A GREAT CLASH

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1930, Page 2

A GREAT CLASH

MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION

SYDNEY, April 16

That brilliant ringster, Jack Haines, middleweight champion of Australia, gave a glittering exhibition at the Stadium on Saturday night and thus further enhanced his reputation by decisively, outpointing Louis Vauc-lard, the French importation, who is undei tlie management -of the -Englishman, Charlie Lucas. “ ' • Haines can almost be classed to-day as a model fighter. There is really little desirqd'/in his work .jy|jich is cai'i'll’d -out almost/ faultlesslsvf‘ -Ii each contest lie accomplishes something better. To date .oite Cannot help bul notice the polish of the artisan in In every movement. The Australian appears to have shelved that cloak oi nervousness, so apparent until liis last few contests. Not/.the slightest outward sign, was noticed on Saturday night last. He met the Frenchman with dour confidence. All that has oeen said in the..past regarding the middleweight star is being repaid to those who could forsee tlie possibilities in Haines well over twelve months ago.

PRAISE FOR JACK DUNLEAVY

While paying the champion tributes one cannot pass over one person to whom Haines must thank a great deal for the success he has, thus far, attained in the ranks of pugilism. Reference is made to Jack Dunleavy, trainer-manager of the champion, Dunleavy knows the boxing game from all and every angle, and one can say without fepr of contradiction that he is the si merest, adviser ancl most capable instructor . P.f. boxers ip Australia to-day. Stadium’s action in handing ovw Haines to liis care was quite sufficient proof of this assertion. The manner of method adopted by Dunleavv in steering his champion to the pedestal -lie has now attained is hut a glowing tribute to an instructor. The Australian carries out Jack’s orders to the letter.

A BUMPER HOUSE

Each appearance of Haines -at tlie big drome .draws a larger crowd. A fine muster resulted on Saturday night, possibly the best boxing house since the La Barba v. Willie Smith contest over twelve months ago. Gate receipts totalled nearly £9OO. The attendance was approximately 8000 with prices at 10s, 5s and 3s.

GOOD PUBLICITY.

A fine feature of tne contest was the splendid publicity the bout .received. Little was required in the way to boom the Australian. The Frenchman had pleased immensely in his training displays' which invariably resulted in him stowing away a couple bi sparring partners into a waiting ambulance. A fiery fighting spirit was known by tho “Froggy” and abnortnal toughness went a long way to the prediction being made that Haines would have his hands full, '> A very fine record has Vauplard which contains a split, decision with Englishman Frank Moody when tlie latter was 1 fighting at his top, Suffering a mild cqld and only eighteen days off the ship did not assist the Frenchman in any way to give; perhaps, his best displaybut, judging by his work against -the Australian champion, he appeared to put forth every ounce of steam available.

NOT IN HAINES’ CLASS

However, Vauclard is not in the Australian’s class but he is going to make the remaining bunch of middleweights in this country sit up and take notice. Possibly he will beat the lot of them. For sheer gameness and fierce fighting instinct he lacks nothing. Stadium’s Ltd. should not show a loss, in their venture of importing the Parisian.

SENSATIONAL. OPENING ROUND

After the usual referee’s preliminary, in which Eugene Volaire acted as interpreter, the big battle commenced. The Frenchman immediately went for tx.e local star, who moved around in his customary graceful style and placed his stabbing left to the features, ripped in several hard blows to the body. Vauclard came with a hard two-handed battery- to the body, but gained little, through the master derence employed by Haines, Hardly had two minutes of the session passed away when the Australian slipped a left lead, propped his opponent with a stiff left and crossed with a shortened right which did not travel more than eight inches. The blow caught the Frenchman flush on the angle of the jaw. The power behind the blow caused the visitor to quiver from “stem to stern.” The end looked in sight as three more smashing rights quickly followed; hut -toughness and indomitable spirit kept- the Frenchman upon his feet. It- was a mighty near thing. Almost out on his feet, the “Froggy” however, mnde a fine recovery and c-anie back fighting hard at the gotig, Haines opened the. second found with a successful battery,of lefts to the face before the visitor decided to launch a couple of vicious attacks. With a brace of lefts and rights to the body he forced Haines towards the ropes, hut masterly evasion and an almost impregnable smoother nullified efforts of the Frenchman’s attack. Accepting most blows on his gloves, wrists or arms to finally send his opponent hack in his tracks with a sizzling uppercut, the Australian was seen to great advantage. Haines delighted the crowd throughout the third round with masterly boxing, picking his opponent to pieces, but Vauclard

showed he would not take everything that was coming his way without making the going interesting. Haines was completely on top throughout the fourth. Vaiulard over-reached repeatedly with his right as the local star used his feet smartly. A terrific uppercut almost knocked the Parisian’s head off his shoulders as he made a furious onslaught. Breaking from die din lies, Vautflard showed a bad habit of wheeling his man rather •oughly and frequently landed his right m the kidneys. Haines had now his ipponent’s measure and opened the fifth with a solid attack. Monotonously did he place his left to the face, ripped his left to the body and planted bis right to tliQ bead with uneerjng aoh'ufncy. !. In close, the Frenchman received a ’are hiding. Vaiulard stated' after the' contest that it was not 1 until midway through the sixth that he recovered from that first smashing right to the jaw in the first round. He proved' his words- for. when two ■ minutes of the round'’had slipped by, he came with a very fine,effort. Catching Haines high up on the head with a resounding right, he followed fast with a furious onslaught. Momentarily he played a tattoo to Haines’ anatomy, but the Australian’s sterling defence robbed Vauclard of any fruits of success.

FRENCHMAN’S BEST ROUND

Vauclard opened the seventh by fighting Hard. He forced Hanjes back on to the ropes and, like a flash, sent in two jarring uppercuts. His continued vicious offensive, throughout the round intrigued the fans, who lustily cheered the visitor oh. Vnuclard never let up throughout the session*, but he failed in any way to disturb Haines. Jack merely took things unconcernedly, Heartened by his efforts, the 'Frenchman opened eighth with a couple of heavy swings which, however, missed by the proverbial mile. Still on he came and, when the position appeared to look decidedly interesting, Haines opened out. With both hands working in top gear, he meted out a sound thrashing. Punches rained from every direction upon the game “Froggy” who was content to accept all and chine again to the attack. For the following five rounds. Vauclard stuck gamely to his gun.s and brought. forth the plaudits of the house, by sheer doggedness of spirit. Under severe punishment he never once stepped back unless 'forced to. The way ,he kept goipg through several of the rounds while accepting everything that came his way spoke volumes for his condition. Distinctly showing, outward evidence of the gruelling he was reciving and with his left eye almost closed, Vauclard came in for many rounds of applause. With the fourteenth under way, and Haines connecting monotonously with shattering uppercuts, the end appeared not far distant; but, to the surprise of all, Vauclard launched a hot rally near the gong. The Frenchman opened the final round ,)iy staging,s hot offensive hut crumpled when Haines, with both hands, repulsed the attack. The local dominated the situation for the remainder of the session, pasting and peppering Vauclard with every punch In the calender, The Frenchmen should draw at his next start, He proved to be a good, game fighter, and a particularly, dangerous fellow to handle, He will cause all kinds of trouble to any other than Haines, The weights were: Haines 11.2|; Vauelard 11.4*.