BOXING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10613, 11 June 1920, Page 7

BOXING

VOLAIRE VERSUS UREN CONTEST DECLARED A DRAW. AN UNPOPULAR DECISION. The professional lighfc-wieight boxing contest between Havilah Uren (Australia) and Eugene Volairo (Franco) was decided at the Town. Hall last night and, according to Referee Tim Tra«, resulted in a- draw. Undoubtedly, the decision did not meet with the approval of the majoritv of tho audience, which indicated in no uncertain voice that in 'their opinion it shornd have gone to !the Frenchman- Although a percentage of tho spectators cheered the result, their expression of approval was drowned by the hoots. As Volaire left the ring ho wag cheered repeatedly. Urea's departure met with a mixed reception. This was a pity, because he had fought really well!, and iia fact, was quite popular, but it was the way taken by the audience—which severely taxed tua accommodation of the big ballot' indicating which way they believed the decision should have been given. The contest, which was decided over fifteen threc-rainute rounds for a purge of JHOO, was one of the best yet put on by the Wellington Boxing Association. Both boys were in the pint of condition, and they fought * well from start to finish, when they were fairly fresh, with Volaire ; apparently the stronger. As the boys entered the ring they were given an enthusiastic reception Ureu. whose weight was given as Bst 611 b, was the taller, and had an advantage in reach, but Volaire, 9st 71b. was more muscular and stronger. At the outset, the Frenchman set out to force, the fighting, his abject being to get in close, a phoso of the game in which he shines. He is a good two-handed fighter, and veiv clover at head work* Time after time he made Uren miss badly with his right. A lightning-like sway of tho upper portion of the body, now to the right and then to the left, and the (blow missed its objective. It was ail very'pretty. He carries a punch in either band, and .these he used effectively in every round; so much so that he appeared to .have a fair lead on points at the conclusion of the match. Uren is also very clever, but he relies almost entirely on his right, with which he leads in unorthodox style. Occasionally he brings the left into use, but almost on every occasion ho tried to score with this weapon ha missed badly. His footwork was very good, and it enabled him to come in very fast and score to the head, but there was never a great deal of weight behind # a blow. At in-fighting, he was at a disadvantage wfth a master like Volaire, and therefore he never lost a chance to keep the Frenchman at a distance. Generally speaking, it wee a great fight, and the audience was not slow to recognise the merits of the boxers, each of whom was applauded from time to time. All tho arrangements wore carried out successfully, and it was noticeable that Mr "Dome” Leslie, had ( not neglected to drape the Tricolour of France behind Volairo, and tho flag ol the Commonwealth at tho back of Uren.

THE CONTEST IN DETAIL, Details of tho fifteen rounds are as under

First Hound. —Volaire was the first to score with a left and right to tho body, Uren countering with a right to the face. Dren got Volaire at long range but tho Frenchman bored in and landed freely with left and right to his opponent’s ribs.

Second Bound. —A right to the face sent Volnire’s uead back, and Uren swung with the left to beat the air and give titc Frenchman a chance t> get under his guard and score good blows to the body. Twice in succession Uren made a dangerous swing with the right, but each was neatly missed. Third Round. —Uren rushed in smartly and scored with tho left to the face. Volaire then got to close quarters, and severely batterel Urea's body and got In two nasty upper cuts to the face. Fourth Bound.—ln tho fourth round there was a good deal of in-fighting, both men landing freely, but just before the finish Uren sent tho right homo to the face on two occasions. There was not much weight behind either blow, but they gave him a slight lead. Fifth Round.—Volairo rushed his op. ponent to tho ropes, where ho crashed the left to the face. This brought. a wicked-looking right from Uren. but tho Wow was wasted. Uren then led with the right several times but did not sue* coed in landing one blow: Volaire continued to force on issue at dose quarters. Sixth Bound.—Uren got a left to the face, only to receive a weighty right to the jaw in return. The points wore about oven.

Seventh Bound.—The seventh round was easily .Volairo’g. as he got repeatedlv his right to Uren’s fane, and a nasty left hook to the ribs. Uren scored with left and right. ,

Eighth Round.—The pace was very so lid in the eighth round, each man making desperate efforts for supremacy. It wax Volaire’s round. Ninth Round. —The Frenchman continued to force • the fight, ■ Uren being powerless to keep him out. Volairo accepted the rights in the face to get in and he then appeared to score most points.

There was nothing of moment in the tenth and eleventh rounds, the most noticeable, feature being the ringcraft displayed. Twelfth Round. —The fight was now being waged in deadly earnest, each man being aggressive. Obviously Volaire was seeking an opening to swing in a right uppercut.

Thirteenth Round.—Volaire was taking no chances, and he whs ever on the lookout for an opening. Uren shot the right to his opponent’s jaw. and received in return a left to the’body, just as the gong wont Fourteenth Round.—This was the best round of the evening. Volaire rushed from his. corner to meet Uren, and drove his right with some force to his face. It staggered Uren, and enabled

Volaire to get in with -a left, right, and left to the body and make the Australian groggy. He weathered tno storm, however, and scored with a loft to the head just as tho gong went. Final Round.—The final round was very fant, but little damage was doue. mo»t of ’the blows being taken on the gloves. Uren again landed on dio toca twice, and Volaire got in a . ? e{xt right hook and was forcing the fighting, when time’ was called, and a “draw declared. PRELIMINARY CONTESTS. Tho preliminary contests were he] d between amateurs, and these were -»-ghiy interesting. _ _ , J. H. Carr, Ost 3lb. met V. Kerr, Bst 101 b, in five two-minute rounds of tight* Right from the outset Carr went otter Mr opponent, who had a decided advantage in reach. In the following Kerr, who has a good knowledge of ttifl fine points of tho game, came to light with a good left and evened up the points. A draw was declared. E. Morgan. Set 121 b, met J. Curran, Sat Ujlb, in a similar contest. In tllie early stages Morgan was doing; the better of the pair, but in tho last two rounds Curran forced matters and secured a popular decision. A light-weight amateur contest of four 2-minuto rounds between R, Ntxon, 9st 41b, and B. Daley, 9st Mb, was a dingdong go from start to finish. Daley was the more aggressive of the pair, but a great number of his blows were either "ducked” br- Nixon or taken on his gloves. Nixon had a straight left, which he used to advantage, but thi» only served to even up .the points, end the decision “-("a draw”) of the referee Mr Stewart, met with popular approval, p royal.