A Hard Battle

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 876, 21 January 1930, Page 13

A Hard Battle

THOMAS DEFEATS MACDONALD Willing Boxing Bout BILLY THOMAS and Lachie Macdonald fought a hard fight at the Town Hall last evening, Thomas winning on points. It was a willing contest in which quarter was neither asked nor given. Before the end of one of the best bouts seen in Auckland for some time, both contestants bore marks (some of them vividly coloured) of a gruelling fight.

Although the contest was good, the house was practically empty. There could not have been more than 600 present, the poorest that has attended any boxing event for a long time. Thomas and Macdonald fought all the way, and there was a chance of a lmock-out right up to the final gong, first one and then the other rocking as the result of heavy blows. After the 11th round Macdonald needed a knock-out to win, but he could not get a sitting shot at Thomas, who was very elusive at long range. In fact the Welshman is the cleverest boxer that has been seen in action in the Auckland ring for some time. He is quick on his feet, fast with his hitting, and very elusive on the ropes and at long range, carrying in addition, a heavy punch. He fought much better than he did against Artie Hay, whom he defeated on a foul, when behind on points. Macdonald, too. was in much better shape than against Hay, who defeated him, and although much slower on his feet and with his punching, was more of the dour Scotsman of old. But he is not the Macdonald of two years ago. Although the fight was good, it was marred by holding by both men and by Thomas hitting with the palm of his left glove. In the last two rounds, particularly the last, Macdonald was guilty of using the rabbit-puncli. Mr. K. Meale, the referee, issued frequent warnings about the holding, but failed to warn the men for the other illegalities. At the beginning of the 10th round he had a lengthy chat with the pair, and the lighting improved. The amateur bouts were excellent, every one being well worth watching. Jim Broadfoot, the Auckland middleweight, and light-heavy-weight champion of New Zealand, challenged the winner, and also Artie Hay, holder of the middle-weight title. BOUT OPENS WELL Macdonald weighed' in at list 4ilb and Thomas at list 21b. Thomas tried straight lefts at the opening of the bout, but Macdonald slipped them before going in close, where the pair exchanged blows at a fast rate. Opening the second round, Macdonald went in close for another exchange, and on breaking, Thomas swung his left to the jaw, striking with tlie palm. After another exchange of body blows Thomas was warned for holding. Going to Macdonald he over-reached and slipped, but was up immediately, catching his opponent with a right clip to the jaw. Macdonald forced Thomas to the ropes In the third session with a right to the jaw, the Welshman countered with a right to the mouth, bringing blood. Macdonald forced Thomas to retreat, but could not land a solid punch. The pair fought practically toe to toe in the fourth, when Macdonald was told to hit at the front. The fifth was a good round, Thomas landing seven times on end in a hurricane burst to head and body. Macdonald was warned for using the kidney-punch. As Thomas missed with a blow and sprawled against the ropes the Scot was on him In a flash and scored with right and left to the jaw. In the sixth term Macdonald was looking for a knock-out, but only succeeded in opening Thomas’s left eye. Both scored to the head toward the end of the round. The seventh opened with an. exchange at close quarters. Thomas scored with both hands to the body and then to the head, following Macdonald across the ring with unsuccessful swings. Opening round eight, Thomas sent left, right, left to the head, Macdonald replying with both hands to the body. The Welshman was warned for holding. He scored with straight lefts, Macdonald missing with swings in a neutral corner. After missing with his right Macdonald went in close in tlie next round and was warned for holding. He forced Thomas to the ropes, where the latter avoided weighty swings by clever evasion. Macdonald tried a right swing to the head, but Thomas got inside and scored with a one-two to the jaw. REFEREE’S WARNING Following a talking-to by the referee at the commencement of the 10th round—something was badly needed, as both were holding frequently—Thomas scored to the head with both hands. In close he landed to the body, but It was with the palm of his left glove. It was so pronounced that any close observer could not have missed it. Hnmediateiy the 11th round started Macdonald was warned for holding The pace had slowed a little, but both were hitting frequently. Macdonald scored with a short right to the head as Thomas was on the ropes and in rebounding, the latter knocked tlie Scot to. the canvas and then fell himi were U P immediatelv, Macdonald bleeding profusely from a cut over his right eye, evidently received when he was knocked over After scoring with straight lefts, in round 12, Thomas landed with the palm of his left to head and body, following up with left and right swings to the jaw. Macdonald replied with a left to the jaw and a short, fierce exchange at close quarters followed. It was the best round so far and the crowd was cheering at the end. I «T here , was Plenty of action in the 13th and 14th rounds. In the latter both were bleeding from cut eyes. Thomas having had another opened up, While Macdonald had fared likevv lse. It was light all the way in the last round. Both were tired, but theyspared themselves uo effort in making a lighting finish. Macdonald was on top most of the time, but spoiled his work by rabbit-punching.

The decision in Thomas's favour was well received. GOOD AMATEUR BOUTS R. Purdie, New Zealand bantamweight champion, Sst Sib, and T. Collins, 9st lib. staged a little fight classic. Both boxed cleverly, Purdie spoiling an excellent display by swinging wildly. However, he was a little too good for Collins, who fought gamely against a harder-punch-ing opponent. There was not a great deal in it, but Purdie had a sufficient lead to get the decision. C. Hill, Sst sJlb, beat P. Keenan. Sst 31b, in a good bout. Tile first two rounds were filled with plenty of action, but little fighting. However, the pair made amends in the next two rounds and made a willing fight of it, the decision going to Hill. C. Manson, 9st lib. found a willing opponent in C. Smith, 9st lib. The pair battled toe to toe through four rounds and there was nothing in it at the end. The decision to Manson met with a hostile reception. the crowd hooting until after the next bout had commenced. W. Purdie, 7st 541 b, beat F. Bruno, 7st sJlb, in an excellent contest. There was little between these two promising boys after four rounds. J. Brentnall, 9st 1341 b, beat C. Kelly, 9st 6ilb, in a bout which was marked for willingness rather than for science. Both were very tired in the last round and Kelly was almost out at the gong.