In The Boxing Ring THE OPENING CAME

NZ Truth, Issue 1213, 28 February 1929, Page 12

In The Boxing Ring THE OPENING CAME

Leckie Waited and Then Took The Advantage was shortTbut sweet (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) The fight staged by Johnnie Leckie and Matt Hatton m the Town Hall was the fastest arid shortest Auckland boxing fans have seen for a long time.

F"XPRESS train speed was clapped on Ju from . the word go, and both boys, looking m the pink of condition, went. to it with a will. The much awaited appearance of the champion, Johnnie, sent the crowd wild with enthusiasm and he received a wonderful hearing 1 , but when Announcer Dervan introduced Matt to his friends his words were lost m the cheering 1 . Yes, the fans were going to enjoy themselves all right and m the first two rounds Matt did his best for them. - In fact, there, was only, one thing, that spoilt the evening's entertainment — it was not long enough. Hatton cheered . the hearts of his supporters when he started m to collect points with an annoying straight left, and the fast pace had the crowd on its feet. He was wound up to go and he danced around Johnnie, planting left and right to the head and body m fine style. About the middle of the second round Matt flew through the' air and put all his weight into a left swing that landed so near the point of Johnnies jaw that the fans sprang to their feet to see him drop, but he showed no sign that he had noticed it. liliiliiiiiiiliiliiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiililiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiuiMiimiuiii

The first two rounds must have gone m . favor of the local lad^ but all the same Johnnie was not going to sleep. He was concentrating on his footwork and he had Hatton chasing him all over the ring. Smart clean hitting on the part of each of them packed the first, two rounds full of interest. Hardly had the third round started when Johnnie turned pace- . maker and it was his. remarkable change of. tactics and surprising burst of speed that put him m the winning position. Matt could not have known much of what happened from the striking of the gong until he found himself on the floor, for Johnnie saw an opening, and m went a right straight to the jaw. Hatton was staggered and it was then that Johnnie floored him with what seemed to be a pull with a hand he had around his neck. That was the beginning of the end, for Matt only staggered around the ring to make a target of himself and after he had been knocked twice for the. count of eight and received additional punishment on the ropes Referee Burns lifted Johnnies hand. The winner left the ring a fresh man, showing practically no sign of having been hit. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiKiiiiiiimn