BOXING.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 246, 19 July 1928, Page 8

BOXING.

LOVEUIDGE BEATS COOMBES. The Te Aroha Boxing Association staged its postponed tourney on Monday night and submitted a good programme, included in which was a profession contest scheduled for ten three minute rounds. It was Coombes’ first professional fight in New Zealand. It was a good contest, which went the full distance . Loveridge won by superior ring craft and a straight left. up work was nullified to an extent by his “ claim-

ing.” As far as local men are concerned, interest had been centred in the return meeting between Johnny Smith (Morrinsvilie) and Gordon Campbell (of Matamata). In the previous contest between the two Campbell was adjudged the winner. However, there was disappointment for Matamata people, for Campbell, who fought three hard fights in the previous week did not put in an appearance.

Mr. Gus Venn refereed all contests. The Professional Bout. The weights announced were Dick Loveridge (New;' Plymonth) 11.4 v. Phil Coombes (Te Aroha), 11.2. Loveridge played for the body early in the first round, and then opened with three lefts to the head towards the end. It was Loveridge’s round. There was little in the next; if anything it went to Coombes. The third round was a hard one for in-fighting and was in Loveridge’s favour. Some of his work in the round was very clean. This also referred to the fourth. The Te Aroha man did better again in the fifth, and was fully testing the older professional. It was Coombes’ round. Loveridge piled up a few in the sixth and seventh, his straight left being something Coombes did not know what to do with. The Te Aroha man was also getting slightly the worst of the in-fighting. This as the story to the end. There was not a great deal in it, but Loveridge was always a shade in front. He got the decision. Amateur Contests. 11. Hines (Te Aroha) 9.0 v. B. Mutton (Frankton) 9.0; a four twominute round go. This pair fought furiously for the first round, with honours to Frankton, and the referee stopped the fight in the second round, awarding the fight to Mutton a clever boy.

J. Williams (Frankton) 11.0 v. O. Cleave (Te Aroha) 11.0; four twominute rounds.- The first round was fairly even. Although Cleave connected with several lefts to the head he left himself open. Williams boxed the cooler in the second round, which he won easily. The third was Cleave’s and in the fourth Williams went down for a count of nine twice, and the towel went in when he went to the boards again, Cleave getting a popular decision. Acldand Vernall (Frankton) 9.11 v. T. Harman (Te Aroha) 9.5; four twominute rounds. Vernall won the first round, but he was stopped by several straight lefts in the second. He livened up towards the end of the round and kept a margin in his favour from then to the end. The decision for Vernall was the right one.

E. Stewart (Te Aroha) 8.13 v. B. Hinton (Frankton) 8.13; four twominute rounds. These two boys fought toe to toe throughout the first two rounds with honours slightly to Hinton. The latter’s eye opened badly in the third, and the referee stopped the contest and awarded it to Stewart.