Big Boxing Broadcast

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 396, 24 January 1947, Page 34

Big Boxing Broadcast

TATION 2YA and all, the commercial stations will broadcast the boxing match between Bos. Murphy, New Zealand welter-weight champion, and Willie Jones, American Negro boxer, from the Petone Recreation Ground on Saturday, January 25, at approximately 7.30 p.m. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds. The 2YA Variety Magazine will be postponed for a week and, if the bout goes the full distance, it will also displace a local programme, and the regular Carry on, Clem Dawe session at the ZB stations, for a week. The broadcast commentary will be given by Winston McCarthy. Murphy has been described as perhaps the greatest boxer-fighter produced in New Zealand. His bout with Vic. Patrick, Australian light and welterweight champion was looked on as a ‘classic, showing both men to be in world class. In his amateur days Murphy relied on his straight left and excellent footwork and defence to win him his bouts. His first professional contest he lost — not through a knock-out or on points, but because of an ankle injured during training which gave way halfway through-and the referee awarded the fight to Tommy Dunn. It was in Murphy’s next fight, also with Dunn, that he showed he possessed more than a straight left. His first punch in that bout was a left hook that sent Dunn back on his heels. From then on his career was watched with great interest. Not only did his hooking and ripping with the left hand far surpass anything that had been seen in New Zealand, but the right hand, too, came into prominence. He is now regarded as .a two-handed boxer-fighter. Willie Jones has had 45 bouts and lost only two of them. He has never fought as an amateur. Interviewed by Winston McCarthy for 2ZB, he said that at first he had intended to go to Australia with two others, another Negro and a Mexican, under contract to Stadiums Ltd. But the other two called it off

and negotiations fell through. It was then that Claude Varner, who fought in ‘Australia about 10 years ago, booked Jones under contract for Bob Marshall, match-maker for Adelaide Stadiums. Jones makes no pretensions about having fought world-beaters, but he is quite confident that he is a match for any man in his own weight, and perhaps a little heavier.