INNOVATION REWARDED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 918, 11 March 1930, Page 14

INNOVATION REWARDED

SUCCESSFUL BOXING TOURNAMENT PURDIE A CHAMPION Success attended the Northern Boxing Association's all-amateur tournament in the Town Hall last evening. The contests were of a high standard and the crowd, which was the best to attend an amateur fixture for many years, appeared to be thoroughly satis- i fied with the programme. THE contests, with one exception, j were up to the standard of the last annual championships, and one was even better. This was the four-round contest between “Bobbie.” Purdie, champion bantam- weight of New Zealand, and A. Sprang, the tear-away little boxer who is well-known to Auckland patrons. Purdie is the best amateur in Auckland, and perhaps in New Zealand today, and after another year in the ranks of the “lily-whites,” at the rate of progress he is making he will be a hard proposition for the professionals. The contest between Purdie and Spragg was better than many professional matches seen in this City. There was action throughout the four rounds. Spragg, who is always an attractive fighter, made the champion “step on it.” It takes a lot to stop Spragg, but Purdie’s punches sent him down twice. He came back gamely, but he was well back in second place. Martin and Comrie were responsible for plenty of hard fighting and Manson and Smith also gave a good exhibition. Collins seemed to score more points than Harry Johns, New Zealand feather-weight champion, but the judges appeared to have become mixed up in their counting as the decision went to Johns. The referees were Mr. N. McLean and Mr. F. Barnes. Results are as follow: CATCH-WEIGHT C. Manson, 9st. 21b., beat C. Smith, 9st. Is early as fast as the eye could see both boys punched away at close quarters, opened up and then went together again. In the second round Smith, quite accidentally, twice landed with his light below the belt, but Manson did not appear to be distressed and fought away to take the lead at the close. In the third Smith landed to the head with both hands, but Manson’s lefts kept him in the lead. Manson used bustling tactics with some success in the fourth bout, but it was Smith who forced the fight in session five. Both gave of their best in the final round, exchanging punches throughout the two minutes. Smith continued to improve. When he offended bv hitting in the breakaway and was warned by Mr. McLean, the crowd hooted, instead of showing appreciation of what is wanted in many bouts—more refereeing. There was little in it at the close, the decision meeting with a mixed reception. A specal trophy was donated to Smith. R. Martin, lOst. ljlb., beat M. Conmee, 9st. 101b.—Martin crowded his opponent in the opening round, punching to the body, Conmee scoring occasionally to the head. A right to the point dropped Martin early in round two, but he was up without count. A moment later it was Conmee who was reclining on the canvas, but he also was up immediately. Fighting as if he was 15 years younger, Conmee rocked Martin in the third, but the latter came away with body blows at the end of the round. The last round was fought all the w r ay, a close decision going to Martin. F. Lindesay, lOst. lib., beat J. Gregory (Gisborne), 9st. 101b.—The first round was tame, the only bright moment being when Lindersay accidentally butted his opponent and brought a howl from the crowd. The pair livened up a little in the second and third rounds, but the bout still lacked interest. In fact the City’s chief administrator enjoyed 40 winks. Rounds four and five were easily in favour of Lindesay, who placed both hands to the body. The Aucklander also took the last round to win easily. It was the poorest contest of the evening. J. Brentnall, 9sf. 71b., beat W. Smith, lOst. 3£lb.—Brentnall scored the more frequently in the first round, but in the second Smith met the former half-way and a merry melee ensued. It was toe to toe in the next round, both scoring to the head with occasional flashes to the body. The last round was much the same. The whole four rounds were hard fought, and there was little between them at the gong. The decision went to Brentnall, but Smith, who was making his first appearance, need not be discouraged, for he gave an excellent display against a more experienced performer. M. McKee, lOst. lilb., defeated F. Cliffe, lOst. 81b.—Wild hitting marked the opening session, especially on the part of Cliffe, McKee replying with good straight lefts. Cliffe tore after his opponent in the second round, but found it hard to land McKee, showing excellent defence and evasion, and shooting in left jabs. The third was similar, McKee doing all the scoring, and in the final term used his right as well. Cliffe kept coming in and at the gong both were done to a turn. It was a fast bout. FEATHER-WEIGHT H. Johns, Bst. 13£1b., got the decision oyer T? Collins, 9st.—Johns started in right away to give his usual performance of how not to hit, Collins with straight lefts having a lead at the end of the first round. Johns showed up better in the next round, but half his blows were not point-scorers, being delivered with the palm of the glove. Collins scored to the body, and the gong found honours still in Collins’s favour. A few who know not boxing applauded the third round, which, to put it mildly, was awful. The next three rounds were but repetitions and not worth describing. Collins tried to make it a fight, but only got his face slapped. Messrs. E. A. Craig and N. McLean, judges, and Mr. Brown decided that it was Johns who won. They know how! R. Purdie, Bst. 81b., beat A. Spragg, Sst. 91b.—The bout opened at a fast clip, Spragg •working for the body and Purdie replying to the head. A nice right to the point dropped Spragg for seven just before the gong. In the second session Spragg relied on weighty swings, but Purdie got inside with straight lefts, and then shot a short right to the jaw, which dropped Spragg for another seven. Spragg concentrated on the body in the third, occasionally throwing his left to the head, but it was seldom he landed. Purdie did not land much more, but every blow counted. Both wasted no time in round four, Spragg forcing only to be sent back by lefts and rights to the head. He came on, but Purdie was not troubled, and won by a margin. HEAVY-WEIGHT A. Slade, 13st. 81b., knocked out O. Galt, list. 9£lb. —Three straight lefts to Galt’s account opened the bout, and then he was sent down, only to get up immediately. A few seconds later Slade connected -with a right to the point, and Galt was down again. Twice he attempted to rise,; only to roll over and take the count.