Donovan Wins

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 256, 1 December 1930, Page 8

Donovan Wins

LECKIE OUTPOINTED Feather Title Clianges Hands DISAPIOINTING FIGHT. ConsistentJy dogged fighting, made possible by pertect physical condition. gave Tommy Donovan, of Kew Plymouth, a victory over Jolinnie Leckie, of Napier, iu his cliallenge for the feather-weight title of New Zealand, 011 Saturday liiglit. It was in close range fighting, witli blows to the body, that Donovan gained points, for in the inore oper exclianges, he took more than he gave leckie. The reception given to the deeision of the referee, Mr G. Wachorn, of Palmerston North, when he xaised Donovan's hand, was distincth xnixed, and the crowd, though tliej could liot claim tliat the champion haci 'been outstandingly superior, were justified in their hopes that tlie worst Leckie could expeet was a draw. much cl1mch ing. While it is conceded that Mr Wae!hom probably saw many blows whicli escaped the notice of the audience, if is equally definite that he failed tc warn --Donovan often enougli for liolding. Long clinches were frequent, and the challenger managcd to foil Leckie s use of one liand on the olfside of the referee much more than many others would have allowed. 4 Nevertlleless, Donovan scored points in in-fightihg wkich had built up for liim a considerable margin by the end of the sixth round. In all but a few rounds he was the more aggressive, and liis tigerish attack seldom waned in ferocity. Leckie, on the other hand, showed only rare flashes of his best form. new tact1cs. TacEics which were markedly differfent from those he used in their previous encounter in Napier, mere adopted by Donovan on Saturday night. _ In forcing the fight he almost invariably leapt clean from the canvas, witli his left directed straiglit at Leckie's vulnerable right eye, which he concentrated on opening. The effort was folJowed by vicious in-figliting, in wliTcli he landed many telling body blows, varied with an occasional left or right wliipped to tlie head. His dodging was often very smart, but just as often it was not quick enougli for Leckie's lefts. exceptional cleverness. It was Leckie's exceptional cleverness in evasion which made countless missiles from Donovan's attack to his head connect with nothing more solid than air. Though he was sometimes not quite quick enougli, he was successful in keeping his eye unopened, and instead he presented Donovan witli a souveuir in the form of an uglv hlack ring under his right eye which would require the prompt application of a piece of raw steak or some equally effective remedial preparation. But try as he miglit, Leckie could not keep his apparently indefatigable opponent at arm's length. useful lefts. He landed many useful straight lefts, hut was seldom able to deliver the combination of a left and a right cross ■which constitutes one of his strongest weapons and w'hich has won liim so many bouts. Donovan repeatedly got inside his attack, preventing liim from ■using his most effective ■ blows too often. Leckie fought with unusual coolness which contrasted markedly with Donovan's tireless ferocity. As an exhibition, the fight was disappointing when compared with their last battle in Napier. There was far too much in-fighting which spoiled' the possibilities of a first-class display. Indeed, the pair gave the impression that in their three figlits this year they have practically all there is_ fo learn about one anotlier's tactics. Each seemed to know every method the otlier was likely to employ and to have developed" a defcnce to meet it. crowd fills theatre. By .the time. Ihe two men -took the ring tlie crowd had grown sufficiently to 'hll the Municipal Theatre. Leckie's weight was announced as 9st., and Donovan's as 8st. I3ilbs. Both had had to conie down several paunds to get witliin the featherweight limit of 9st. Donovan looked to have much better condition than tlie champion. He bounced round in his corner with surprising vigor, which he maintained throughout the 15 rounds that were to follow. A series of clinches followed Donovan's lead for Leckie's eye early in the opening round. In the in-figliting he landed many blows. Leckie sc-oring his first decisive punches with a left to the body and riglit s to tlie head as Donovan chased him to the ropes. A

