BOXING TOURNEY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4904, 18 November 1925, Page 3

BOXING TOURNEY.

EVENTS AT WAHHI. gOMB GOOD DISPLAYS. The Waihi Boxing Association held its last tournament of the season in the King’s Theatre'on'Saturday evening, when, despite unfavourable weather, there was. a fairly good attendance. Supporters of the art did not turn up in the numbers expected, however. Nevertheless, those present —and there were many visitors from all’parts of the province—were treated to some good displays of boxing. Mr T. Sampson, of Newmarket, was referee. All his decisions were well received. The duties of M.C. were carried out by .the Mayor (Mr M. Wallnutt), who is x also president of the association. The principal attractions of the evening were a light-weight contest, of six two-minute rounds between “.Bat” Nelson (Te Aroha), 10*st, and Jim Smith (Taum'arunui), also lOst. and a feather-weight contest of six two-minute rounds between R. Purdy (Auckland), 9st 41b, and Jim Cpljedge (Waihi), 9s.t lib, for a solid silver cup presented by Mr J. Moorhead. ' THE STAR BOUT. . Undoubtedly the best fight of the evening was that between Nelson and , Smith. At'the beginning of thet first round both men were ..cautioned for hitting with, an open glove. Shortly afterwards! Nelson connected with a good straight left, forcing matters and dealing heavy punishment to the body. Smith took: the count for five. -Almost immediately he, went down again for five, Nelson ’ having landed another' heavy blow on his opponents solar plexus. The second round opened with both lads mixing matters freely. Smith then dealt heavy punishment, but Nelson connected with four straight lefts in succession, making the honours for. the round pretty well. even. In the third round Nelson Connected with-another left to the body, but Smith, by reason, of his infighting, got rather the better of it. .Honours were about even in. the next two rounds, Smith receiving the decision in the sixth after a well and evenly contested bout. COLLEDGE-PURDY FIGHT. Colledge was undoubtedly the aggressor in the first round, and in the second he kept forcing Purdy to the ropes. There was a lot of in-fighting in the third round.- The Waihi boy forced .the pace, connected a heavy left to his opponent’s body, and closed the round to his advantage by rushing his man. Purdy connected in the k .fourth round with a left and right to ■' the jaw, and both mixed matters freely. Honours, were divided in this round, Which ended with Colledge ' rushing his man to the ropes. The next round opened-with both Cblledge ' arid Purdy willing to mix matters, and there was a lot of give and take. Colle’dgfe >went down for four. Both contestants were full, of fight in the last round, but Colledge took a lot of punishment and went down again, th is time for three. Purdy was awarded the verdict before .the round was completed. ■ -WELTER-WEIGHT CONTEST. The welter-weight contest of six two-minute rounds . between V. Smith (Paeroa), lOst 31b, and Cpombe (Te Aroha), lost 71b, had an unexpected ending. ..In the first round Coombe got into trouble twice for holding, his .. opponent, anS the honours were with Smith. Smith was, very aggressive when the' second round opened. Coombe made up a lot of his leeway in the third, however. Both lads did a lot of sparring in the fourth round, but the Te Aroha boy boxed better and gained the advantage. The next round easily went to Coombe, and he was winning the jgixth when he was disqualified for pushing his opponent over the ropes. The referees decision in favour of Smith was vigorously applauded. WILLING MIDDLE-WEIGHTS. ■ The middle-weight fight of four two-minute rounds between Leary (Auckland); lOst ’Blb, .and Shadbolt . (Te Aroha), lOst 41b, was. a most willing one. The bout opened with a lot c-f wild hitting on the part of both, but towards, the end of the round Shadbolt was forcing his opponent and gained the advantage. Wild hitting also characterised the beginning of the second round, but Shadbolt again ga|ned honours by connecting with a good straight left. In the next round both lads mixed matters freely and missed a lot of chances. The Auckland boy showed to better advantage in the last round than he did earlier in the bout. The fight was awarded to Shadbolfc THE OTHER EVENTS. Results of the other events are as > follows: — Feather-weights.— Bell. (Waitoa), 9st 51b, beat McConnell (Waihi), 9st 41b ; Farmer (Te Aroha), 9st 61b, beat Warne (Waihi), 9st; Sturgess (Waihou), 9pt 21b, beat Williams (Paeroa), 9st 61b. Sturgess knocked his opponent' out Bantam-weights.— Beeston (Waihi) 7st 131 b, beat Williams (Paehoa), Bst 11b. Fly-weights.—Ryall (Waihi), 6st 81b, beat Pereniki (Paeroa), 7st 31b. After the tournament' the visitors were the guests of .the local association at an informal; smoke concert in the “gym.” Several.. toastis were honoured, and a most enjoyable time was spent. In the.course of ,a brief .speech the referee, Mr Sampson, referred .to the fine spirit displayed by the Waihi Boxing Association in encouraging the art of boxing. The example of an association *hat was willing to lose money for the sake of "bringing amateurl together to further the sport could well, be copied, he said. (Applause.)—Waihi Telegraph.