Boxing

Victoria, winners last year of the NZU Boxing Shield, did not compete with much success in this year's contest. In fact they failed to win a weight. Only five VUC boxers entered the ring, and of these, three were eliminated in the preliminary fights. The winners of the shield were Auckland, who won four weights, with Otago and Canterbury each winning two.

In the final of the featherweight section, Pat Johnston (Victoria) took a thrashing from P. Hohepa (Auckland), the latter winning on a t.k.o. Johnston had no answer for the Aucklanders' constant attack and the fight was robbed of any interest which it might have held.

Reigning NZU champion, Doug Law (Victoria), was climinated by M. B. Hill (Auckland) in a preliminary contest in the lightweight division. Hill went on to win the title and also the award for the most scientific boxer of the tournament. Law-was a fighter hopelessly out of form, and had lost that speed in the ring which won him the title at Auckland last year. Hill had little trouble in keeping him on the defensive and went on to an easy victory.

Mike Webber (Victoria) was a little unlucky in his preliminary fight in the light welterweight section. His opponent opened a cut over his eye in the first round and the referee, Mr. Phin Stone, was forced to stop what might otherwise have been an extremely close and interesting tussle. This was an unfortunate happening which unlerlined the lesson seen in the Barry Brown-Pran Mikus fight—that a fighter should not enter the ring unless he is absolutely in the peak of physical condition and in no danger of what could develop into a permanent injury. Mr. Stone is to be congratulated from his prompt action in this regard.

Welterweight Brendon Scully (Victoria) was out of his class against a boxer of the calibre of Auckland's D. Tee and was defeated on a t.k.o. in the first round by the northerner who last year won his weight, the award for the most scientific boxer and an NZU Blue. Tee wont on to win his weight, defeating his finals opponent without much difficulty.

Bob Stevenson (Victoria) put up an outstanding fight against the redoubtable Ian McDougall (Canterbury) in the final of the middleweight division, losing on a very close points decision. Stevenson was by far the outstanding local boxer and his performance against McDougall was a very creditable one indeed.