A NEW PURDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 762, 7 September 1929, Page 13

A NEW PURDY

Aucklander Indulges In Brisk Workouts

If training is any criterion, boxing patrons will see an entirely different Charlie Purdy when the Auckland boxer meets Artie Hay at the Town Uall on Monday evening.

Purdy, a product of amateur boxing in Auckland, needs no introduction to ; the public of this city even though it is so long since he engaged in a fight here. When Purdy was last seen in action here—and in all his previous fights—he relied on his speed of foot and elusiveness to get him the decision. Most of his fights were fought on the retreat. But in his gymnasium work at the City Fire Station, where he is putting the finishing touches on his form, he has shown the onlookers quite a new Purdy. Instead of boxing on the retreat, he has changed his style of milling and forces the issue. Against the aggressive Broadfoot, he was a surprise. Instead of Broadfoot rushing in it was Purdy who was the aggressor. Ho swapped punches in great style. Where once he relied on the straight left and neglected the use of the right, he now hooks hard with the left and punches hard and straight with tie other hand. He is not quite so speedy, but the lessening in pace is hardly appreciable. and is really only to be expected with his harder punching ability. Purdy is not a knockout artist, but his punches have his weight behind them and carry plenty of sting, as those who have sparred with him aver, Purdy does not offer any excuses for his defeats by Hancock other than to say that on the ropes he dropped his hands and paid the penalty, instead of keeping up his guard. He has the greatest admiration for Hancock as a puncher. About Purdy's last fight in which he lost on points to Tommy Fairhall, his manager, Mr. A. McQueen says that the defeat was owing to confusing arrangements. Purdy was originally matched with Billy Thomas, the Welshman. Purdy trained until the Friday night—a week before the fight —when he was told that Thomas would not fight. It was thought the Aucklander would not then get a fight, but on the Monday he was informed that he had been matched with Les Reynolds of Newcastle. He was finally told on the Tuesday that he would be fighting Fairhall. Thus when Friday arrived Purdy was not in the best of condition, the confusion in not knowing whether he was fighting or not having hampered him in training. Even so, he thought he had beaten Fairhall, but the decision went the other way. Purdy has met Hay on two previous occasions for a win and a draw. For Monday night's fight Hay has to make lOst. 71b. He will have to be in his best condition to defeat the Aucklander.

Purdy has received an offer to fight Stone, amateur welter-weight champion of New Zealand, who is joining up with the professionals, in a 10-round bout in Wellington on September 16. If Purdy’s expenses can be arranged, the bout will be staged as far as the Aucklander is concerned. Purdy wants to get as many fights in New Zealand as he can, and before he returns to Australia is keen to fight his old rival, Reg Trowern, once more. As Trowern has a decision over Hancock, the result of such a match would be interesting.