Auckland Boxing Championships

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 107, 27 July 1927, Page 7

Auckland Boxing Championships

SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS LAST NIGHT’S CONTESTS Clean, crisp boxing and vigorous fighting were features in the semifinals and finals of the Auckland Provincial Amateur Boxing Championships in the Town Hall last night. The surprise boxer of the tourney was J. McPhail, feather-weight. On Monday night he defeated Curran and Rickard, and last night he beat R. McLachlan. This was his first appearance in the ring, and the defeat of experienced boxers by a novice came as a surprise. Pie was beaten in the final by Agnew, who showed himself to be a fine two-handed boxer with a telling punch. Another novice, R. Webster, astounded all by Ills gameness and ability to take punishment. He took enough punishment in his bouts to make him keep clear of the ring for all time, but it is hoped that such a game boy will figure in future carnivals. A GREAT TUSSLE The fight of the night was that between Slattery, of Te Kuiti, and D. Armishaw. Both pack telling punches. The Te Kuiti boy is a quicker mover and at times had Armishaw very busy. It was a fight all the way, Armishaw putting in some telling punches. Six entries were received in the bantam division, but only two boys made the weight. Only two entries were received in the heavy class. F. Clarkson, the third featlier-semi-final-ist, retired from the competition. A. Hogg and P. McCarthy defended their titles successfully. The Craig Cup for the most scientific boxer was won by F. Pearcey. The following are the results:

FLY-WEIGHT Semi-finals C. Verrall, 7.91, beat J. McLachlan, 7.51. Verrall was too tough for McLachlan, who is only a youngster, and dropped him in the first minute. He connected with a right cross and McLachlan was counted out. F. Pearcey, 7.95, beat T. Shandley, 7.92. This was a very slow fight for flyweights. Pearcey had Shandley on the defensive all the time and received the decision. Final P. Pearcey, 7.91, beat C. Verrall. 7.91. Verrall was much the better boxer, hitting very cleanly with both hands. He dropped Pearcey, but the latter was up immediately. Pearcey was always trying to land a telling blow and placed some nice light swings. Verrall made him miss in the last round. Pearcey received the decision, but Verrall was a very close second. BANTAM-WEIGHT Final J. O'Sullivan, 5.2, beat C. Manson, 8.1. A very close fight. After an even first round the fighting was willing in the second Manson connecting with a straight left, and O'Sullivan boring in. O’Sullivan scored with solid left hooks and swings in the final round, Manson using a straight left and hard right. O’Sullivan was declared the winner. FEATHER-WEIGHT Semi-finals F. Clarkson, 8.10, beat G. Leslie, B.IOJ. Clarkson won the first round all the way, connecting to the head and body with well-timed blows. In the second session Leslie brightened up and used his left well. Leslie connected with lefts and rights to the head in the final term, and had Clarkson groggy. Both were tired, but the early-established lead gave Clarkson the verdict. J. McPhail, 8.12, beat R. McLachlan, S.lOl. The first round was very tame. The second and third rounds saw McPhail place some solid rights, while McLachlan used both hands well. The decision was in favour of McPhail. Final R. Agnew, 8.101. beat J. McPhail, 8.12. This bout opened at a fast clip. Agnew proved himself to be a fast and clever boxer and McPhail fought much better than in the semi-final. Just before the gong clanged for the end of the first round Agnew hit his opponent on the point with a well-timed right. McPhail walked to his corner very groggv. He did not continue and Agnew was awarded the decision. LIGHT-WEIGHT Semi-finals 9 10’ Armishaw » 10.0, bea t J. Bishara, Bishara was very shifty and made good use of a straight lett and left uppercut. Armishaw had the better of the close work. Armishaw placed some good right hand punches to the body in the second spell, and Bishara made use of his speed and a straight left. Bishara's left was again in evidence during the final round. Armishaw was the heavier puncher but the decision in his favour could easily have gone the other way. T. Slattery, 9.10, beat C. McKnight, This was a fight from the first. Slattery was very quick on his feet and used a good left. McKnight placed good rights and with a nice straight left had Slattery moving. Slattery was very aggressive in the second spell and the gong saved McKnight. Tearing in for the final session Slattery had McKnight again in trouble, and the referee stopped the fight. McKnight protested to the referee. Final „ T. Slattery, 9.10, beat D. Armishaw, 10.0. With beautiful footwork and quick lefts SJattery had his opponent on the defensive in the first round. Armishaw missed with a vicious uppercut in the next session, and Slattery landed a solid one-two punch. Armishaw replied with a hard right swing. The last round was very fast, both boxers plying their lefts. There were some good exchanges and though hard-pressed Armishaw fought back well. Both were very tired at the finish, and Slattery received the award. WELTER-WEIGHT Semi-finals E. Armishaw, 10.7, beat L. Gee, 10.21. Armishaw was much too solid for his opponent, and from the beginning of the second round Gee was fighting a losing battle. Nevertheless Gee made the bout interesting and put up a very game fight. He placed some neat blows but Arinishaw’s heavier punching carried the day. R. Webster, 10.31, beat Joe Smith, 10.4. Smith was much too experienced for his opponent, and connected with heavy rights to the body, but Webster fought back in great style, and received an ovation at the close of the first round. In the second term they stood toe to toe until Smith was disqualified for a lowpunch. Final E. Armishaw, 10.7, beat R. Webster, 10.3 L Webster was made a chopping block from the start, but the heavier the punishment the more he came back. He was all but out in the second term, but he grinned at Armishaw and came in for more. The referee, however, stopped the bout and gave the decision to Armishaw. MIDDLE-WEIGHT Semi-finals J. Gardiner, 11.3, beat J. Tierney, 10.13. Gardiner had the advantage in reach and used a good left. Tierney placed some good lefts and at the close of the first round both were groggy. Coming in aggressively Tierney landed some solid rights but a right cross put him down. He rose at the count of eight, but the referee awarded the bout to Gardiner, as Tierney was unfit to continue. P. Coombe, 11.3, beat Jim Smith, 10.6. Holding spoiled this bout. Smith had a big advantage in reach and went in close. Coombe bad him groggy, but Smith was very game. Coombe used his right well and gained the verdict. Final P. Coombe, 11.3, beat J. Gardiner, 11.3. A very willing beginning tailed off into a long succession of clinches. Coombe landed some good punches with both hands, and Gardiner plied a good left. After more clinching and wrestling Coombe was given the decision. CRUISER-WEIGHT Semi-final W. McLean, 11.61, beat S. Burt, 11.11. McLean had Burt going from the first but the latter fought back gamely. Just

before the end of the first round two heavy rights to the jaw put Burt down for the .count. Final A, Hogg, 11.9, beat W. McLean, 11.67. Hogg had a great advantage in height and reach. There were some heavy exchanges, but Hogg dropped his opponent for a count of four, and again for a count of four. McLean, who fell on his hands, retired, it being explained that he had injured his hand in the previous bout, and the fall had again damaged it. H EAVY-WEIGHT Final F. McCarthy, 12.2, beat D. Cowan, 13.7. In the first round Cowan plied a long left. McCarthy countered with a right to the jaw, putting Cowan down for nine, and the referee stopped the fight.