WHEN SCOT MEETS SCOT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 438, 21 August 1928, Page 14

WHEN SCOT MEETS SCOT

McDonald, “Bloody But Unbowed,” Gets Hard-Won Boxing Decision

DESPERATE BATTLE ALL THE WAY

SPATTERED with blood from head to foot, from a flowing wound over the left eye, Lachie McDonald gained a points decision over Tommy Mclnnes in a gory 15-round bout at the Auckland Town Hall last evening. It was a tremendous, hard-hitting contest all the way—the best fight seen in Auckland for years. McDonald had an eye injury opened up early in the fight, and his face streaming with blood, gave a wonderful exhibition of pluck and courage.

The fight was packed with thrills from the first round to the last, and although there was a good deal of clinching, there was not a dull momeni in the whole 15 rounds. The bout was not fast, but it was more than willing. Two great fighters stood opposed, and no opportunities were lost in sending in telling blows when occasion offered. Early in the fight Mclnnes opened up McDonald’s eye, which had been in-, jured in a training bout, but despite this handicap the New Zealander fought the fight of his life and at the ninth round had a good lead. Then Mclnnes reduced his leeway, and at the end the judges considered that McDonald was still in front, but only by a very small margin. "Whichever way the fight had gone, whether a win for either or a draw, very little could he said against it. On the whole the majority of the spectators appeared to be satisfied with the decision. At the start Mr. -W. E. Dervan introduced Charlie Purdy and said that the Auckland light-weight would like to secure a fight in his home town. Jim Broadfoot was also introduced as a challenger to the winner of the evening’s contest.. When Mr. Frank Burns appeared in the ring as the referee he was given a great reception by the crowd. The judges were Messrs. E. A. Craig and J. Gillett. DETAILS OF FIGHT Mclnnes weighed in at list 21b and McDonald 21b heavier. Both looked in the pink of condition as they came from their corners. The New Zealander opened up the fight with a light left to the jaw and a right to the body. Toward the end of the round Mclnnes connected with a left hook to the jaw and crossed his right to the same spot, his opponent placing two short rights to the jaw. McDonald took the fight to his opponent in the second term, but McDonald came out of a clinch with blood streaming from his eye which had been reopened. He missed with a right, but Mclnnes landed with the same weapon. The third and fourth rounds were marked by fierce fighting on the ropes, with the honours slightly in favour of McDonald. His eye was bleeding badly, but it did not appear to distress him to any great extent. Mclnnes was red from head to foot with the other man’s blood. The fourth was a great round, neither man seeking or giving favours. Shortly after the commencement of the fifth term. McDonald sat Mclnnes on his haunches with a right to the jaw. McDonald opened the sixth with

a swift right to the body, but Mclnnes came back with a left jolt and a right uppercut. Both seemed tired at the end of the round.

There was no let-up in the pace in the next term, Mclnnes scoring with straight lefts and McDonald with a right hook, both placing good blows to the body. A merry mix-up in a neutral corner

THE WINNER

opened the eighth round. Later McInnes placed a short right to the head and McDonald worked with both hands in close and with right and left swings sent the other to the ropes.

Near the end of the round McDonald had another tussle on the ropes. Fierce fighting on the ropes and in the centre of the ring marked the beginning of the ninth, both boxers plying swings to head and body. Mclnnes was warned for holding, but McDonald was also offending. McDonald came up for the next round with both hands going, Mclnnes sending in a left and following it with a right to the solar plexus. He had McDonald covering up in the corner. Two short snappy lefts to the jaw sat the New Zealander on the ropes, but he came up little the worse. Mclnnes was obviously seeking a knock-out in the 11th, but his opponent was not to be caught napping, though he appeared to be feeling the effects of the loss of blood. Mclnnes doubled him up on the ropes, but he came back full of fight. Mclnnes was forcing the fighting and placed four straight lefts on end. The New Zealander opened the 12th round with a left and right to the head, but Mclnnes rocked him with left hooks to the jaw. McDonald then took a turn and scored on the ropes. Mclnnes went in close and the round culminated with the boxers indulging in a two-handed rally. In the “devil’s round” Mclnnes rocked his opponent with a right to the jaw, but though groggy, McDonald came back and scored with two right swings to the head. McDonald slipped on the ropes and Mclnnes was applauded for his sporting action in allowing his opponent to recover. The latter sent in a couple of lefts to the face, but McDonald tore in, pumping both hands to the body. Mclnnes opened the 14th with a left hook to the head and then McDonald took him to the ropes. Mclnnes scored with right and left swings to the jaw, McDonald replying with a left swing to the body. Before beginning hostilities in the final round the boxers embraced, and then followed a bout of infighting on the ropes. Mclnnes was the fresher and he forced the pace. The crowd was on its feet cheering the two on and it is doubtful if so much noise has been heard in the Town Hall before. Both were fighting hard when the gong went.

In the close work Spragg more than held his own, but Johns was much the better at long range. According to the referee and judges, F. Lindesay (lOst) beat F. Fraei (lOst). The bout was a scrambling affair, Fraei trying to land a knock-out punch and Lindesay putting in his time avoiding it. It should have been made “no fight.” C. Manson (Bst 111 b) beat J. McPhail (Bst 13Mb) in a fast contest. Manson was on the attack all through the four rounds, and though McPhail used a good right hand to the body, he was slightly behind at the finish. C. McKnight (lOst) and G. Leslie (9st 2ilb) fought a good four-round draw.

MONSON WANTED N.B.A. CABLES CHAMPION Following the fight, a special meeting of the committee of the Northern Boxing Association was held, and it was decided to cable to Ted Monson, middle-weight champion of Australia, asking him to come to Auckland where, if he accepts, he will be matched with either McDonald or McInnes. A presentation function was also held, a gold watch being presented to Mr. W. A. Johnston by Mr. E. A. Craig on behalf of the members. lsdr. Craig referred to Mr. Johnston’s services to boxing and to the N.B.A. Mr. Johnston suitably responded. He will be leaving Auckland shortly to take up a position in South Canterbury. THE AMATEURS H. Hogg (list 111 b) beat A. Gifford (list 121 b) in a great fight. The boxers gave of their best throughout the four rounds, and received an ovation at the close. H. Johns (Bst 61b) beat A. Spragg (Sst 121 b). Johns was too shifty for the other, and made him miss badly.