The Roped Ring

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 142, 18 July 1929, Page 6

The Roped Ring

WITH THE AMATEURS Napier Boxing Association Tourney MOST ENJOYABLE EYENING I Excellent euf ertainment was provid- 1 ed for a jiacked stage of boxing en- i thusiasts in tlie Napier iMunicipal ; Theatre last night, wlien tlie Napier j Boxing Association staged a programme of eleven sparkling amateur bcuts. Tlie partieipants one and all made things wiliing and some of thern showed surjirising form. while in one or two of thc bouts tlie audience was on its toes with excitement. Every credit for Ihe succ.ess of tlie evcn.ing is due to tlie association's energetic secretary, Mr T. W. Hercock, the referee. Mr J. D. Donovau, the judges, Messrs A. H. Wilson and THeath and the announccr, Alr J. Harris. J0NES (G.2) V. OLLIVER (7.0). The opening bout between this pair was a spiritecl affray from the outset. Tlie lighter lad, using botli hands t,o good advantage, stood up well to his taller and heavier opponent in the first two rounds, and fought back with lioth liands to his opponent-'s rush tactics in the fiiial spell, to gain a popubir vcrdict. Both boys acquitted themselves well, and the wiliing spirit evinced made tlie bout well worth watching. FRAME (8.5) V. ADSETT (8.0). Burlesque was the most pronounced fcature in the first round of this bout, with both boys standing off cautiously. Early in the second, however, Frame showed that he possessed a useful straigbt left and sliook liis opponent I cnce or twice. Amidst encouraging j cheers from tlie crowd, Adsett proceeded to chase liis opixment round the ring i in the final round, but he did no J material damage, Frame heing ad- ! judged tlie winner. i HORSEFIELD (8.2) V. HARRiS (7.5). | This, one of tlie brightest houts of j the evening, was characterised by 1 hard hitting, botli lioys showing useiful form and plenty of powcr for their j size. The two opening rounds were I contested with plenty of vigour, but J ihe boys did not really show their 1 tnie form until the final effort, when j Harris took the offensive and sailecl m ! with both hands. His opponent niet I him half-way, however, ancl jiroved the better boxer, covering well and fighting back at liglitening speed to win a popular verdict. HUTCHINS0N (S.2) V. SEASTRAND (9.0). j This affray, over four rounds, between two former Hawke's Bay representatives aroused considerable interest. Early in tlie bout, tlie taller Seastrand was kept mainlv on the defenKive, his opponent ripping in with both hands and using a left cross with telling efiect. Tlie Becond round had a sensational opening, Hutehinson havlug Seastrand hemmecl in against the ropes, while he rained punches to his head. The Port boy used the ropes to come out, however, ancl exhibiting commendable pluck fought his opponent back into liis corner. The end of the round found him very shakv but in the third the going was fairly even. Seastrand brought a straight left into play again with the opening of the v.t-al round, but his oppenent was finding the openings in his guard and punished him heavily in the closing stages to win the verdict in a well cc-ntested bout. RYAN (9.6) V. ANDREWS (10.0). Something a little beavier was provided for the audience 111 this bout and botli men proved wiliing to make the pace, the heavier Andrews using n left lead to the hocly on every possible occasion in the first two rounds. His opponent had the advantage in h eight and reacli. but it was not until the final round that he employed this to any particular benefit. Once started he scored freely, however, and had his opponent bespattered with gore. Andrews carried the fighting back, however. before the end of the round, whieh found both lacls swopping punches in mid-ring. He gained a/ popular verdict. RICH A RDSON (9.0) V. WILLIAMS (9.5). Over four two-nimute rounds, this proved a clever exposition of boxing between two well-matched and sturdy opponents. Each liad a good repertoire oi punches, both employed the crouch anu neither was afraid to hit-, and hit hard. It was not until the third round that tliey really warmed up to matters aud iu tlie final round Wilhams was piling in liis straight lefts to the face whenever he could penetrate Ricbardson's c-over. Richarrdson used both hands well in some ojieiT work to the end, but his opponent got iiome in a spirited and splendidly contested encounter by what mnst have been a narrow margiu. This bout was an exceptionally clean and clever exposition oi ring tactics.. THOMPSON (10.10) V. GORDON (11.0). . While tliev represented the lieaviest material engaged during tlie evening, tliese two opponents showed plenty of dash and speed, fighting well tlirough the two first rounds, with Thompson havlng slightly the better of the excl/anges. Miclway tlirough the third Giordon tripped and took a toss into /liis opponent's corner, but came back as fresh as ever to figlit well to the end. Tlie judges decided on -a clraw, whieh was a most popular verdict, both boys having made a splendicl fight of it. CORDING (6.9) V. MORGAN (7 3). Beginning quietly in the first, this bout developcd into a veritablo battle royal in tlie second, the climinutive C'ording sailing in with both hands working like windmills. His opponent ivas relying on a left, whieh lie used to advantage at times, but C'ording piled up the points in tlie final rouna and won the day comfortably.

HOUGHTON (9.8) V. TAYLOR (g.4). This was a sliort and suddcn affair, Houghton opening by rushing liis man into a corner, using both hands in huirricane fasliion and then sending home two lefts to the face whieh ' crumpled Taylor up and sent him to the floor. He took a short count and rose to continue, but was obviously very groggy and another left to the head sent him to the canvas bgain in the first exchange. The referee then stopped the fight, dec.laring Houghton the winner. Taylor was assisted to his corner badly dazed, but later recovered sufficiently to leave the ring unaided. SEASTRAND (9.4) V. EDDY (9 6). In the opening roimd Seastrand worked with botli hands, ripping in a series of lefts with Eddris face as the ohief objective. The Hastings man

fought back gamely, but his oppouent's cover had. him nonplussed. The second was fairly quiet, but in the third Seastrand' s superior speed and footwork told their tale to win him the decision. Eddv put up a really game fight, upon whieh he is to lie congratulated. COMBE (9.4) V. MUIR (8.11). Opening fairly quietly in the first, this bout developed somewhat in the second when Muir went down from a body punch to take a short counl. He recovered. however, and came back to make the fighting for the rest of the round. Combe, with an apparentJy perpetual Bmile on his face, refused to be bustled to this stage, but the opening of the last round "was a fitting end to a good night' s sport, both boys going all out for Muir to get the verdict. At the conclusion of the bout it was announced that Hutehinson had won the special medal presented by Mr T. Heath for the most scientific exposition of the evening. Seastrand was placed second.