Fistic Champions to Meet

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 386, 21 June 1928, Page 8

Fistic Champions to Meet

Northern Boxing Association will Stage Big Programme To-Morrow ANOTHER CASEY-HAY BATTLE

NO boxing' programme on so ambitious a scale as that scheduled for to-morrow evening has been seen in Auckland in recent years. The Northern Boxing Association is to be congratulated on securing four of the Dominion's best boxers for to-morrow evening’s big attraction.

This is in keeping with the association’s expressed intention of staging frequent fights among the best boxers available. Casey and Hay will dispute a 15-round contest and Pocock and Broadfoot will be seen in a 10round bout. In addition four wellperformed amateurs will appear. Efforts were made to have the middle-weight title, which Casey holds, involved, but Casey asked that Hay should also put his welter-weight title at stake. This Hay declined to do,

and as Casey wanted the contest to be. for both titles, or none at all, the fight was arranged without either of the* championships being involved. OLD RIVALS The title not being at stake will in no way alter the result of the fight, as Hay is bound to want to avenge his defeat at Casey’s hands at Wellington. Hay greatly pleased with his win over Broadfoot, and he added to his reputation when he so convincingly defeated McKnight. Casey is well known throughout the Dominion as the toughest man in the welter-weight and middle-weight divisions. He fought many stirring contests with Lachie McDonald, who is now champion of Australia, and in his first fight in New Zealand suffered defeat by a narrow margin to Charlie Purdy. On that occasion Casey pleased greatly, and ever since has enjoyed a good name in New Zealand pugilism. Elis last appearance in Auckland was with Leo Wax, who is now' in line for a fight for the welterweight championship of the world. Casey was disappointing, but when it is remembered that he had met and defeated Wax on many occasions in Australia a good fight could not be expected, as the boxers knew each other’s styles too well. Since that time Casey has proved himself in many parts of the Dominion and lie is eager to appear once more before an Auckland audience and to prove that he is the master of Hay. The pair have met thrice previously. Hay being knocked out on the first occasion, but winning on points in the second. The third meeting was at Wellington, when Hay was knocked out in the sixth round by a punch to

the solar plexus. Whether the blow was fair or foul was a point of dispute among many critics, but the referee held that it was fair and Casey was declared the winner. On Friday night Hay will have a chance to show whether he can defeat the middleweight champion and so avenge his earlier defeat. Casey has not been seen in action in Auckland for a long time, but reports of his contests in Southern papers show that he has not lost his speed and punch and he will be there at the finish. If Hay wins he will have earned his money, but he has a big hurdle to stride. POCOCK AND BROADFOOT The bout between Pocock and Broadfoot promises thrills from the first gong. Broadfoot needs no introducing to Aucklanders. Pocock is new to Auckland. He has not appeared here as amateur or professional. But his record is enough. As an amateur he had about 30 fights with but four losses, and he was the winner of the middle-weight championship of New Zealand on two occasions, and in 1926 was the runner-up. Since changing his status, he has beaten Dick Loveridge and lost a close decision to Harry Casey. From all reports he is

a hard two-handed fighter, with a solid wallop. GOOD AMATEUR CONTESTS The two professional fights alone make a full entertainment, but the Northern Association has also arranged two likely-looking amateur bouts. McPhail, the promising candidate for Auckland feather-weight honours and the holder of the championship of the North Shore, will be opposed by McLaughlin, another wellperformed feather-weight. McPhail has been the winner on two previous occasions, and McLoughlin is anxious to secure the decision on this occasion. The other bout should be one of the best amateur fights seen in Auckland. Clarrie McKnight will meet a seasoned light-weight in Alex Jones, who was runner-up to Morgan in the New Zealand championships. Jones is a rugged fighter who goes in all the time and gives his opponent no respite. He also packs a heavy punch, which is demonstrated in the fact that he knocked out Slattery, the Auckland light-weight champion, at the New Zealand meeting.