New Boxing Champions

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 415, 25 July 1928, Page 12

New Boxing Champions

AUCKLAND AMATEUR TITLES

Semi-Final and Final Bouts

THE semi-finals and finals of the Auckland amateur championships held in the Town Hall last evening were well contested, hut no new talent was found. The new champions are:—Ply-weight, F. Pearcey; bantam, E. Davis; feather, G. Leslie; light, A. Jones; welter, J. G. Forsyth; middle, W. Pitcher; light-heavy and heavy, P. McCarthy.

Only two 1927 champions, Pearcey and McCarthy, defended their titles, and both were successful in retaining them. McCarthy also won the light-heavy-weight championship. This is the second year in succession that Pearcey has been successful in the flyweight division. He met surprising opposition in his bout with Purdie, and only by a slight margin did he win. Davis, winner of the bantam-weight class, is a clever boxer with a good punch, but Bailey, by sheer tenacity, gave him a lively time in the last two rounds of the final. Bailey only missed championship honours by a shade. Leslie won the feather-weight class by punching ability, and Jones was similarly successful in the light-weight division. On their showing last evening neither Forsyth nor Fraser in the welter-weight final can be classed as champions. Only by luck did Pitcher win the middle-title, as the decision could have gone to Shadbolt with perfect fairness. McCarthy had no difficulty in winning both the light-heavy and heavyweight titles. The referees were Mr. R. Meale and Mr. W. A. Johnston. Mr. J. Gillies was the announcer. Results are as follow: FLY-WEIGHT Semi-Final J. Donovan 7st l£lb v. A. Crook, 7st 9£lb. —Despite a big disadvantage in height and reach, Donovan made a good showing. He forced the fight, going into close quarters when possible. At long-range Crook had easily the better of things, his reach standing him in good stead. The decision went to Crook. F. Pearcy 7st 61b v. R. Purdie 7st 91b.—The first round was quiet, Pearcey having the better of the exchanges. The second round was more willing, and Purdie did well in the close exchanges. The last round was fought toe to toe, both boys indulging in heavy hitting. Purdie put up a great show, but Pearcey’s experience won him the day. The association awarded Purdie a special prize for his game showing against the champion. Final Pearcey v. Crook. —It was a fast, clean fight with honours even in the

first two rounds. Crook had the advantage in height, but Pearcey offset this with his shiftiness. The two mixed it well in the final round, which was very willing. A close decision went to Pearcey. BANTAM-WEIGHT Semi- Final H .Johns Bst 21b v. L. Bailey Bst 21b.— The boys were willing but inclined to be wild in their work. Bailey tried hard to land a telling blow with his right, but Johns used his head and feet, making Bailey miss badly. The last round was fought at a hot pace, and a close decision went to Bailey. Final E. Davis 7st 131 b. v. Bailey.—Davis was easily the better boxer, and although he tried hard he was outclassed in the first round. Bailey made a great effort in the second, and chased Davis on to the ropes, where some fierce fighting took place. Davis then took a turn in the attack and had Bailey rocking—a great round. It was fight all the way in the last round, each making an effort to finish the other. It was one of the best bouts of the night, and one of the closest. The decision went to Davis. FEATHER-WEIGHT Semi-final A. Craig Bst 12tlb v. K. M. McLachlan Bst 12Jlb—The first round was marred by wrestling, and the second was tame. An uninteresting bout was won by Craig. J. Hatton Bst 121 b v. G. Leslie 9st.— Hatton twice took a count of nine in the first round, and though he came back gamely he was sent down again, and the referee stopped the contest. Final Leslie v. Craig.—Craig avoided Leslie’s heavy punches in the first round and gave a surprisingly good display in the second. Leslie was out for a knockout in the last round, and although he connected often and Craig was nearly out on his feet he was unsuccessful. Craig gave a game display, but Leslie was too solid and received the decision. LIGHT-WEIGHT Semi-final A. Jones 9st 12tlb v. M. Perver 9st 121 b.—A torrid first round, the'boxers exchanging lusty blows. Jones drove his opponent round the ring in the

second term, but Peryer came back gamely. Both were bleeding- freely at the end of the round. Slugging toe to toe the boxers made a great fight of it in the last round, but Peryer, although fighting gamely, was the first to show signs of going, and the referee stopped the fight and awarded the decision to Jones. A special medal will be given to Peryer for his wonderful showing. Both boxers received an ovation on leaving the ring. C. Craig 9st silb v. C. McKnight 9st 121b.—The first two rounds were even. In the final term McKnight took the offensive and bustled Craig, but the latter stood him off with long lefts and a straight right. McKnight telegraphed his blows too much and this resulted in him missing a good deal. The decision went to Craig. Final Craig forfeited to Jones, who is therefore the 1928 Auckland champion. WELTER-WEIGHT Semi-final F. Fraei lOst lib v. R. Absolum lOst lib.—Fraei went for a knockout, and in the first minute dropped Absolum -for six. Fraei had him at his mercy, and the referee intervened. L. Gee lOst 31b v. J. Forsyth lOst B£lb. —Gee had the better of the first and second rounds, easily evading Forsyth’s wild swings and scoring with left and right to the head. Forsyth forced the fight in the final round, and dropped Gee for nine. A few seconds later Gee again went down, and appeared to be out, but he was up at nine. The referee stopped the fight, and as he crowned Forsyth, Gee collapsed. He was given a great reception on leaving the ring. Final Fraei v. Forsyth.—Scientific boxing was entirely lacking, both boxers going in for heavy hitting with a number of long clinches thrown in. The decision to Forsyth was hooted. MIDDLE-WEIGHT Semi-final A. Shadbolt list v. C. J. Brown list 141b.—Both were cautious in the opening round, but mixed it willingly in the second. Shadbolt stopped some weighty rights on the jaw, but he grinned and came in for more. He connected well with his left and occasionally with his right. A hardfought decision went to Shadbolt. A special prize will be presented by the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, to Brown for his good display. G. Reeves lOst 121 b v. W. Pitcher list.—Reeves had the better of the exchanges in the first round. Pitcher did better in the second round, and landed heavily to the solar plexus, and Reeves could not come up for the third, the decision going to Pitcher. Shadbolt v. Pitcher.—The first round was tame, the boxers being overcautious. The second term was not much better except for occasional rallies. Both were looking for a knockout in the final round, and some heavy work was seen. The decision to Pitcher was hooted. LIGHT-HEAVY-WEIGHT Semi-final P. McCarthy list lOilb v. H. Hogg list lOJlb. —Both boxed well in the first round, Hogg tiring and covering toward the end. Hogg was outclassed in the second term and was dropped for eight, but he came back gamely. McCarthy had his own way in the last

round, the referee stopping the fight in his favour. Final T. Mullins list 51b v. McCarthy.— After a tame opening round both were more willing in the second. McCarthy rocked Mullins, who came back full of fight. However the referee stopped the fight in McCarthy’s favour. HEAVY-WEIGHT Semi-final P. McCarthy list lOJlb v. G. Freer 13st. —Little fighting was done in the first round, but they livened up in the second. Frear used a straight left to the face, McCarthy’s best scoring blow being a right to the jaw. Frew retired at the end of the second rouna, and the decision went to McCarthy. Final Mullins forfeited to McCarthy.