CROWD AMAZED

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 50, 31 March 1930, Page 8

CROWD AMAZED

BY DONOVAN'S CLEVER RING* CRAFT. Sarron's Right Effectively Blocked According to Napier enthusiasts who made the trip to Wellington, Donovan amazed everyone by his display. Early in the bout Sarron aimed all his heavy artillery at his opponent' s solar plexus, but lie found his blow effectively blocked by a clever opponent, who furthermore, throughout the battle, successfully frustrated every one of the little American's extensive repertoire of "tactics. In the opinion of Napier critics, after tlie eight round Sarron had come to the conclusion that he had met his matcli and in the remaining seven rounds fought on only in the hope of a lucky blow gmng him a win by tbe direct route it ft found its mark. • . • From tlie broadcast description given by Mr G. P. Aldridge, secretary of tlie New Zealand Boxing Association, from the stacfium and relayed tlirough 2YA Wellington, it was very apparent that the performance being given in the ring was raismg the enthusiasm of tlie crowd of between 16,000 and '17,000 present. The description of the last two rounds Was almost completely drowned by cheering and it was quite a- nrinute after the referee had given his decision in favour of Donovan that the radio announcer could be heard . passing it on to tbe listeners-in, Tlie weigbing-m of the^ contestants was done immediately prior to them stepping into the ring, Donovan's being announced at his natural weight of 9.0 and Sarron's at 9.1. It was anr iiounced at the beginning of .the boni that Donovan did not look so di'awn as he did at New Plymouth and throughout the fifteen rounds he displayed

greater confidence in himself, showing that he. had learnt much in the preyious encounter, and meant to apply himself to his opponent' s weaknesses and concentrate on remedying his own. The Waitara fireman s'eeniqd suddenly to have acquired an unusually large amount of science in a shorfc spac'e of time and the announcer said that his footwork was even better at times than his opponent's. Donovan invariably opened the rounds with a straight left to the tace which the Ame'rican with all his„ speed seemed pcwerless to avoid, and seeing his superiority there continued throughout to use this particular blow to good advantage. Sarron seemed to be anxious from the outset to end tho fight as quickly as possible and with this . object in view he brought his now famous right into operation, frequently lettmg loose uppercuts, which, had they found their marks, would have ended the ' fight there and then. Both men were aggressive but the New Zealander was more so. in the many stirring exchanges the men were fighting toe-to-toe, trading full arm blows with both hands. The best possible spirit marked the fight, whicli was fought in a manner reflecting credit on , both .contestants. In the tbird l'ouftd the referee had occasion to speak to Donovan for using a backhander, while on two occasions the announcer stated that Sarron had appeared to be guilty of hitting low, These were purely accidental and had no effect on Donovan as they landed on his hip. On one occasion the crowd coiild be heard accusing the American o? agajn using the "rabblt killer" which cost him the fight a fortnight previously in New Plymouth, but this was explained by Donovan ducking after the blow liad been directed and takiug it on the neck. The mjury to tlie -American's left hand which caused him some trouble durihg the New Plymouth contest appeared to have mended and it was not necessary for him to nurse _ it to the same extent that he had to in his previous encounter, but he appeared to have hurt it again in the fifth round. It did not, however, cause him any great inconvenience. At the heginning of the sixth round Donovan rushed Sarron onto the ropes where there was a fierce rally, the New Zealander emergmg from it with his left eye open. Tliereafter Sarron made this his target aud it was soon bleeding profusely and swollen badly, causing rather a severe hanclicap. In the eleventh round Sarron's nose was the resting place for one of his opponent's left and his blood commenced to flow.