PLAYS ANOTHER ROLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1184, 9 August 1928, Page 10

PLAYS ANOTHER ROLE

Fighter Griffiths Pleases, Though He Loses

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Representative.) Otago fans like value for their money and they are getting it this season. .

ANOTHER scrap went the full Journey last Saturday, when Norman Radford outpointed Tommy Griffiths. In marked contrast with his fight with Barber the previous week. Griffiths fought the fight of his life. Griffiths is aotually fighting out of his class— he 1b really a bantamweight — but he has proved himself equal to extending, and occasionally beating, the best nine-stone boys. On Saturday last he was spasmodically seen as a fighter, and that he can mix it when he wants to is an absolute fact. Ask Norm. Radford. Radford expressed the opinion to "N.Z. Truth" after the fight that if Griffiths would go m and fight all the way he would be the best feather m the country. •'< The Englishman, with an ' international experience behind him, considers that Griffiths knows more about the science of the game than Leckie. Radford has fought them both and he ought to know. It is apparent, however, that Griffiths is losing the speed from his left mitt, and it is likely that his numerous engagements with rugged featherweights have slowed him up a trifle.

Both boys were keen te mix it last Saturday night* but they are both masters at the feint and duck, and each had the other missing a lot. Griffiths left himself open to Radford's left hook and took it on the body so many times m the early stages that he dropped" a long way behind. The fight was fairly tame up till the fifth session, when the Englishman warmed to the business. There was little long-range fighting, however, the most of the exchanges being close up. In the ninth' Griffiths got annoyed at Radford's disinclination to retreat the necessary step from the breakaway. Dunedinites saw their clever little boxer going ,like a he-man fighter for half a round, m which Radford was glad to box for safety. Up till this stage Radford was clearly drawing out on points, but from the eleventh Griffiths made 'a forward move, i ' The Dunedinite clapped on the pace .at the business end and had Radford m the cart. The thirteenth and fifteenth rounds were the finest that Griffiths has fought m Dunedin this season, but his late run failed to wipe off Radford's margin.