exhibitions were of an interesting nature, but the special bout of the evening set down for six rounds came to a sudden conclusion half way through, the second round, thanks to a right swing by Robbo finding its mark on De Valera’s jaw with the result that he was knocked clean out. The novice class proved an •interesting one, while two midgets gave a very clever exhjbitjqij, tjpit ended in a draw. Coins thrown into the ring for the two lads totalled £2 in cash. The heavyweight contest proved somewhat of a fiasco, because alter Lyes had beaten Fluety, it was found that the . winner’s thumb had been dislocated, and lie could not take part in the next bout against McCrae, who had drawn a bye, with the result that after a set-to with Fluety, McCrae was the winner, without practically having a flutter for the win. Mr W. O’Brien ol Kokatahi was referee throughout, with the exception that Mr Wilmot took charge during the bout in which Mr O’Brien’s son took part. The decisions met with general approval except in the O’Connell—Long bout. In this one, after the three rounds had been fought, and in ■■which the general opinion gave a win for O’Connell, the referee ordered a : further round. In this particular round Long had undoubtedly the best of the fight” but the referee to the gen--1 oral surprise gave the verdict to O’Con- ' nell, which the critics who favoured a . win for O’Connell at the end of tile j third round, specially expressed exception to. The variouSjjofficials were all at thenposts, and under the supervision of Mr D. Dee, lion secretary, who had made • very complete arrangements, the gather ing passed off very smoothly and successfully. Details of the several contests arc as follows: —• NOVICE CLASS. C. Cutbush 9.5, v. L. Hahn 9.8. This bout opened the proceedings and was willing and vigorous from the bell. Cutbush showed to advantage in round one, getting home successfully on several occasions, both showing a lot of attack, but little defence. Round 2 was more even, both doing fairly veil. In round 3, the lads were tiring, but Cutbush easily held his lead, a ( nd he was declared the winner. The final was decided later in the evening when W. O’Brien 8.3, who had a bye owing to E. Stewart withdrawing, met Cutbush. In the first round Cut- ■ hush using his advantage of weight and height made the attack, but his opponents straight left found its mark twice in succession. Cutbush, however, had easily the host of a good round. In round two, O’Brien stood up well, hut his heavier opponent forced him to give way, and though the light-weight fought gamely he was forced on the defensive. Round three was made faster for a while, both mixing it, but when the bell went ,Cutbush was declared the winner of the bout and the class. MIDDLE: WEIGHT. O’Donnell (Greymouth) 10.6 v. JSmith (Runanga), 10.5; opened this contest. Round 1 showed O’Donnell forcing, hut both men continually clinched, the round being even, but poor. Round 2 saw Smith show to better advantage, and a couple of his lefts got home to the face, shaking O’Donnell. Round 3 quietened and there was over-much clinching, Smith ending the round with a couple of good scoring smashes, the round being easily his. Smith was declared the winner. H. Long (Blackball) 11.2, v. o’Connell’ (Hqkitika) 9.12. This was the best set to of the evening. Round one was a good one. Both men hit hard, and each went in for solid hitting, the weight, of Long giving him some advantage, but O’Connell had a left Jliat repeatedly found itffTnark, and stopped Long in his attack. It was a capital round, full of life, and went slightly in Long’s favour. Round two saw O’Connell making great use of his right hook,' but both kept going well. This round was easily O’Connell’s. Round 3 was another good exhibition. Long endeavoured to force matters, but O’Connell held him off with straight lefts, and rights swings, that did much damage. Long’s weight aided him considerably, but 0 ’Connell gave a capital showing. The referee ordered a further round. Round four was a last one, Long’s, weight helped him, and O’Connell-tiring somewhat, a hard well- ( fought round went somewhat in Long’s favour. The referee, however, then gave his decision in favour of O’Cont nell. ] Later in the evening the final took place between Smith and O’Connell. Round one opened with a series of smart attacks in which Smith scored. O’Connell reached his face on several occasions, but the round was easily Smith’s. In round two both men made it willing, but O’Connell appeared to lack the sting he had shown in his previous bout, and Smith wore him down, after a great go. In round three O’Connell scored repeatedly with his left to the face, but there was not enough power to stop Smith who kept getting home repeatedly. Smith was declared the winner of the bout and section. BOY’S BOUT. This was a set-to between two local lads Herring (12 years) 4.11; and Reid (13 years), 4.7. Both lads showed remarkable ring agility, especially Herring who caused much amusement by his side-stepping antics. Both went into the fray merrily, and at the conclusion of three rounds a draw was declared. SPECIAL BOUT. Robbo (Blackball) 10.0, and De Valera (Greymouth) 10.0, met for a six two minute bout, which however, only lasted into two rounds. In round one Robbo opened out ,the men going into a clinch. Robbo next stopped a rush with a straight one in the throat. A smart exchange followed, De Valera’s right getting home solidly. Both exchanged solid face hits, a swing by De Valera then missing. Then Robbo got his left home smartly to the face as the gong went. Round two opened with a smart right by Robbo to the face, De Valera replying with a right swing that missed -and then Do Valera rushed his man who slipped to the ground, De

Valera striking at him as lie attempted to rise. Then the men mixed it, in a smart raljy ,apd just ns De Valera was stopping back, and was practically in the air, Robbo drove a right hook that reached its {nark on De Valera’s jaw, who went full length to the floor with A craslj, hjfs Jjqad gettjpg a sojifl smack, ft was a clean knock-out blow, and De Valera did not-move while the count lasted, and ho was declared out, Robbo winning the bout in a most sensational manner. On removal to his corner Do Valera soqii came to looking very dazed as a result of his knock-out. LIGHT-WEIGHT. Leek 9.8 v. Nelson 9.8. This bout, supplied the humorist of tlu> contest, Leek’s attitude in the ring being somewhat of a comedy act. Nelson had easily the best of the bout, but though he had plenty of (openings, there was very little weight in his blows and his opponent had no difficulty in staying in till the bout was finished, the decision going easily to Nelson. FEATHER WEIGHT'. Of four entries, three did not appear and B. Pearce Avon by default. HEAVY WEIGHT. Lyes 10.11 met Fluety 12.0. lr round one, Lyes showed to best advantage ,though Fluety showed considerable ring improvement on his last appearance. Round two was more even, Fluety standing up better, though ii an endeavour to get away he gave Lyes a chance that sent Fluety to the floor. Round three saw Fluetjy liven up considerably, but Lyes held the advantagi and Avas declared the winner. It Avasubsequently found that Lyes had dis located his thumb in the bout, and he had to AA'ithdraAv. OAving to Lyes’ withdiwal, McCnv Avho had drawn a bye, met Fluety ii flic final, in Avliat Avas practically an ex hibition set-to. In what Avas only amo derate exhibition, McCrae was declare* the Avinner, the section therefore prov ing somewhat of a disappointment a the winner had nothing to beat, as i result of the mishap to Lyes.