"Cobber" Branks beats N. Hayward (Taranaki) to win boxing in 1956.......

"Cobber" Branks

On 4 September 1956 it was reported that of the five Southland boxers at the New Zealand Amateur Boxing championships, only one, Cobber Branks the promising flyweight managed to get a title.
New Zealand Champions' M. McMillan and G. Anderson were both beaten, the former by a foul and the latter by a split decision.  The Bluff boxer, M. Spence was easily beaten on points by a more experienced Auckland boxer, M. George.
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Day 1...

​McMillan lost to R. Williams of Canterbury, but was unlucky as he landed some heavy punches, giving him the upper hand.  Williams looked intimidated and was behind on points, when McMillan was disqualified for punching Williams on the back of his neck.
Anderson lost in a split decision to L. Coombes from Taranaki which was the best bout of the day.
Branks got his win over R. Andrews of Hamilton, and was the better fighter, but Andrew fought back bravely but Branks had accumulated too many points.
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The McCallum-Purcell match was entertaining and was a real slugging match.  Purcell started well but McCallum was more calculating with well placed punches.  Purcell could not match the determination of McCallum.

G. Finlay (Greymouth) won on a knock out.

J. Hughes (Auckland) and A. Cleverly (Oamaru) had a great fight, with Hughes using the ropes to his advantage and came out the winner on points.

Light, middleweight M. Tuck (Greymouth) title holder and Empire Games representative found a good match in A. Carroll (Wellington) who was extremely quick and elusive, but not up to the standard of the West Coaster and lost on points.

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Branks wins bantamweight title in New Zealand amateur boxing championships in 1956......Day 2.

Branks was one of the four split decisions on 4 September 1956, moving up a grade he wowed the crowd with a hard fight against N. Hayward (Taranaki). 

Concentrating upon body punches, the first round was won in a hard fight by Branks.  In the second round which was a spirited affair, Hayward was fighting very strongly.
Branks made up the deficit in the third round and won in a split decision.

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In the featherweight contest between I. Coombes (Taranaki) and M. Sanson (Hamilton), a sudden end came when Coombes landed a right to Sanson's already damaged nose, he went out for the count.

In the lightweight, M. Mitchell (Wellington) and P. Donovan (Hawkes Bay) dished out equal punishing punches.  Donovan the son of a previous New Zealand champion, used his knowledge of the game well to win by a unanimous decision.  Mitchell though was not outdone  in speed or agility.

Other boxers to feature were:
W. Fraser (Taranaki), G.Finlay (Greymouth), J. Hughes (Auckland), Sam Pehi (Wellington), E. Morrison (Wellington), P. Ah Van (Auckland), J. P. Mathews (Wellington).