South Yorkshire Times, September 29th, 1933

Crossleys Title Fight Bid

A Tactical Triumph

Smith Beaten At His Own Game

Harry Crossley

Harry Crossley the Mexborough boxer and former Cruiserweight champion of Great Britain went a step nearer securing a British Heavyweight title fight with the present champion, Jack Petersen, where at the Granby Halls, Leicester, on Monday he gained an emphatic points victory over Charlie Smith of Deptford, admittedly one of the cleverest British heavies at present in the game. The bout, which was over twelve rounds, was regarded in the light of an unofficial eliminating contest with a title bout ultimately in view. It could not receive official recognition as an eliminating contest as Smith has already been beaten by Petersen, though on that occasion he was rather unfortunate to lose, being knocked out in the final round after having established a big lead on points.

CROSSLEY THE CLEVERER

That Crossley should score such a clear-cut win was somewhat unexpected, for it was generally thought that if the Mexborough man did not win by the short route, Smith’s experience, skill and ringcraft would make him a difficult man to beat. However, Crossley proved the cleverer of the two and after the first few rounds dictated the course of the fight. The referee, Mr. C. B. Thomas (Porthcawl) had an easy task in picking the winner and remarked to me at the conclusion of the contest that Crossley Lad fought a very “brainy” fight and that his tactics were very clever indeed. In view of the physical disadvantages under which he again had to fight, Smith being patently the taller and heavier of the two, Crosley’s performance was little short of brilliant. He was attacking for threequarters of the time and showed unusual versatility in his methods of attack. He used his left judiciously, but his right also did a lot of damaging work and be showed a willingness and ability to mix things at close quarters or box his opponent at long range which left Smith without

a “shot in his locker” long before the end. The Deptford man tried all he knew to unsettle Crossley, but his occasional fusillades of half arm blows were cleverly smothered and his famous straight left rarely connected with any force, while a couple of fierce upper cuts which he unleashed were easily slipped by the Mexboro’ man. The way Smith pushed Crossley off in the early rounds suggested that his weight was going to be an important factor and his beautifully orthodox left leads were rendered dangerous by the length of his reach. However, Crossley got away from the majority of them and was very quick to counter, concentrating mostly on the body. Smith beat many of these blows aside, but his opponent relentlessly persisted with the result that before the fight had gone four rounds the Londoner’s body was well marked. The cumulative effect of these jolting blows was

evident as the fight progressed, for Crossley came up quite fresh round after round while Smith was obviously “groggy” towards the end and in the last two rounds was content to hang on and wait for the bell. The crowd were yelling for a knockout long before the end with Smith sagging on the ropes with his guard wide open, but with the fight “in his pocket” there was no need for Crossley to run into any trap which his crafty opponent might have set. Apart from the last two rounds when he was really distressed, Smith several times left himself invitingly open with the object of tempting Crossley to make a rash move. He had met his master in speed, ringcraft and stamina, however, and clever boxer as he is, he was outmanoeuvred and out-generalled by a determined and skilful adversary.

He admitted as much when I spoke to him in his dressing room. “He was too clever, and too difficult to hit,” he remarked, though at the same time he seemed far from satisfied with his own display. I suspect, however, that it was only because Crossley called the tune that he had reason to be disappointed with his form. Crossley was highly delighted at his success and returned; Smith’s compliment on his defence by remarking on the difficulty of landing a solid punch on the Londoner. He greeted Dr. T. F. Woolley, who dressed a cut he sustained in the fight with Newel, by cheerfully remarking “There’s nothing for you to stitch this time.” and, indeed, his condition made it hard to credit that he had just had a dozen strenuous rounds in the ring.

ROUND BY ROUND.

ROUND 1. Crossley took the initiative, but Smith parried cleverly and though the Mexboro’ man was the aggressor he did not connect effectively, several of his leads being beaten aside. Crossley got his man on the ropes and Smith seemed momentarily puzzled but his long left shot out twice to Crossley’s head, though the blows were light and did no damage. There was no marked advantage to either man, and though Crossley was the more determined he could not be said to have won the round, being several times pushed away.

ROUND 2. Smith kept his left going but many of the blows only brushed Crossley’s face as he stepped away. Crossley was rushed to the ropes and Smith scored with a good left to the head. He was letting go more now and was doing most of the scoring, though the blows did not seem to trouble Crossley who eventually retaliated with a solid right to the jaw. He followed this with a good left, and these were the best punches of the round, but he was rushed to the ropes just before the bell and neither could claim the round.

ROUND THREE. Going in to make the pace Crossley landed a smart left to the jaw but Smith replied with a rapid succession of lefts to the head. When Crossley led he made him miss three times, but the Mexborough man connected with some telling body blows and Smith’s ribs were already beginning to look red. The Londoner sent over a left, but Crossey immediately countered with a hard right. Smith went for his man only to stop a jarring left to this body. This was Crossley’s round.

ROUND FOUR. Smith started tapping away with his left but the blows could not be taken seriously as many of them failed to connect properly. Smith, however, got home twice and smothered Crossley’s body blows more effectively. Crossley got in one good left but had only held his own.

ROUND FIVE. Making straight for his opponent Smith showed a willingness to mix things and landed a beautiful left swing. Crossley replied with a right to the body, but when he got Smith on the ropes had to retreat suddenly before a furious onslaught which earned the Deptford man the round by a small margin.

ROUND SIX. A right to the jaw steadied Smith, but his weight and craft had so far enabled him to hold his own. He scored with left to the head but missed with a terrific upper-cut and as he backed away Crossley’s left shot out and landed on his jaw. He scored with another fine left and countered a left from Smith with a fierce right. This round was Crossley’s

ROUND 7. Smith missed with another mighty upper-cut meant to end the fight but scored during in-fighting on the ropes. He ran into a smashing right however and a second later took a nasty left to the face. There was not much in this round as Smith fought back with some fine straight lefts.

ROUND 8. Opening with a good right to the head Crossley beat his opponent off with a left when he would have retaliated. Crossley was right on top now and Smith reeled under some half-arm jabs which sent him to the ropes. Crossley won the round comfortably as he did practically all the attacking and Smith’s left was doing hardly any damage now.

ROUND 9. Crossley went straight for his man and scored with a couple of hard rights to the face, followed by a left and right which staggered Smith. There was only one man doing any real punching, and that was Crossley. Crossley was warned to keep his hands up, but Smith was at fault in trying to beat down the leads for his body. Crossley finished the round with a hurtful left which the Londoner ran into. Crossley’s round again.

ROUND 10. Three sharp lefts to the head had Smith bewildered on the ropes. He came back, however, to try and use his left but Crossley was never there when the blows should have landed. Crossley was getting in at least three punches to Smith’s one and a terrific right to the jaw had the crowd shouting for a knock-out. Smith was fully occupied in keeping on his feet and Crossley was doing all the punching, but the Deptford man covered cleverly. Easily Crossley’s round.

ROUND 11. After some feinting Crossley scored with a fierce right swing. A. second right shook Smith severely, and he was glad to hang on for respite. Crossley followed him round seeking for an opening for • knock-out but though he sagged against the ropes Smith kept his feet. He lost the round hopelessly.

ROUND 12. This was largely a repetition of the 11th. After being hammered on the ropes Smith hung on for all he was worth to escape punishment. He made an effort to counter but missed badly. The bell saved him, and he was just about done as he went to his corner. He could hardly have lasted another round or two.