left from Donovan flashed over •Leckie's shoulder and was answered with two darting straight lefts. Both anissed frequently during the round. MORE GLINCHING. kiore clinching followed Donovan's lead to the eve at the opening of the second. This time tliere was more smart in-fighting. Leckie cleverly ducked a right swing and sent a left to the face after they were parted, repeating the dose as Donovan came back at him. Donovan replied with two lefts and an exceedingly keavy right swmg to the heart. A good left which Leckie seored was followed by further in-fighting in the tliird, Donovan being cautioned for holding. Donovan's face was eontorted as Leckie hurt him with a left, followed bv a right cross. but he got jnside a right which Leckie ' delivpred a moment later. He dodged several of ■Leckie's lefts hut accepted delivery of one of that variety just at the end of •Jthe rountL ,

again cautioned. •Early in the foiirtk Donovan was cautioned for Holding. The _ in-fight-ing continued, Donovan landing body blows, anl Lecki© a left a few seconds later. A heavy riglit swing sliook Leckie and he replied witli a good straight left. Again they closed, Donovan being spoken to for tlie second time in the round. Lecki© failed with a left and attempted abortiyely co hold Donovan off, the pair going into another clincli. When they were in Donovan's corner, Leckie gave liis fiist sliow of aggressiveness, flailing Doiiovan with lefts and rights to the liead' as the gong sounded. leckie at his best. Donovan's face again twisted in pain as Leckie delivered lieavy blows in a clinch at the beginning of tlie fifth. Both were cautioned for holdiiig. Leckie dodged a heavy left swing and connected with a left jab, following it with an uppercut and three smart lefts. Donovan landed a left to the face, but took three more lefts before th© gong. It vas easily Leckie's round, and one of the few sessions in which he was at nis best. Streiiuous in-figliting, in which Donovan appeared to connect more often, opened the sixth. Leckie dodgea a left and planted two lefts to Donovan's face. "With two well-direct-ed rights, Donovan seemed to have Leckie momentarily dazed, but tlie defender recovered quickly, dodging a left and delivering a left) rip. He also made Donovan miss with a lot of blows. Both connected with lefts early in th© seventh. Donovan dodged anotlier ieft and delivered a right uppercut, a straight left and a solid right swing to the hodv, just above the solar Dlexus. before Leckie hit liim with a left. Leckie landed another left after dodging Donovan as the latter leapt for his eye. both men cautioned. The referee had something to say to both men for holding in a clinch in th© next. Donovan scored a right to the body and a good straight left

when they went to it again, but Leckie made him miss badly with a left, and himself delivered a left swing to the body. Donovan managed to get inside Leckie's right. Donovan was forcing th© fight again in the ninth, attacking furiously. He hung on the ropes for a moment, waiting for Leckie to come at him, hut the defender was too shrewd, and backed to the middle of the ring. Donovan landed two left swings to the body and a straight left to the face before the cnd of the round. an ugly eye. Tlie challenger kept too close in to iet Leckie use his left and right cross when he made two or thre© attempts to do so in the tenth. Donovan himself shot out a left and a right cross, but a. moment later Leckie crossed his lead.. with a right to the jaw and planted a telling straight left. . Donovan went out for the eleventh with an ugly-coloured eye. After a long clinch, Lecki© landed a riglit to the hodv and Donovan a strong right cioss. His streiiuous fighting appeared to be telling on Leckie. Again Donovan was warned for holding in a clinch. He planted anotlier right, and Leekie a straiglit left. fighting grows wild. A brisk opening was seen in the next, but the fighting was ratlier wild and both men, Douovan particularly, missed a good deal. Leckie connected with a right cross, dodged a Jeft, and delivered a swing to the body as Donovan advanced. He shot out another left, but Donovan was too close in for the right which followed to connect. They were in a clinch at the gong. Apparently conservmg their energy for a fiiial onslaught in the fifteenth, the pair fouglit warily in the thirteenth. Donovan landed a right swing and both connected with lefts at tlie same time. Leckie landed a straight Jeft", followed by a left hook, wliile Donovan scored witli a left jah. Leckie planted two quick lefts as Donovan leaped for his eye. flew at one another. Tlie pair flew at one another from the start of the fourteenth, Leckie landing a right uppercut and left to the heart as Donovan danced away i'rom liim. Both connected with lefts to tlie face and Leckie smartly dodged another which Donovan delivered. It was a good round for Leckie. Leckie planted a right to the head as Donovan leaped for him in the final session. He landed a right and two lefts, to which Donovan replied with two more lefts, Leckie dodging a third and comiectmg with another liimself. Both landed lefts, Leckie ehasing Donovan to the ropes but faihng to land any effective blows _ before liis opponent escaped. Again both men landed lefts almost simultaneously, and Donovan sent anotlier to Leckie's face as tlie final gong sounded. good amateur bouts. Several good amateur . bouts were staged before tlie principal fight of the evening. Greater heighfc and reach gave Hutchinson (5.9) an advantage which he used effectively in the first lountl against Byford (4.12). landing with both hauds to the head, though he took a solid right on the face. There were half a dozen livelv exchanges in the second, the deeision eventually going to Hutchinson. both men staggering, The unusual sight of both fighters heino- practically "out" was seen when IMarkie (11.4) fouglifc Iving (11.8). The pair opened unimpressively, but in tlie second they livened up, Harkie landing a right and two lefts, and King a left. Markie, who appeared to have little ^ condition, was weak at the end of tKe

