STILL CHAMPION

NZ Truth, Issue 1205, 3 January 1929, Page 8

STILL CHAMPION

Artie Hay Deservedly Retains FIGHT FOR^^TERTte (From "N.Z. Truth's" Westport Representative).

, In a strenuously-fought battle, Reg. Trowern, the clialleriger, failed .to wrest the New Zealand' welterweight championship from the holder, Artie Hay, at Westport, on Boxing Nightb 'b V ' ' '■'• The fight went the wh6le 15 rounds, and Cliff Thomas 's de-. cision met with a very mixed reception.

TROWERN was out after the title all the way, but Hay held too piany guns for the challenger. 7 The fight, was one -of the most strenuous seen at Westport for years, but- could hardly be termed a scientific display. Hay entered tlie .ring at 10.5% and Trowern weighed 10.5. .Trowern 7 concentrated on the body, but Hay had the advantage m extra reach, and administered severe punishment with a very heavy right. Tr-bwern^ was cautioned on one occasion for.using' the shamrock. Trowern made the fight throughout, and repeatedly had Hay on the ropes, but Hay used his ' head and gave a more finished display of boxing, and he rightly re-: /tains the 'title. " Trowern's b strong point was infighting, a. clinch generally ending with Hay, on the ropes,, receiving a severe pounding. , Both boys made the first two rounds willing, with Hay using the right to advantage, and Trowern ' scoring m infighting. Concentrating mostly on the heart, ■ Trowern put m clever footwork, which made Hay miss badly on several: occasions, but Just before the end of the second round, Hay connected with a vicious right to the body and a' left to the jaw, and had^Trowern oh the ropes, but the latter quickly recovered and sent a couple of rights and lefts to the body and a left to the jaw. ''

Trowern came back strongly m the third, and had Hay on His knee. The opening of the fifth round saw Trowern connect with a beautiful right to the jaw. 'Another followed quickly, but Hay recovered and connected with a right and a left to the head. Tcowern set a whirlwind . ypace, but Hay connected repeatedly with a vicious right to the jaw. In a clinch Hay appealed for a Shamrock. A solid right to the body put Trowern; on the ropes." '■-.'■.. The next, two rounds developed into a wrestling match, and the pace died down considerably.

In a clinch which developed; into a melee both boys tripped, and landed through the ropes. The fight 'at this stage was far from championship standard. Hay was swinging lefts to the head, but they lacked sting. Trowern . was leading good lefts to the bqdyl. The eighth round saw Trowern forcing; the fight, but m doing so he laid himself open to heavy punishment. Two beautiful rights to the jaw saw Trowern on the ropes, but a moment I later he was driving Hay' round the (ring. ■■'■'•

The ninth and tenth rounds saw-both b'dys .'.•mixing; it freely. Trowern was connecting well with his left and had Hay thinking. The fight so far had lacked variety and was far from satisfying, to the crowd. The next two rounds were otf little consequence, an d shouts of "Don't kiss him," echoed through the hall. The "wrestling match" was punctuated by" Hay connecting with a few light lefts.

Trowern persisted m cohiing into a clinch .and when

called upon failed to break away cleanly. He made a habit of turning his 'opponent on to the ropes and coming into a clinch. The last three rounds saw Trowern making tlie pace again, but Hay was getting m some good, work with his uppercuts. , The last round was a "trirjimer." Both boys let themselves go, and made it an open slather. The crowd Avas' on its feet throughout. Hay again connected well with heavy lefts to the jaw. Trowern fell into a clinch, and pounded Hay on the ropes. Trowern forced the fight, but Hay gave a much better display. At the conclusion of the contest, the "Truth" Belt was presented, to "Hay by Harry Holland, M.P., who congratulated him on having won the trophy twice m succession. : Trowern has expressed a willingness to meet Hay again at Westport.