DISQUALIFIED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 923, 17 March 1930, Page 6

DISQUALIFIED

SARRON LOSES FIGHT WITH DONOVAN AN EXCITING BATTLE Special to THE SUN NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. The Sarron * Donovan fight attracted probably the largest attendance that has ever witnessed a fight in the country. There must have been fully 8,000 present by the time the big bout came on, and the terraced hill above the ring was crowded with onlookers. Tho right, despite its unsatisfactory ending, was full of thrills, and was fought to the accompaniment of a long roar of encouragement for the fighting men. Sarron, compact of figure, keen and intelligent of face, made a great j impression on stepping into the ring. | Donovan, apparently the stockier of , the two, weighed 351 b. lighter than his | opponent. Donovan’s usual impetuosity was • missing in the first round, and ap- j parently the importance of the occasion had effect. Sarron was apparently intent on trying his opponent out, puzzling him with feints and fast footwork and standing wide open in the hope of leading Donovan into indiscretion. The first round went to the American easily. Donovan had apparently shaken off liis diffidence in the second round, and he rushed Sarron at the sound ol the gong, driving him into a neutral corner, and scoring well with his left hand. Sarron, during a fast and fierce rally, was cautioned for the use of the rabbit-killer punch. Evidently nettled, he crowded Donovan to his corner in a burst of fierce and vicious hitting. So intent on his work was he that lie failed to hear the gong, and the crowd hooted vigorously. CLEVER IN-FIGHTING Donovan’s left played a* leading part in the subsequent fighting, and he landed repeatedly, though the American’s clever back-moving took a lot of force out of the blows. In the infighting, Sarron was desperately clever, landing heavily to the body in every clinch. Donovan’s stock began to rise js he hustled the American about the Ting, landing an occasional hard left to the face. Sarron apparently was beginning to feel the strain, and in the fifth and sixth rounds he tried to nail Donovan with whizzing uppercuts, which went perilously close. Once or twice Sarron was cautioned, with rather doubtful justification, and was plainly disconcerted. The sixth round ended with Donovan apparently in the ascendant, seemingly fresh and strong. Sarron was showing a trickle of blood from his nose, and appeared to be feeling the strain. His sprightly footwork had disappeared and he looked a trifle jaded. FIERCE FINAL ROUND A mighty change came over him with the start of the seventh round, however, and he went after his opponent relentlessly. A burst of furious fighting in mid-ring saw the American drive a heavy right to the solar plexus, putting Donovan down. He was up j again immediately, only to go down for | a count of eight from another blow to the mark. Sarron was now transformed to a grim, merciless fighting machine, and dropped his man once more. Donovan was in a bad wav. but he rose gamely to be driven to his corner and flailed with heavy blows from every angle, and a heavy left to the jaw sent him down. Game to the last, he struggled up, and then it was that Sarron, intent on finishing his job, landed the blow which disqualified him. To ringsiders, it appeared that the rabbit-killer effect was contributed to by Donovan turning his head after the blow was launched, but the referee Mr. R. Meale, of Auckland, was definite on the point. Sarron therefore lost on a technicality a fight he had clearly won. He was apparently greatly upset at the decision, and evidently with some reason.