* V V W round. Nevertheless, he refused the towel to refresli him. After planting solid rights and lefts in the tliird, both men were exceedingly weak. King was staggering, but managed to send Markie down for nine. When he rose, King had not sufficient strength to hit him liard, while Markie was in no better condition. Markie appeared to wake up in the fourtli, but landed few blows. King continued to inake the fight and sent Markie down again for six. While the referee was counting and Markie lay stretched on the canvas, King lay lielpless on the ropes, by which he supported liimself. The verdict went to King, who staggered dazedlv from side to side as he crossed the ring to grip Markie's glove. He had to be assisted to get to Markie's corner. ° fighter wakes up. A lot of footwork but little puneliing was seen early in the bout between Pullen (8.6) and Maultsaid (9.3). Pullen woke up in the second session, however, catching his opponent with a good left after the latter led. Maultsaid continued to force the fight, and altliough he landed blows to Pullen's head, .lie took successive straight lefts. Maultsaid was still game in the third and chased Pullen, who still dealt out well-directed lefts. Pullen got tlie deeision — a popular win. a drawn bout. After surveying one anotlier with careful scrutiiiy for about five seconds, Walker (5.7) and Marsh (5.12) sailed at one anotlier willingly. Marsh effectively ducked from three of Walker's assaults, but in both the first and second rounds took about as much as he gave. A souveuir which Walker collected was a cut above the eye. The deeision, a draw, was well received. whirlwind exchances. Frequent fast exchanges were provided by Bennie (9.7) and Richardson (9.0) The first round produced action throughout, both landing blows to the head. Even faster was the second session, which opened with a whirlwind excliange. Bennie landed two good rights, but was caught off his balance by a left swing which sent him down for a moment. He stopped a straight left a few seconds afterwards, hut landed with both hands to Richardson's head. Bennie landed lefts in the third, in which he forced the fight. Richardson planted blows to the head and a good left clout as he stood pinned against the ropes. Bennie accepted successive solid lefts in the fourth. In the fifth, both appeared to hold off, conserving energy for the final flutter. It was in the sixth round that Richardson gained tlie points which gave him the deeision. Bennie landed few blows, while Richardson stabbed his face desperately with lefts, which, though well-directed, did liot seem to carry much weight, and failed to shake Bennie. The verdict in favour of Richardson was given a liiixed reception. It was an unusually good exhibition of amateur boxing. surprised opponent A lot of in-fighting was seen in the Hutchinson (9.7) v. Williams (9.8) bout. The first round produced little interesting fighting, hut in the second tlie pair opened up more. Hutchinson forcing the fight and landing lefts, which Williams answered with blows to the head from both hands. Hutchinson surprised his opponent with a qiiiek right as they hroke from a clinch. Williams landed a soliid straight left hiilf-way through the third round. Hutchiuson then chased him, landing with both fists, but Williams, who was in excellent condition, came back and planted a strong left and a right. Fighting solidly, but ratlier wihlly, the pair flew at one anotlier in the final round, with very little between tliein. Hutchinson got the deeision. Mr T. A. Heath refereed the amateur bouts, tlie judges being Mr C. L. Thomas and Sergeant-Major G. O'Leary.