Before a Vast Audience

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 36, 21 March 1930, Page 5

Before a Vast Audience

Sarron and Donovan ' Contest-Honours STAGED in a magnificent amphitheatre, before the biggest audience that has witnessed a boxing contest in New Zealand, and through radio before an invisible audience of 30,000 or 40,000 enthusiasts, Sarron and Donovan contested honours Saturday last. It was a wise motive that actuated the Broadcasting Company to secure the broadcast of this contest and consideration and forethought on the part of the Taranaki Boxing Association to allow the broadcast. A landline connected Western Park. New Plymouth, with the local staticn, 2YB, and. 2YA, both. stations broadcasting the description. At approximately 3.40 the relay was commenced, and from the outset it was apparent that success was forthcoming. The line was good, though the applause from the crowd made a difficult background for the announcements, The announcer, Mr. Aldridge, was announced and commenced the great relay by an account of the panorama. His vivid descriptions enabled listeners to fully descriptions enabled listaeners to grasp the atmosphere of this unusual event. ‘Immediately prior to the description of the contest the announcer outlined the careers of the two contestants. "There is'a feeling of great expectation," said Mr. Aldridge, "hence the talking and whispering near the microphone." Listeners heard the announcement of the referee. "On my right--~"’ and all who were waiting in deep silence knew that the fight was soon to commence and that the hope of New Zealand sports was to be decided. "The announcer’s description of each | bout was an excellent one, his concise and crisp sentences leaving little to the imagination of even those who know nothing of the technicalities of boxing. Until the seventh round, honours ap peared to be fairly even, with perhaps a slight advantage in favour of Dono. . van, At the commencement of the seventh, however, Sarron put the New Zealander down for the count of two, and then twice for seven. From ‘the announcer’s description Donovan was "out on his feet" when he arose after being down the third time. Suddenly there came a deufening roar from the crowd, and the paust before the announcer spoke again seem: ed interminable. The unexpected. had happened. Yonovan had won on 4 foul, Sarron delivering a rabbit punch which, though probably unintentional, yet was sufficient to secure his disqualification. [= was announced at the conclusiou of ithe broadcast that the Wellington Boxing Association is endeavouring to arrange a return match, to be fought at the Kilbirnie Speedways Stadium, Wellington. Though it is certain that the majority of those in Wellington who heard the exciting description of Saturday’s fight will attend in persoa the next meeting between these two boxers, yet it is to be hoped for the benefit..of other listeners throughout New Zealand that permission to brond cast a running commentary on the re. turn match, should it eventuate, will ‘be given.