CARPENTIER’S KNOCKOUT BLOW.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4387, 8 March 1922, Page 2

CARPENTIER’S KNOCKOUT BLOW.

9 _ COOK BEATEN IN FOURTH ROUND. (From the “Overseas Daily Mail.”) Georges Carpentier, the light-heavy-) weight champion of the world, defeated George Cook, the heavy-weight champion of Australia, in the fourth round of a 20-rounds contest at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The knock-out blow was a right-hand punch to the jaw,. It was the expected that happened. From the first sound, ett the g’ong it was patent, even tp. the inexpert, that George Cook’s chances* b' success were practically nothing. ' He entered into -the fight with a guard that was a striking invitation to defeat. And yet he fought a sturdy. fight. He must have known from the onset that the task with which he was faced was well beyond his skill, but he battled on with a doggedness that most certainly redouhds to his credit. A TWISTING RIGHT. The blow which dropped him n the fourth round would have knocked the senses out of any man. Cook was moving inwards, crouched, and With guard very low. Carpentier, panther-t like, retreated two paces and then, with a swiftness that was phenomenal, he shot out a twisting right that fell fairly on the Australiap’s jaw and crumpled him with the same rapidity that a match stick is brpken between the fingers. It was a punch that, did not travel more than six inches. But all Carpentier’s weight and strength was behind it, and, in addition, force was added to the blow by the circums stance that at the exact instant of impact Carpentier turned his wrist. Cook's knees buckled at once. He started to fall as a concertina collapses. His knees went first, then his body sagged, and finally down came his head to his chest. He could not have been more than three or four inches from the ground when Carpentier rammed in a twisting punch-.that deserves to live in boxing history. It was another shortarm blow, but it is doubtful in the extreme whether any other boxer in the world could have delivered it. NO THRILLS; The first round did not provide any thrills. Those who were prepared for a replica of the Beckett-Carpentier contest must have been sadly disappointed, for the Frenchman left his corner quietly and without that darting eagerness which has made him famous. He was first to lead with a right that missed by inches. Cook replied with d left hook that was very wide of the mark, and Carpentier, after giving ground, drove in a stiff punch to the body that made the Auss tralian wince, Cook immediately sought a clinch, but Carpentier kept him'off with another rapid blow to the ribs. Still charging, Cook ended the round by scoring with a left to Carpentier’s 7 nose. Carpentier was still less of the fighter in the second round. His mastery over his opponent was so thorough that he could afford to take things easy. Carpentier, in the third round, was himself. That is to say, he had dropped to his favourite crouch, and he left his corner with a speed that took Cook somewhat.by surprise. He slipped in attempting to lead, and Carpentier flashed over a right which fell on the Australian’s ear and drove him towards the ropes. It was obvious now that all Carpentier was concerned about was, drawing his ppponent towards him. He had no need to use his speed, nor was there any necessity for him to keep up a careful guard. He made Cook fight as he wanted him to fight. Midway in the round he was tigerish. Those who had come to the conclusion that much of his skill had disappeared saw that he had merely been exercising one of his wiles. He had worked COok into the required state of mind, and, what was more, he was just beginning to fight’. For two rounds he had resembled an ex* ploded force ; now he was the human battering-ram, the wielder of devastating punches. It was Carpentier all the way in the fourth and last round. Cook had become desperate; he rushed and’ clinched whenever the opportunity offered, and theft with only twenty seconds to go, Carpentier, cool as the proverbial cucumber, invited his man to. walk inwards and straightwaydipped him on the point with as sound a blow as can be imagined. The second puncli was unnecessary. Cook was already beaten.

WHY I WON.

After the fight Carpentier said: “I won, as I fully expected to do, but I think Cook is wonderful. But he still has something to learn. He is ex-i ceedingly strong, but he leaves himself open. I knew the opening would come. The opening came all right, and I put over my right and he went down. This is my birthday present, as I expected it would be." Cook said: “I have no complaint to make. Of course I wanted to win, but, by Jove ! that fellow can hit!”