Boxing.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 311, 24 October 1929, Page 8

Boxing.

PROFESSIONALS DISQUALIFIED. “No Fight ” at Te Aroha. There was an inglorious ending to a professional featherweight boxing contest at Te Aroha on Thursday night. The bout was between Tommy Griffiths (Dunedin) and Frank Taylor (Auckland) and was scheduled to go over 10 rounds for a purse of £75. The boxers did not get to the end of 10 rounds, the referee, Mr. R. Meale, stepping in in the seventh round and disqualifying both. From the first round the referee frequently told the men not to hold, to let go each other’s arms and to box. From the press seats it seemed that Griffiths was the greatest offender. For just over six rounds the contest was a succession of clinches. The contestants would then wait for the referee to order them to break.

It was unfortunate for the association that the fight came to such an ending, for the contestants had put up good exhibitions elsewhere. Without exception the amateur bouts were above the ordinary, and the association had gone off the beaten track for competitors. The arrangements made by Mr. L. M. Mahon and his committee were admirable and in keeping with the association’s previous efforts. The Professionals.

The weights for the professional bout were given as, Griffiths 8.10, Taylor 8.3. The contest was scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds for a purse of £75. The first round was full of close work, with little between the boys. Referee Meale cautioned both for holding and later urged them to box. The second round was not exciting ,and there was little between them. They were mixing it in close when the gong sounded. Taylor scored repeatedly with a right rip to the body and a left jab to the head. It was Taylor’s round. Taylor was made to miss badly in the next but he more than evened up with some clever infighting and had two rounds in his favour. In the fifth round Mr. Meale stopped the boxing and told both lads he did not think they were doing their best. Griffiths was cautioned for holding in the sixth but then scored points in a little long-range work. Within half a minute of the commencement of the seventh round the referee stopped the fight and announced that he was satisfied it was not genuine. He therefore disqualified both boxers. The announcement was greeted by applause.

AMATEURS AT TE AROHA. Although the professional bout at the Te Aroha Boxing Association’s carnival last week was advertised as being for £IOO by far the more interesting fare was that provided by the amateurs. It was fortunate for the association that these were above the average, otherwise it would have been a very flat evening. The amateur bouts were:—

Trevor Williams (Frankton), 8.4 v. Stewart (Te Aroha), B.l2—four twominute rounds. Stewart was the hardest opponent Williams has yet faced. Despite the fact that he was giving awJy over half a stone, however, the Frankton boy did most of the leading in the first round, and showed the more versatile methods. Stewart fought well to the body in the next session and evened up. Williams showed much more science in the third and fourth and there was no doubt about the verdict in his favour.

O. Cleave (Te Aroha), 10.10 v. Kerr (Frankton), 10.0—four twominute rounds. These two boys made it very willing. Kerr was twice down in the first round from two solid lefts, but saw the found out gamely. Cleave used both hands effectively in the opening exchanges of the second, but towards the end the Frankton lad was scoring points. Both were swung off their feet in the third, but they continued to make it willing. At the end of the round Cleave was still ahead. Kerr sent right and left in early in the fourth, and Cleave took a count of nine. The Te Aroha boy weathered the storm and an extra round was ordered. At the end of the fifth the decision went to Cleave, but there was very little in it. The boys received rounds of applause for their willing exhibition. M. O’Connor (Patetonga), 9.6 v. C. Meehan (Te Aroha), B.9—three twominute rounds. These boys were of totally different styles. Meehan’s cleverness was in defence, while his

opponent was the more aggressive. O’Connor won by making the fight. The winner is a boy of promise. W. O’Connor (Patetonga), 10.1 v. Bennett (Papakura), 9.8. Both opened in whirlwind fashion. O’Connor had the better of the early part of the first round, but Bennett evened up at the end with successive twohanded punches, Bennett showed the greater knowledge in the second, and had O’Connor on the verge of groginess. After torrid third and fourth rounds the decision went to O’Connor. The verdict surprised many.