HOW PURDY LOST FIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 684, 8 June 1929, Page 13

HOW PURDY LOST FIGHT

REFEREE DID NOT HEAR THE BELL

SOUND DROWNED BY DIN

(United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. 11 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. At the Leichardt Stadium last evening Wally Hancock, 10st 4Alb, knocked out Charlie Purdy (New Zealand), lOst 2Jlb. in the fourth round. Hancock thus won the welter-weight championship from the New Zealander. The contest was a sensational one. Purdy was the better boxer, but Hancock, who was very confident, used his right and left to the chin freely, and while Purdy went for the body he crouched low and escaped much punishment. Purdy cut Hancock’s eye in the third round. The fourth round opened full of promise. Hancock went for the New Zealander and landed successive rights and lefts to Purdy’s chin, which always seemed to be unguarded. Purdy dropped to the boards near the end of the round. He tried to rise and was again sent down for the full count. The bell failed to save him. The “Daily Guardian," commenting on the fight, says that when Purdy was knocked down in the fourth round he rose at the count of five, but was immediately dropped again. The packed house screamed with excitement. The bell rang, but the uproar was so great that the referee did not hear it. He continued counting over Purdy, who rose at the three, but he was promptly knocked down again for eight. The din was still terrific, and when he fell to the boards for the fourth time the referee was still unaware that the gong had sounded, and lie crowned Hancock, the winner. Actually, the bout continued for 25 seconds after the bell had rung.

This is the first time in Purdy’s career, either as an amateur or a professional, that he has been knocked out. In his fights in France. Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, he has met hard punchers and has taken heavy punishment, but his opponents have never been able to get in the stopping blow, although they have had him gr-oggy. When sorely pressed he has relied on his speed of foot to save him. Against Hancock he must have taken a very heavy blow which left him so far gone that he could not employ his elusive tactics.

INTERNATIONAL BOXING

PROPOSED CONTROL BODY Times Cable LONDON, Friday. The British Board of Boxing Control has written to the Boxing Federations throughout the world, seeking their co-operation in the formation of a universal body to regulate world’s championship bouts. It says, if such a body could be formed, it would result in a very great revival of boxing, as boxers of all nationalities would then have the opportunity of boxing in world’s championships.