STADIUM BOXING.

Shannon News, 7 May 1929, Page 1

STADIUM BOXING.

LECKIE OUTPOINTS WILSON. A BRILLIANT.BOXER. Despite a month's interval, there was but a sparse attendance at .t'.e West Melbourne Stadium when it reopened on Saturday night, April 20t!i Even a promising bill, with' Johnny Leckie, of New Zealand, who.knocked out Billy Grime several weeks ago, and CI and o Wilson, feather-weight champion of the southern United States of America, failed to draw more than about 000 boxing fans. Those who attended the ringside were n6t disappointed; they were treated to one of the best boxing displays of the eveiir ing, and round after round brought forth apmeciative applause. Leckie won on Doinls over fifteen rounds. The weights'were: Leckie, 8 st 12 lbs; Wilson, 8 st. 33 lb. Leckie gained popularity from the start. Lithe, active and full of spirit, Leckie was like rpring steel, darting continually :in and out, belabouring the American with well-directed and welltimed lefts and rights to the head and body. Wilson, though an inferior! boxer compared with Leckie, is a sturdy boy, and possessed, of much mere stamina, and meeting Leckie's willing at : tacks Avith just as much determination and spirit, contributed his part in making the display anything but a tame one. Leading with an, unerring straight left to the head, followed up by stinging rights to the body, and occasionally tc the jaw, Leckie lead easily on points for the first six rounds. H" adopted the offensive throughout, but. several times the American led the attack and scored a little until Leckie cleverly got between his punches and scored with short arm blows in the in-fighting. Because of his nuggety frame, however. Wilfoi: showed little effect from the punches he had received, and in the seventh round made a determined effort to pull up on the scoring. Ho rushed in with short arm swings, scoring mainly to the head, but Leckie coolly fought Mm off towards the end of the round, and, by standing off and firing in straight lefts t 0 the head, regained his position. Tins round finished about even. In the ninth round the New Zealander, who Avas still attacking in a spirited way, sent Wilson fiom the centre of tluring lo the ropes with a beautifullyplaced right to the chest. Wilson quickly recovered, and it was obvious to the onlookers that the fight would go the full fifteen rounds. Wilson was too hard for a knock-out,from Leckie. and Leckie although he has practically no guard, being very open, was too wary with his clever foot "work and neat dodging to allow any dangerouslooking bloAv to connect. Wilson made another desperate effort tc even the scoring in the twelfth round. He forced Leckie from one side of the ring to the other, frequently trying to register an _ upper cut, which Leckie cleverly avoided. One:?, with a well-placed right, however, the American shook Leckie badly, but the New Zealander managed a respite by the use of his straight left?. ..Wilson won tlv; round, but from then on Leckie again asserted himself, and by keeping the fight fairly open, completely out-boxed Wilson and won the decision on points. Both hoys Avere mucu applauded for the lively and willing contest •hey had presented. Preliminary bonis resulted as follow: Billv I-luglus (8.31) was defeated by George Lacy (8.5) on a technical knock-out in the first round of a fourround bout." Over the same distant Barney Osborne (9.13 J) defeated Frani; Stevens (9-9) with a knock-out in tlu last round, and Roy Stanley (9.12) defeated Abe Young (9.11) on point' Over six rounds a hard-fought bout' resulted in Los. King (10.64) defeating Geoff. Hearns (10.9 i) on a narrow marpin or' fioir^s.— Age.