K.O. NOT IN EVIDENCE

NZ Truth, Issue 1149, 8 December 1927, Page 12

K.O. NOT IN EVIDENCE

Leckie Has To Win On Points From Griffiths ■ ..-.*■■ .

(Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Representative.)

, Pierce and fast, with everybody whispering and wondering whether Johnny Leckie would take his fh-vorite route to victory, and. yet recalling the reputation of Tommy Griffiths— this was the atmosphere created by the &0 00 watchers around the ring on Saturday night last.

A FEW shook their heads m dissent when Referee - Jack Kilmartin placed his hand on Johnny's head at the clbse .of the final round, but there could be no mistaking the fact that Leckie had won on points. Not, however, 1 by the length of the proverbial street. Far from ltl Of the fifteen rounds it would

appear that the winner secured the

/margin ln six, the noser two less and the remaining Aye were evenly split y P" „ y ■ Let's see, was the attitude of the crowd. Johnny opted Harry: Gunn In ,; the eighth round; Mark Carroll m; the eleventh; Duke Maddox m the second; and, Darby lO'Connor m the twelfth — will he round off his prO. career to date with another k.O. tonight? -\' ■ ■ IBy the end of the sixth ; round they were not m doubt; ' It was the case vrh er e two lads ifrom the same stable ' had learned all Its tricks— where evasion met its counterpart, and •fierceness its bwh; answer. Johnny wasn't the Johnny who pasted ' clever Darby O'Connor — 'th c mantle of vim seemed shed, and snappy love-taps, too much in-flght-<ncr on.? i-nn Hft.e.

ing, and, too little use of'that jawclicking upper-cut stepped under the ropes and tqok its/corner. Griffiths' aggravating flair for tap, tap, s -tapping with the open glove took the bit v between its teeth, until at length its demonstrator nad a word or two whispered m his ear which was nearest the ref. V L?ckie's boxing temper must have been, fairly well strained iwhen he found that his snap-shoot-ing at a most elusive target did no more than poke holes m the place ; where Tommy's head had once been.

That little devil of evasion was the spirit which prevented Johnny from notching another scalp to his hatchet. It was surprising to a good many that Griffiths dodged those kingdom come wipe-outs, and then ducked into a low .crouch, Johnny failing to deliver a crunching upper-cut as a follow-in. There never was a nicer straightening process than a good upper.

Leckie connected more cleanly, but

m tne miacue section of the fight Griffiths smacked some stinging left jabs on the target, making it rock a little. . Although the champion had the advantage m both height and reach, ithere |wae very little between them m point of ' honors, but Johnny still retains the featherweight title of this country. Secretary Harry Divers was rubbing his hands at the visions of a big diwie for the association, and there were a lot of others, too, equally pleased. Particularly the gentlemen -with; the beer-bottles on the fringe of* the crowd. In the eighth round a crunching sound inspired some apprehensive glances towards the roof, but it was nothing more than the collapse of a treasured benzine

box as It precipitated a' watcher or two to the nether regions of hoots and ser- , ried legs. ' Archie Leckie, hard-headed counsellor of both Johnny Leckie and Tommy Griffiths, could scarcely contain himself when Ref. Kilmartin gave Johnny the nod. .". He slithered through the ropes and across the ring, hugging Johnny good and hearty. . . 'Most everybody was satisqed with their investment — which is the main thing. ' •.'■....