A BATTLE OF GIANTS

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

A BATTLE OF GIANTS

''.'(Fcoin ;'N.Z. Truth's ''Special Auckland Representative). . Never has. 'a tougher/, harder or cleaner fought fight been witnessed at the Auckland Towii Hall than that which took place last Thursday night between Tommy Mclnnis and . Lachie McDonald, and pn- their showings before 'a house packed to its capacity, nothing softer ; or lighter than a crowbar ' could' put' either man out of action^ 7

I- 1 ■•■';■■.■ ■ IF there Avas.. any, advantage to either man m the early stages, it must ..be , put toLiachie's credit' as being the most; aggressive;- and more than once the referee hkd> to , warn both m'en for holding. ' : r ;.■■ JJry., t ry'\ J.J: , ■'.■ b The Timaru lad slipped biitiqf severe ;pu,nishment 7: of ten 7 -with smart head wiork, and 'Tommy' f or', his part took a lot of stoiich on/his uplifted gloves; '■ '-J .'■ '■■ •■■' "■ 777' '■''. -.-'. ■ '. : .J ■';■■'■ '' 7' "•'■ '1 Both men -during ;the fight lost' their mouthg'uards; Tommy being 7 the firsthand a well placed upper", cut from the. latter :joltec|.VLachie,'s put later. ; •'■-"' 7 bb : .by. :As the fight, went, on Tonimy grew more confident and bored m to body, mark,' and chin' Avith greater; fi\e-. qiiency ; ; exchanges took place-7 which would have - put- men of tenderer fibre put of §ictibri bef prebthe tenth round Was reached;;/ /by \J.'J b. ■■''•. '7 ' '.''■' .The gong, was responsible fpr terminating some interesting situations, especially tpAyards the (latter end, .when Liachie's left beye/ had been re-opened, and was bleeding, copiously and, his rugged black-haired^^antagonist was piling m hisstouch at close quarters. 7 . It 7 was then that IJachie .'shoAved signs' of weakening; but his marvellous ability to; come -back surprised even his; most admiring/ fans, and as the gong went 7 to, resume 7he was put for Tommyjsiblood,^^^ "iresh'''asbever.,/b7;7'v7'. -'y- ..;//;/ '■;• -b" '.'•.■ ■ Once 7Tdmhiy7 claimed.; a 'foul and leant back 7on the bro pes i.his, hand to his abdomen, but.it was^disallowed/'and Rightly;

The eighth round was fought at high pitch and speed, and had the house frantio with enthusiasm. It was one ceaseless three minutes * of hectic .biff, rough but clean. . ■i.-;Th'ence on Tommy became; m the main the aggressor and -drove and hurled himself into -Liuphie,- not that the hitter was doing nothing for .he scored, some: great blows to the jaAV arid ear, and:': wag"'.' always dangerous. It was at this stage that Lac hie saved himself much punishment, with his alert Head Avork und made Tommy, miss, but 'round eleven suav TLachie shoAving signs Of drooping. ■./ ■<■■ .Tummy duririg the last three rounds drove Ijachie again arid again on the ropes andbuiiperciit him, liis eye as a target, Avith both .gloves till it seemed he must get abvin on a'kayo. But the Timaru boy to save more punishriierit :simply rested ori Tommy's shoulder arid smothered until he came to light AviLh.sbiiie vigorous returns momentarily, showing/that he had no iritehtiori of taking the count. Once or twice Lachie had Tommy a little, gallied before the finish, and both men were undoubtedly seeking 7to put the decision beyond all ■ • doubt; Their stamina stayed by bpth till the -laist, and' the fifteenth Avas fought all vthe Avay, Meale: being; kept busy breaking' the men apart. 1 Mcliinis got the decision finally after one of the greatest fights seen for years m Auckland.