THE SQUARED RING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 247, 1 August 1935, Page 7

THE SQUARED RING

BOXING AND WRESTLING.

IMPORTATIONS FROM AMERICA.

(By -'‘Referee.”) The recent American boxing importations to Australia, while proving popular with the fans and provided good opposition to the local idols, are not enjoying any outstanding success. Aussie heavy-weight champion, Ambrose Palmer, made short work of his engagement with the American darkie, Roy Le Clans; middle-weight Tommy King had the satisfaction of making a draw of it with Fred Henneherry only a few days after his arrival; A 1 Saaf, another middle-weight from America, failed to produce the goods a week or so ago against Henneherry, and last week' Queensland’s little idol, Ron Richards, performed a quite neat job when he gained a points decision, the American never looking a winner at any stage of the contest. However, there is one .American, Williard Brown, who is making his presence felt in Victoria, where he has accounted for “Red” Maloney, welter champion of Victoria, and Johnny Condon, former State middle-weight champion. Brown does not appear to be a real “star” but he possesses qualities that go to please the crowd. He is to figure with Jack Carroll in the reopening of the West Melbourne stadium toward the end of this month. Last week that bogeyman of boxing, the southpaw, was represented' by Jack Portney and Harry Devine, in a match at Sydney that did not make much appeal. Here again the latest member of the American imported troupe, who is an ex-Olympic Games title-holder, was knocked out in the tenth round, Portney proving too tough and in better condition.

“Discovered” McCorkirtdale. Walter Miller, whose sponsoring of Earl McCready as British Empire heavy-weight wrestling champion, is one of the chief topics in wrestling circles in New Zealand, has dabbled in many things, including the promoting business, while he has been manager of a couple of boxers of note. For instance, he was manager of Mike Gibbons for a time and later he was responsible for “discovering” Don McCorkindalc, the South African heavyweight boxer, who, following trouble with his heart, is now reported to be endeavouring to stage a .“come-back” in England, where he has been resident for a number of years. Miller has an interesting story to tell of the training habits of the South African. “Jove he was a lazy guy,” said Miller. “He was always in bed sleeping or resting when he should have been out walking and I could never go far from our lodgings for fear he might crawl into bed. One day I was out and came back unexpectedly 'to find him fast asleep. Of course, 1 woke him up and told him to get out into the air. He was quite agreeable and went out on to the road. I thought my worries were ended for a few hours, but I changed my mind when a few minutes later I espied him creeping in through the back door.” Another Les. Darcy? Twenty years ago a young Maitland blacksmith, Les.. Darcy, roused the enthusiasm of boxing enthusiasts by his boxing and lighting. They wondered if he would prove a satisfactory successor to such knights of the ring as Peter Jackson, Paddy Slavin, Joe Goddard, and Dan Crecdon. All the world seemed at his feet when lack of vision by those who were his advisers set him on the wrong path, and a visit to the United States ended in his death. Now there is another Maitland boy, Arthur Campbell, doing such wonderful things in the ring that people are asking, “Is lie .another Les. Darcy?” He has been adopting the oniy course which leads to the championship and is fighting his way up. He is a line (specimen of young Australian manhood. He weighs 12st Gib, and stands six feet in' his. socks. He has had 27 professional lights and has had- only five defeats, sustained in the early stages cf his career. He is a “southpaw,” and thus is an awkward man to fade.

Mr McCiuskey Retires. Mr W. McC'luskey, the popular manager of the team of am'ateur Australian boxers Adiicli visited New Zealand last year, has retired from the position of secretary oi the Queensland Amateur Boxing and Wrestling Union. In making a presentation to Mi McC'luskey, Mr G. Pollock (Speaker of the 'Legislative Assembly) said that for 14 years Mr McC'luskey had been one of the pilots of” amateur boxing in Queensland, and had watched the interests of the sport in good times and bad. Mr It. Long (president of the union) said that no man had done more than Mr McCluskey to advance amateur boxing in Queensland. Archie Hughes. Archie Hughes, cx-New South. Wales and New Zealand professional lightweight, is in training; in Sydney with a view to accepting engagements offered him. New Zealanders will be pleased to learn that Hughes has sufficiently recovered from the serious knee injury lie sustained in an accident in Auckland to he able to take the ring again. Offer Refused. Laurie Stevens, light-weight boxing champion of South Africa, refused an offer by Sydney Stadium to visit Australia lor three matches, with the option or three more n. successful. 4 ne absence of a guarantee settled the issue. An endeavour is to bo made to got Dave Cafstairs to come for a match with Ambrose Palmer.