THE RING.

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 47

THE RING.

BOXING. THOMAS v. LECKIE The professional boxing contest between Johnnie Leckie (9.3) and Joey Thomas, of America (9.2), had a most disappointing ending, Leckie informing the referee (Mr J. Kilmartin) at the end of the tenth round that he had cramp in the stomach, and could not go on. Thomas, who was at the time leading by -a fair margin of points, was declared the winner. ■ I’he lure of Johnnie Leekie as a fighter is still-strong in Dunedin, as was demonstrated by the large crowd which gathered -in the Town Hall last week to see. him. fight Joey Thomas, who had already gained decisions in New Zealand over Donovan and the Australian boxer Blay. The hall was packed to the doors —the attendance being estimated at over 3000—and many were unable to gain admittance. The takings were about £5OO. The fight was for a purse of £2OO, and was set to go 15 rounds, each of three minutes. Leekie gave up, as stated, in the tenth round, and suffered his first defeat in a contest in Dunedin.

■ There were not many high lights in the contest —in fact several of the rounds were-tame. Thomas was the taller of the two, but Leekie looked the more rugged. Those who had seen Leckie fight in Dunedin in his prime were quickly surprised to see that he was always willing, and sometimes anxious, to go into a clinch or feature infighting. Leckie never used to favour this style of boxing. The open ring, with footwork, a left lead, and a flashing, devastating right to the head —this was what was expected, but it was seldom in evidence. Leckie has lost a lot of his aggressiveness, if last night’s exhibition can be taken as a guide; his footwork has slowed, sind his timing was generally weak. Thomas is an elusive fighter without a very hard punch. He does not appear indeed to be a knock-out artist. He is clever with the back move, blocks nicely, and is always cool and resourceful. The contest so far as it went was marked by a great sameness. There was a lot of clinching and infighting and missing

by both men, neither of whom hardly struck a blow to disturb seriously the confidence of his opponent. Thomas watched Leckie carefully in the opening rounds, and was quick to back move or to close with his man. but he began to box more freely as the fight went on. Thomas has a good scoring light left to the face, and a short-arm right to the ribs, and these were his chief scoring blows. THE PRELIMINARIES. . FOUR THREE-MINUTE ROUNDS. J. Craik (8.4 J beat S. Sutherland (8.4). Craik bored into his opponent at the start o fthe first round and punched him all ways with both hands. Sutherland fought back in the gamest fashion, but went down twice—each time for a count of two seconds—and on the third occasion he dropped to the mat the referee (Mr J. Kilmartin) stopped the contest. The fight had only lasted two and a-half minutes. W. Sinton (lOA) beat T. Cumming (10.2). Cumming, a short, stocky boxer, rushed into his opponent and hit him with short rights and lefts to such purpose that the .fight looked all over. Sinton was half knocked through the ropes, and on getting into the ring again he caught Cumming with a right to the jaw and dropped him for a count of three. The fight had now swung to Sinton in a rather remarkable manner. He followed Cumming across the rin", and connected to the head with another right. Cumming went down for a count of eight seconds, and was sent to the mat again immediately after and was counted out. The round had not lasted a minute. D. Campbell (9.5) beat W. Francis (9.9). There was a lot of wild hitting in the first round, and both men missed with left and right swings. Campbell scored more than once with lefts to the face. In the second round Campbell rushed into his opponent, and had him hanging on. Francis was very tired before the gong and was seeking safety by clinch-

instructor: “Don’t stand there—go after ’im! ” , Victim: “’Ow can I, when ’e keeps coming after me ? ” —Weekly Telegraph, Sheffield.

ing. Starting the third round Francis was checked by the referee for holding, and shortly after he was down for nine seconds, then eight seconds, and then he was counted out. Francis fought gamely, but his condition gave out. It was not a very scientific display. HUGHES DEFEATS DONOVAN. AUCKLAND, June 3. The professional featherweight boxing contest between Tommy Donovan (New Zealand champion) and Archie Hughes (New South Wales champion) was won by Hughes on points. The contest was characterised by excessive clinching and infighting, and was a disappointing spectacle to the large crowd. WIN FOR LEN HARVEY. LONDON, June 1. At the Albert Hall in a middleweight match Len Harvey knocked out Rene Devos in 90 seconds, Jack Hood, the welterweight champion, challenged the winner. HANCOCK BEATS CARROLL. SYDNEY, June 5. At the Leichhardt Stadium the welter champion of Australia, Wally Hancock. 10.5, gained a decision on a foul in the seventh round against Jack Carroll, 10.6, the Victorian. The contest drew a record crowd and was very willing while it lasted. PALMER v. BUNDR ED. MELBOURNE, June 6. At the Stadium to-night Ambrose Palmer beat Herman Bundred on points.