Islands Boxers In

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Australia And Nz

r T' w ° Islands boxers caused upsets among boxing fans in both Sydney and Auckland In December, 1954. They were Samoan heavyweight Fossi Schmidt who lost to a NSW timbercutter; and Tongan heavyweight Johnny Halafihi who beat the NZ champion Chub Keith.

A wild right to the chin by bush heavy weight Ross Jenkins caused Schmidt to blotch his fine record of 51 unbeaten professional contests. The Samoan began the fight as 10/1 favourite. The contest took place at the Sydney Show Ground as a preliminary to the Dawson-Dione Bfht.

Jenkins drew first blood when he floored the Samoan with a wild swing in the lecond round. Schmidt regained his feet luickly but was obviously severely shaken.

Ie was knocked down for a second time n the same round but was saved by the ►ell.

Soon after the start of the third round chmidt again hit the canvas. Although e tried gamely to fight on he was beaten » the ropes where referee Jack Burns topped the fight to save him from un ecessary punishment.

Tongan light-heavyweight Johnny alafihi won £1,300 at Auckland on ecember 7 when he scored a sensational In over the NZ champion Chub Keith, rer 14,000 people watched a display of vastating and accurate punching which »nld quickly have beaten a boxer of ss defensive skill than Chub Keith. The ht ended in the sixth round.

Balafihi took the offensive early in the atest and scored with many long swings d hard lefts and rights. Keith im essed greatly with his clever defence d, at times, had the Tongan forced linst the ropes or in a corner where dealt out heavy punishment. This s particularly noticeable in the fourth md where Halafihl’s defence looked - that of a novice. a the fifth round Halafihi concentrated attack on Keith’s head and by the of the round had the New Zealander ly shaken. The end came In the sixth nd, when Halafihi closed in, landing erful blows at will, until the referee •ped in and halted the bout, aortly after Harafihi’s great win, NZ ing circles buzzed with conjecture it who the Tongan would fight next.

“New Zealand Herald” boxing corres ient suggested that Australian heavy :ht champion, Ken Brady, would be logical opponent.

Halafihi-Brady fight would be a huge v> but the Tongan would be faced serious physical disadvantages. The sspondent suggests, however, that fihi’s terrific punching power might jensate for the difference of about ine weight and considerable height tever happens, he said, the NZ asso on would try to provide him with s; if this were impossible, Stadiums, or the Australian Boxing Club would übtedly sign him up.