BOXING

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1932, Page 8

BOXING

TOURNAMENT AT HOKITIKA

MOORE CEDES BOUT TO CROFT

Full of action from start to finish tli e professional bout b, tween Croft and Moore he’d the attention of a lm’ge crowd at the swimming, baths last evening when the Hokitika Boxing Club he d it s annual tournament. Croft held an advantage of weight and reach, and scored effectively with Ins left, but was never fully extended. His display was ratter of a reserved nature. Ihe bout went along at a merry pace throughout, most of tho forcing being done by Moore who at timers left a wide •opening for Croft in his efforts to force matters.

The match only went nine rounds, Moore injuring h 's wrist and .throwing in th e towel. While it lasted he gave a good, account of himself. Croft main, tained a fair defence, fcot quite a few blows w e nt home. Many of these, however, were robbed of their force on route.

The bout was preceded by three amateur contests which were, all interesting. The results were : PROFESSIONAL BOUT.

Tom Croft (Stillwater), list 61bs, v Chas. Moor e (Cobdeii), list.

Round one.—Both men pranced round each getting the other's measure. Moore landed a smacking body blow and then went for Croft in the corner, the latter driving him back. -An ex-' change of ■ punches -saw each man score. Croft sent a sharp jab to Moore s chin, the latter landing one on Gift’s chest, forcing him to retreat. The first rc-und was quiet, and neither man hacl real y started to warm up to hi,s work. Round two.—Moore went into a crouch,-Croft* lifting one into his face. Moore took a turn at attack and landed two nice blows to Croft's head. ■Croft forced hi in back but Moore came in again and fighting continued at long range until Croft rent Moor e spinning cut of a clinch. They were both getting down to business now, and each- was keenly seeking • an opening. Neither's defence wai s anything like perfect, but +*-, blows which landed, lacked sting. Rouiyl three. —Moore went straight into the attack and Croft gave ground. Toe to toe punches ensued, Crofts longer reach proving an advantage. ■Moore, howCvCfo ihore in and landed one on'the point. Croft swung wildly ■and missed badly, but immediately Moore back before a battery of sharp body punches.:.. Emerging from»a .clinch Croft launched a blow which was rather low and a 'section of the- crowd" showed its disapproval, but th e referee ignored it, the blow being lawful. Round four.—Clinches marked the opening with sharp body jabs and an exchange of blows. Croft swung up -and his hook connected hut lacked force, and Moore went through his guard to hi s face Moor e was using two hands and his punches often .baffled Croft. The latter scoring mainly with his left. Round five.—Cfroft found Moore's face-,- but he- was forced: to give ground be c or<> the other’s attack. Croft fought coolly and swung a hard one to Moore’s head, Moore dogging ore- to the face in reply. Tire pace was still fairly fast, and there was plenty of action'. Moore wa« doing most of the attacking, but Croft was not shirking. - He ■slugged one home ibut Moore grinned it away and did some good work in close. They pummelled each other at close range until the gong. Odds at the start wer e in favour of Croft, but they were now mor e even. Round six.—Croft hopped otit at the gong- and Moore : gave ground taking head and body punches. Moore reached great heights when -he rained blows on his opponent, who seemed for a minute helpless, but Croft even e d with two solid punches. Moore ran into Crofts ieft but next moment found the other’s face and they went into a clinch. Round seven.—Moore continued to mi s s his opponent's attention by ducking, but in this round he took some punishment, his opponent beating down his guard, and repeatedly -landing home. Mcore fought gamely but his punches which got through were broken on the other’s gloves; • As in the pluvious round, tfi e refe r e e had to intervene

after the gone;. Pound eight.—After a period in clinches Moore ripped a neat one to the other’s face, and essayed a hook which grazed Croft’s head. Croft had so far not appeared to exert himeeu, and was 'always in readiness to find a suitable opening. Moore "’a,s always

looking for action, and demanded every | bit of watching. Croft- was not con. ; necting, several ill-timed blows letting .Vinoi'e in to beat through his guard. Pound nine.—Croft scored freely ■ early in this round and Moore went down for two c-ounts of eight. Croft | continued to boro in and repeatedly scored, ana wioore then threw in the towel igtating that his wrist was injured. , WELTERWEIGHT. j 1). Chisholm fH-okitika), lOst 7lbs, v. Gillingham (Hnrihari), lOst Tibs. Both men .showed a willingness to -mix Things 1 in the first round which was hvoly, and j gave a slight advantage to Chisholm, j The second round was also lively, both j men forcing the pace, and each' scoring with swinging blows. Tu this and Uie third round in-fighting wa.s .-prevalent, J and a merry pac ( , was maintained. ( liisholm was not quick to take full advantage. of his opportunities, ihut was in evading Gillingham’s '-winging right which took sonic watching. Both I men went for all they wore worth at the start of the final round, the TTnvihari man finding. Chisholm’,s 'chin. The latter clinched and .forced • him to the iopr« where He landed body blows. The pevee of thp bout had fob] on both men, and clinches were frequent. The bout

was even and exciting, with Gd[i»gham, if anything, forcing thiugs, but Chisholm was not loath to meet hi; advances,: and the referee ordered a further round. Each connected witii several blows to the. head, but both men were done. Several of Gilhngham s blows wer e wild, but he maintained the attack and won in the last minute. LIGHTWEIGHT.

,R. Rouane ('Grdymoutli)- Bst 121b 6 v. T. Crowe (Runanga), 9st 71bs. The first round was marked by a rapid exchange o'f lightning blows delivered toe to! toe. Crowe went down to Rouane i for a count of six. Rouan e then rushed I in but Crowe evaded his burst and found B-ouane’s face with three light blows, but the latter, not to b'e denied, tore in and Crowe went to the mat .Tor the full count be-ffii’e: the firstround wa« up. G. Ifreita.s ((Hokitika), Bst 9lbs, '■ E. Swift (Greymouth), 9st 41bs. Swift--1 had an advantage, of 91bs in weight.. I The- bout early gave evidence of 'n _ te-rest. both indulging in some rapid | in-fightiug. Swift launched somm.il j blows some of which missed badly, (while Freitnr, also failed to connect. I Both were fast and were quite eager to mix. Swift landed a hard bkw to 1 the head when the gong sounded. The s-.c-ond -round opened like -a wrestling font, the referee oonlinually -cal.iug I “break." Swift landed hard ponchos to the body and bead, but Fredas roI t a Rated with equally -effective jabs, anr j they wpi’e exchanging deliveries as the I gong went. The pace had been willing but "the -end of the round was quieter. Freitas scored freely in the first exchange in the third round, but Swift effected hard body puncher, in clinches which had the effect- of .slowing up the

p.-irc ,somewhat. Bath continued to slog into each.' other and this round was. ]ikp tiip lathers, also interesting. Thu speed at the start of the fourth round was grout, and Swift landed a couple of snappy blows to Fre i tins’ face, and the • latter showed signs of tiring. He •sv(snt on gamely, however, but Swift penetrated his guard and found Freitas’ head twice: The decision vent to Swift.