FIGHT ALL THE WAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1182, 26 July 1928, Page 10

FIGHT ALL THE WAY

When Dunedin Met The Lad From Yorkshire

1 (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Representative.) There are many tricks m the fighting game and "Norman Radford knows them all.

THE little Yorkshireman, , who made, -lis bow at Dunedin last Saturday night against Johnnie Leckie, is well furnished with all the requirements of a good fighter. But even when he was hitting on all six he could not quell the speed, courage and v stamina of the undefeated Dunedlnlte. ' The fight was, without question, the fastest witnessed m Dunedin for many. a day. Early m. the piece good judges were predicting that it would never see the journey out, but it did, and it speaks volumes for the work of Archie Leckie and Pat. O'Connor. Radford's ringcraft was infinitely ! superior to that of Leckie. . Prom the .Initial gong it was a case of two minds with but a single thought. Each was sailing for the other, fullyrigged, with the result that three thousand -Dunedinites saw a fast and close exhibition for the full fifteen rounds; v Radford is by far the most experienced fighter Leckie has yet met. His unusual style had Johnnies brain working overtime and with a clever back move Radford had Leckie frequently mistiming and .missing. The Englishman r>aid careful attention to Leckie's notorious right , hand body punch and when hot blocking it with his glove he skilfully held Leckie's arm. . y This form of ringcraft,' if such it can be called, is becoming too common down Dunedin way, and Referee Jack

Kilmartin would be well advised to step m. Both boys showed a distinct inclination to mix it and a torrid time it was. Radford employed an upper cut coming out of clinches which frequently jolted Leckie's head, while the New Zealander retaliated with straight hits with both hands, though most of his scoring came from his left. Radford employed a left, hook to some purpose, but it did not carry the weight of Leckie's 'straight blows. .. Early m the second half of the scrap Radford piled up points by enticing Leckie In and propping his left,. while he also had Johnnie missing badly, with his elusive ducking and unusual crouching stance. With three rounds to go and with points practically equal. both boys ""surged m like a tornado. They swapped a shower of blows, Radford finishing the round by sending across' the cleanest hit up till that time flush on Leckie's jaw. . Johnnies remarkable speed and stamina were still with him, while Radford was not moving so quickly. He scattered his right . all over the Englishman and made him a trifle groggy, but Norman ..replied with' a double left to the face. The last round was about the most torrid ever seen m,, Dunedin, and Leckie must have scored maximum points for his work. ;■ '*■ Leckie's speed, stamina and straight work prevailed.