BOXING & WRESTLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1941, Page 7

BOXING & WRESTLING

! CONTESTS AT OPERA HOUSE ? .APPEARANCE OF MAURICE f STRICKLAND. ) SOME INTERESTING EVENTS. ’ There was a fair attendance at the ■ Opera House, Masterton, last night, when a boxing and wrestling tourna- ’ ment, under the auspices of the Navy- ! Nursing Queen campaign, was held. ■ Patrons were provided with a bright, ■ attractive bill of fare. : The highlight of the programme was ’ the appearance of the New Zealand ' professional heavy-weight champion, ’ Maurice Strickland, who gave an exhi- • bition bout with C. Hanham, New Zea- • land professional middle-weight cham- ! pion. ■ The wrestling bouts proved particularly interesting. Mr Ned Perry was : an efficient referee. All the contestants came from Featherston. Results ' were: —M. Leighton drew with T. Mat- ■ thews; A. McLeod drew with N. 1 Leighton; R. Reid drew with G. Wen--1 den, and J. Price drew with T. Reid. ■ All the matmen gave good exhibitions. ’ G. Wenden gave an exhibition of ' "bridge” lifting. ‘ Mr G. Barr refereed the boxing con- ’ tests, which provided plenty of enter--1 tainment. No decisions were given in matches between boys from Hadlow Preparatory School, in which A. Cameron. D. Findlay, P. Kronfeld, A. Kronfeld, M. Poulton and G. Falloon competed. Boxing of a high order was witnessed when M. Simonsen (Masterton) beat M. Thompson (Masterton) on points. The W. Nix (Featherston) v. S. Morris (Featherston) bout, which resulted in a draw was also a willing contest. D. Simonsen (substitute) lost to G. Lovett (Wellington), lightweight champion of New Zealand last year, on points. During an interval Mr Don Irwin (Carterton) sang a bracket of songs. The M. Strickland (13st.) v. C. Hanham (12st.) bout, which was purely an exhibition one. proved most entertaining. Strickland looked in perfect fighting trim and gave a good exhibition of sparring. His footwork was excellent. The champion was never extended. His long reach enabled him to more or less play with his oppon-i ent. At the conclusion of the contest Mr Norman Lee expressed the Navy-Nurs-ing committee’s thanks to all who had offered their services to enable the programme to be presented. Three cheers were given for Maurice Strickland. The officials' were:—Referees. Messrs Ned Perry and Geo. Barr; stage manager, Mr V. Welch; assistant stage manager, Mr A. W. Don; time-keepers, Messrs J. Bradbury and G. Dallas; call steward, Mr F. Morton; chief second, -Mr P. Ryan; announcer. Mr J. C. Broad; hon. surgeons. Drs. G. Cowie and J. C. Forsyth; hon. secretary, Mr D. T. Herbert. MAURICE STRICKLAND TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN MASTERTON. FINE FIGHTING RECORD. In conversation with a “Times-Age” reporter last night the New Zealand professional heavyweight champion, Maurice Strickland, stated that he wished to negotiate with the Wairarapa Boxing Association with a view to securing a bout in Masterton, probably after his return from Australia. He pointed out that there was a good , array of talent in the Wellington pro- i vince suitable for a match with him. Les Strickland (a brother), a former ; New Zealand champion, would be a i particularly formidable opponent. Of ; 22 fights fought in Australia he had ; won 20 (including 10 knockouts), lost one on points and drew one. In addi- i lion there was C. Hanham. New Zea- i land middleweight champion. ] It was subsequently stated by Mi' J. Crowley, Strickland's manager, that it | would be Strickland's intention to re- < side in Masterton on his return from < Australia. He said that few people 1 knew that Strickland's parents resid- < cd in Masterton. Giving details of i Strickland's fighting record he said < that the New Zealander had worked i up to be fourth boxer in the world. He had beaten men who had fought with Joe Louis. But for the war it was probable that he would have I fought Louis. (