THE KIDNEY PUNCH HOW IT ORIGINATED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 4

THE KIDNEY PUNCH

HOW IT ORIGINATED

There are many devastating punches, and none perhaps more so than the kidney punch, once legitimate, but now happily banned from the boxing ring. The blow and its development have an interesting history. Tradition has it that the punch was invented by “mysterious” Billy Smith. Smith was an artist at rough lighting tricks, and when a man had been through a bout with him he usually looked as though he had fallen into a thrashing machine. Smith is said to have developed the kidney punch for the special benefit of Joe Walcott, the phenomenal blacK fighter of his time. When Walcolc fought he tied himself into a knot by crouching over. As there did not appear to be much use in hitting m the front of him, Smith determined to try hitting from the rear. Accordingly he developed the kidney punch which, as he employed it, was very different from the variety ordinarily displayed. As used by Smith this punch consisted of a heave and a twist, and <.<. looping right-hand swing at the smaii

of the back. It was a ruinous blow, however, and wrecked the hopes of many a man. Boxing commissions itook a step in the right direction when they finally barred it.

By One Hole. R. A. Whitcombe and Brig.-Gcn. A. C. Critchley beat Archie Compston and R. B. Foster in a 36-hole match (half four-ball and half foursome) at Coombe Hill by one hole.