Lewis’s New Punch.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1922, Page 4

Lewis’s New Punch.

FRENCH BOXER KNOCKED OUT

LONDON, September 6

At Premiorlnnd, Ixindon, lust night Ted (“Kid”) Lewis, the welter-weiglit and middle-weight boxing champion of Great Britain, knocked out Marcel Thomas, tlie ex-middle-weight champion of France, in the fourth round of a 15-rounds contest.

Ten minutes of thrills is really the only adequate way of describing the affair. It differed from the ordinary boxing contest in that it started at a gallop and finished at a pace that was positively gale-like in its violence. Thomas must have realised from the earliest seconds that liis only chance of success lay in forcing Lewis out of his stride, and for quite four minutes his forcing tactics paid so well that Lewis was as often on the retreat as he was on tho aggressive. Towards the end of the second round Lewis produced a punch which, so far as I am aware, is absolutely new. It was always delivered in a clinch, hut tlio right arm wn.s swung round to such an extent that the glove invariably connected with the Frenchman's jaw.

The ptineli is not exactly of tlie “rabbit” variety, and yet it has its characteristics. It does not hurt so much as annoy, and Thoma’s's irritation was plainly demonstrated in the third round. By then he was somewhat the worse for wear, while T.ewis was boxing with a calmness that clearly denoted his confidence.

The fourth round was on a par with the one seen at the Crystal Palace when Wells fought Goddard. It was packed with action, with terrific blows with sheer, primeval battling. Thomas threw discretion to the winds; separating his feet and standing perfectly still, he rained blows at his opponent, both hands working like flails. That is the kind of tiling Lewis enjoys. Imitating his antagonist, he too stood flat-footed, but ns he was the quicker thinker of tho two tho inevitable was not long delayed. Thomas received a clipping right on the jaw which put him down for a count of seven. Hardly had he arisen when lie was down again, this time for eight, lie managed to scramble up. but Lewis, measuring him with accuracy, drove in a short right and Thomas went down like a log. Almost before the timekeeper raised his voice the towel was thrown into the ring. It was a virtual knock-out, for it is inconceivable that the Frenchman could have got. hack to his feet under ten seconds.

A better or more stirring contest it would be hard to imagine. This was Lewis’s 223rd fight—he is still only 27 years of age—but last night lio was as good as he has ever been during his long and strenuous career.