BOXING

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1929, Page 2

BOXING

i MORGAN KNOCKS OUT STONE. A BATTLING LOSER. WHIRLWIND FINISH. A full house at Wellington on Wednesday saw E. Morgan defeat P. «L Stone, in a professional welter-weight Contest at tlie Town Hall with a knock-out in tlie tenth round. Morgan scaled 10st 131 b, and Stone lOst 4',lb. 'Stone had an advantage over his opponent of height, reach and weight, and from the start he shaped in line style, bettering Morgan until the ninth round) when the tables were turned on him, Morgan’s stamina, ringcraft, and heavy punching taking its toll in a knock-out.

DETAILS OF BOUT,

' Lively and aggressive, Stone led with his left and connected repeatedly. Morgan was hanging off, hut Stone gave him few openings. Stone took some heavy blows to the face, but on the whole he kept Morgan away well. Stone’s eagerness cost him energy because of a dodging target. ,Between his misses, Stone, who continued to force the pace in the second round, got home solidly with both gloves, and himself took punishment to the face, However, he had. Morgan well puzzled with his lei't. The third round louncl Morgan still seeking a counter to the other's left, which teased him from every angle, aim repeatedly got through his guard. Morgan was arriving too late, and his eyes were worrying him. He was becoming rattled. However, ho landed heavy rights and lefts to the face,

and for the first time* showed up to advantage.

MORGAN. PUZZLED

Feinting with his respected left, Stone used right hooks to good effect i«: the fourth. Now and then Morgan connected with hard lefts to the chili. Neither fighter did' anything worth while in the clinches. Stone danced his man to the-ropes with rights and lefts administered with loud smacks, in comparison with his electrical opponent Morgan was lethargic. Altogether they took fairly equal punishment, 'although .the advantage was still with Stone in this round. In the fifth Stone still' made his left effective, and drew red. Morgan rushed in. and rocked Stone with a hard right, but Sitone forced Morgan to the ropes 'with staccato blows. Stone was taking a lot of punishment tlirough going into his man. Despite this, Morgan, was looking tired. Stone seemed' as. Tresh as a daisy when he stepped out for the sixth, while Morgan looked something., of a wreck. Stone ■ connected cleanly with rights and lefts/ Morgan got. in some stiff uppercuts at - close quarters, but otherwise! was comparatively ineffective. Stope was still gathering the honours, In the. seventh Morgan found Stone no less, an awkward customer to dedl with, and he sought clinches to avoid his opponent's left',. Morgan j seemed finable to get at his ma.u with his rip; and his left could work in-only a sort, of clbb. So far Stone Was the man of. tlie .fight. There was a change in the eighth round. Morgan came to light strongly and Stone stepped some severe jabs to the face from Morgan’s left. He retreated, fightfing, and took some heavy > punishment at the ropes. This was easily Morgan’s best round. The change in Stone was sudden, and Morgan’s supporters found every encouragement in it.

STONE CRACKS UP

The ninth round, which was the most exciting of the bout, saw the beginning of the end. Stone, who had . been hammered severely, went down suddenly before a hard right to the chili. He rested on his knee until the count of nine, and then flew at Morgan. A terrific right... almost accounted for Morgan, who fell back against the ropes. Stone went to with every ounce lie had and Morgan slipped to his knee, only to rise auain instantly. Stone still went for his man, and lie was badly pummelled for it. ‘Stone fought valiantly but blindly. Morgan put weight and judgment into every blow. It was a whirlwind round. If he was a beaten man when lie for the tenth Stone would not admit it to himself. He.* was going at the knees, but he forced Morgan to the ropes. 'l‘non Morgan came round with a whirling left to the chin that sent Vytc’.j? crashing to the floor. Stone struggled to rise at nine, but was counted out and the fight was Morgan’s. Mr Earl Stewart was .the referee.