RUGGED FIGHTER

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1930, Page 2

RUGGED FIGHTER

RICHARD’S DEFEATS STONE,

WELLINGTON, June 2D,

Billy Richards, the Sydney welterweight professional boxer, made an auspicious first appearance in a Ncav Zealand ring at the Town Hall last night, when he knocked out I‘hin. Stone, the ex-NeAV Zealand amateur welter champion, in. the seventh round.

The weights Averc announced as Stone list and Richards 1 (Jst Glib. Stone had the advantage in Aveight and reach, but the Australian lent the impression of reserved force in his powerful shoulders. Richards boxed with the greatest umfideiiee and did some clever head-Aveavihg in the opening round. Richards not only weaA’ed Avith the head, but with the body as avcll, and Stone found him a most'elusive target. A good right to the side of the head made Stone think hard.

Stone landed Avith the left opening the second, but the rugged Australian was clever and played the left at

great pace

Stone took the aggressive in the third round, but Richards appeared to,.he playing Avith his opponent. While two men frantically swung towels in Stone’s corner at the'.intervals, the Australian had no o'ne : near him. Slone' landed a solid right to the head in the fourth session, but it did not trouble the visitor -n the least The local man Avas now plucking up a bit of confidence and scored a snappy right uppercut just before the gong went

A LIVELY ROUND

They mixed it more freely in the fifth "and Stone aroused enthusiasm by planting a- solid right downstairs and scoring Avith a left uppercut. Ihe Australian once or twice coully turned his back on his opponent. Stone was doing extremely avcll, and took this round by a big margin.

Stone slipped a couple of left leads cleverly opening the sixth, but ran into a solid left hook. Rushing the Australian into a neutral ' corner. Stone landed a good left .i ip ( o the midriff, and also did well for the remainder of the round.

THE COUP I>E GRACE

'Hie seventh had not been long in progress when it ayus apparent that' ..'the- Australian meant /business. Going after his man in a businesslike manner be feinted Avith the. left and then av, hipped over a heavily-loaded right, which caught Stone on. the side of the head and lifted hhn off his feet for the count of eight. Upon rising groggil.v, Richards coolly measured his distance, and put the local lad to the mat again Avith a snappy left-hook. Gathering his scattered wits by a supreme effort of will-poAA-er, Stone once again roro gamely to his feet at the count of seven, only to be bowled over once more with a solid right swing, When Stone once again staggered gamely* to a horizontal position, he Avas palpably out <.m his feet, and, in order to save a beaten man from unnecessary punishment, Referee Earl SteAvart hoisted Richard’s right hand in token of victory.

The judges were Messrs P. Bush, of Auckland, and B. J. Guise.