EXCITING BOXING CONTEST

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1920, Page 1

EXCITING BOXING CONTEST

WIN FORT COOK. WELLINGTON, December 18. Lite boxing match between George Cook and Albert Lloyd, for what was described ns the heavy-weiglit championship pf Australasia, was decided at tho Town Hall last night, and resulted in a win for the challenger, Cook, on points. The judges werp Messrs P. WWoods ngd CL lE., Bijidgo, and *th6 referee, Mr Allan Maxwell, Tho event attracted a great crowd, those present being treated to a very fine contest between two splendid specimens of manhood, both of whom stripped in perfect

1 condition. Cook’s weight "’as lost., 1 and Lloyd's was 12st lOlli. The winner was very aggressive, and at times ap--1 peared a little too keen. Oil these occasions he was inclined to bring into use a blow which found disfavour j with the referee, who administered a caution. Twice when Lloyd was knocked down he appealed for a. foul, hut without success. Bach contestant was twice warned for “butting.” Cook was ever on the aggressive, forcing Lloyd to the ropes, where the latter impressed the spectators by his elusiveness. For a man who has been out of the ring for twelve months he put up a wonderful performance. Time after time, he j would wait on the iropes for Ceok, and then score heavily with a straight j left which was usually followed by a short and very effective right to the' head. But for the greater part of tlio journey the men were locked together, and in this position Cpok was seen to most advantage, even though he frequently experimented; unsuccessfully 1 with a wicked-looking loft upper-cut and now and then a similar movement with the right. By reason of his ng- ■ gressiveness, and the points compiled ' at close quarters, ho secured the verdict' 1 —a popular decision with the onlookers. I There was a good deal of clinching and j both men were iepeatedly ordered to break, but, even so, the match was one | of the best yet put on by the Welling • ton Boxing Association. The decision • was a unanimous one, and at tlie conclusion the referee‘stated that Cook had a slight advantage in each of the'' nine rounds, that four rounds were even and that Lloyd won the sixth round and the ninth rounds. THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS. Right from the opening round Cook carried the fight to Lloyd, and scored i with the left arid right to the body, but stopped a short right from Lloyd which mn<je him wince. Lloyd connected with two upper-cuts in the second round, and made Cook miss badly until be closed and hooked left and right to the body. This was the order right through the first five rounds, Cook ever being on the aggressive and making the most use of his strength. Shortly after the opening of the sixth round Cook drove a straight left with plenty of weight behind it to Lloyd's: jaw and then closed in. As they were breaking away he again struck Lloyd with what appeared to he a hack-hand blow and the champion fell to the Ixpirds, a position from which lie vainly appealed for a foul. Lloyd rose at the count of six, and punished Cook severely with weighty straight lefts to the jaw and a right to the ribs. The seventh and eighth rounds were much the same as the earlier riunds, but in the" ninth round Lloyd reduce! Cook's margin of points In the tenth Cook again brought Lloyd down, and Lloyd appealed. Cook was j very dangerous iri the eleventh and twelfth and Lloyd also livened up. Cook was obviously looking for a, knockout' but Lloyd was too elusive. Cook was warned in the thirteenth round for striking a questionable blow but in the last two rounds his star was jn the ascendant, and the verdict in his favour was loudly cheered. Lloyd also was cheered heartily as lie left the ring.