Boxing.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 276, 21 February 1929, Page 8

Boxing.

NIGHT AT TE AROHA. Pocock ar.d Broadfonf. G- Campbell Wins Decisively. the Te Aroha Boxing Association held its first tournament of the season on Saturday night and provided, besides a number of interesting amateur bouts, a first-class professional contest between the middleweights, Pocock (Christchurch) and Broadfoot (Auckland). When boxing commenced it seemed that the club was not to receive the patronage anticipated, but after the shops closed the theatre was practically filled. There were a good number of people from adjacent towns in the audience.

The professional fight want the full distance of 10 rounds, every one of which was fought at a fast pace. The referee made it plain at the opening that he would discountenance holding, so that the men had to make it open. It suited them both and the result was the most interesting contest ever put on by the association. Broadfoot scored well early in the fight but Poeock was going the stronger in the later stages and there are a number of keen judges who consider that the verdict should have gone to the Southerner. Broadfoot, however, showed much finesse in defence when Pocock wjas making the fight, and this doubtless influenced the referee in his decision—a draw.

The Matamata amateur lightweight, Gordon Campbell, proved much too good for Jock Wilson (Frankton), with whom he had fought a draw a few months ago. Campbell’s form demonstrated that he is probably the best lightweight, apart from the Auckland champion, in the province at the present time. Incidentally Campbell has a decision over Jones, the winner of the last Auckland championship. On Saturday night Campbell had Wilson an the verge of collapse half-way through the third round, and the referee stopped the fight, scheduled for six rounds. The Amateurs.

O. Cleave (Te Aroha), 10.9, v. N. McConnell (Frankton), 11.2, four .two-minute rounds.—The first was a very tame round, with what honours there were to the Frankton man. Cleave was repeatedly warned for holding. The men warmed to it in the last round but there was little science displayed. McConnell got a deserved decision.

Trevor Williams Frankton), 8.6, v. H. S. Pratt (Frankton), 9, four twominute rounds.—Both boys were fast on their feet but their punches lacked sting. Williams showed much improvement since his last appearance and had a margin in his favour throughout. His footwork was pretty and any reverse was quickly nullified by a return to the fray. Williams, who by the way is an old Matamata boy, son of Mr. Fred Williams, only requires to develop a solid punch to come up to a high standard. He has the head. He was a comfortable winner on Saturday. The winner’s father was at one time amateur heavyweight champion of New Zealand.

C. Jansen (Te Aroha), 10.11, v. J. ’"'oss (Frankton), 10.9, four twominute rounds.—These boys showed plenty of action from gong to gong in the first round but continually held in the second and were cautioned. Jansen got a slight lead in the first three rounds and although he was well beaten in the last he was far enough ahead to get the decision. T. Harman (Te Aroha), 9.7, v. Woods (Waitoa), 9.4, six two-minute rounds.—Harman did most of the work in the first round and had the advantage. Woods warmed to it in the second and scored several straight lefts to the head and some telling body blows to even up matters. There were some torrid exchanges in the third, both men looking for a decision by the short route. In the close wo'-k Woods scored heavily but his blows at long range were telegraphed. The Waitoa man appeared to ti -e in the fourth and Harman scored nicely with lefts. Woods staged a dramatic dash at Harman at the opening of the fifth but Harman met him with a left and followed it with a double right. The round provided some hard punching, with plenty of excitement. Woods carried a variety of nunches in the last, the most telling h<dng a left jab, Harman leaving himself quite open to these points scorers. The decision for Woods met with a mixed reception but was just about the right one. It was quite a good contest. Win for Campbell. Special interest was manifested in the six two-minute rounds return match between Gordon Campbell (Matamata), 10, and Jock Wilson (Frankton), 9.5. Campbell scored

with several telling lefts end of the first and had Wilson on one knee at the gong. The second also went to the Matamata man, who did best at the long-range work. Half-way through the third Campbell had his man at his mercy and Mr. Meale stopped the fight, awarding it to Campbell. Campbell was much too clever for the Frankton lad. The Professionals.

The weights announced for the professional contest were, Clarrie Pocock (Christchurch 11.4, Jim Broadfoot (Auckland) 11.6. Broadfoot looked much heavier than Pocock. This was the third meeting of the pair. The first was won by Broadfoot and the second was drawn. Broadfoot opened the first round with some two-handed body blows but Pocock slowed him down with a cople of left jabs. Broadfoot missed badly with a left swing early in the second, but scored with left and rights, to be stopped again with two straight lefts. Pocock took the fight to Broadfoot in the third and could easily lay claim to the round. Pocock’s work at this stage was cleaner than Broadfoot’s, although the latter’s footwork was good. At the end of the fifth round there was very little in it ; the men were putting up a solid exhibition. The sixth was again full of interest and was fairly even, but Pocock did some clever long-range work in the seventh and got the round. Early in the eighth Broadfoot met a solid left to the jaw and then missed badly with a left swing. Broadfoot’s defence was a sparkling feature of the eighth and earned him points. It was toe to toe in the ninth with Broadfoot tiring and losing points. He came up again and fought a game last round and saved a decision against him. Had Pocock gained the last round decisively it is doubtful whether Mr. Meale could have done anything else but give him the decision. The referee's verdict was a draw.