BOXING

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1048, 21 November 1947, Page 3

BOXING

TE KAHA D.H. SCHOOL FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT History was made last Friday night, November 14 at To Kaha when the Te Kaha District High . School staged its first school’s championship boxing tourney. It was the first ever held on tho Coast, and probably was the first staged by any school in the Bay of Plenty in recent years. The tourney altogether was an outstanding success, 22 bouts being staged. The whole show was run through perfectly, without the slightest delay between bouts. The standard of boxing was quite good, especially as the game was entirely new to any of the pupils and great credit is due to the headmaster, Mr. R. P. Martin and Mr. B. J. Taylor, assistant of the D. 11.5. for their coaching of the boys and the general organisation of the tourney.

Trophies donated b'y the residents of the Te lvalia district were presented to the champions of the respective weights by Mr. Cato of Te Kaha. Messrs. T. Hickey and R. Booth acted as referees for the evening. There was a large attendance, widely representative of the Coast and there was a fair sprinkling of ladies, everybody enjoying a really good night’s entertainment. Results were as follows:- •

Atom, Weight: Pom Kc-rikcri 3.11 was defeated by O'Jen Tangira 1.2. Plea Weight: Mamiic Pii'ini J. 10 lost to Mate Kemp 1.5. Paperweight : Bertie Tana 5.7 was beaten by T. lierewini; B. MeCurraeh 5.0 lost to W. Puha 5.1. In the final T, 1 . lierewini got the deeision over W. Puha. Hpidorweighl: J. Popata 5.8 was beaten by J. Martin ; J. Connelly 5.7 lost the decision to L\ Matenga. The latter beat J. Martin in the final. Flyweight: 11. Brown 6.G lost to S. Keefe who met and defeated C. Matehitt O.t) in the final. Bantam -Weight: T. Kerci 7.1 beat T. lierewini 7.6; B. Matenga secured the verdict over I». Tangira 6.12. The final between T. Kerci and B. Matenga went to the latter. Featherweight: T. Paora 8.1 beat K. lierewini 7.13; 11. Walker 8.-1 got the decision over J. linha 8.1. W. Tawhai 8.11 beat T. Matenga 8.5. 11. llcnia 7.13 a bye. In the second round T.- Paora won by default from 11. Walker and 11. Konia beat W. Tawhai. The final between T. Paora and 11. Konia went to the former.

Lightweight: P.- Campbell 0.13 got the decision over W. Te Moana 9.12, F. Hata having a bye. B. Keefe 9.G won from K. Mato. P. Campbell defeated F. Hata and in. the final also got the verdict over B. Keefe. Most Scientific Boxer: C. Malang:;, 1, W. Tawliai 2.- T - Game Loser: John lviilia 1, I'rank llata 2, Hare Konia 3. A handsome cup presented' by Mr Lai Jj'ennett for the most scientific boxer went to C. Matenga, a young boy who shows much promise. He undoubtedly deserved the uwaid. C. Tawliai proved himself a cool, .steady type of boxer who hit straight with both hands. He won a tiophy as the runner up for the must scientific boxer. John Italia won the trophy for the gamest loser “hands down. lie showed great courage ami Sameness and never let up from the word “go''. His victor H. Walker (son of well-known “Ike”) showed much promise ami hit straight and hard with both hands. This bout was the best ef the night. Unfortunately Walker injured bi« /hand m this light and had to default for the semi- final. . . Frank Hata put up a good exhibition against P. Campbell over three lounds in tile school s hca\iest division. He too was handicapped through an injury to a thumb and under the circumstances performed very creditably. - lie won a troplij as one of the game losers. P. Campbell the eventual winner of the “heavy” competition had three hard fights and thoroughly deserved his success, . ' Hare lvonia won a trophy tor giuneness, having had two. hard lights and being defeated in the final by T. Paora. AH the. boys performed well and they are to be congratulated on their initial .introduction to the noble art of self-defence. .