THE SQUARED RING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 98, 6 February 1936, Page 3

THE SQUARED RING

VICTORY FOR McAVOY. FIGHT AT MADISON SQUARE. (By “Referee.”) Much has happened during the week in the world of boxing writes B. Beilinson, and, from now on to the end of January, the sport will live a furious and healthy life. The victory of Jock McAvoy at Madison Square has provided a much-needed tonic. And 1 have to confess that our middle-weight champion has exceeded all my expectations. For I had come to doubt that he was meant to play the part of a pugilistic Alexander, He has deceived me entirely and pleasantly, for I know well how exacting are the conditions in New York. It may still be said that the stranger is called, upon to fight his opponent and the crowd as well. It is only a mild exaggeration that an Englishman may not be certain of being returned the winner unless he knocks the other fellow out. And with McAvoy’s defeat by Marcel Thil still a painful memory, 1 did indeed doubt that he would adapt himself to the demands of New York so to be master of himself. Let there he no mistake. At McCoy, whom he outpointed in almost every round, is a first rate performer. Ambrose Palmer and Tommy Loughran, with whom I have talked, both agreed that the FrenchCanadian was a cruiser of unusual qualMadison Square had him earmarked for a fight for'the world’s title. His defeat has made slaughter of prearranged plans. We are assured that McAvoy will now be matched for the ligh-heavyweight championship as a matter of course. I am not so sure, though I agree that McAvoy has well and truly earned the privilege. Lewis The Title H'oldier.

He may he called upon to have one or more fights before he meets the man in possession—John Henry Lewis, a ne <T ro who has the reputation of being more remarkable for inconsistency than outstanding skill. For myself I cannot accept Lewis for being other than a doubtful champion, if, indeed a champion at all. A man who takes a trouncing, as he did on the night of McAvoy’s triumph, from Maxie Rcscnblooni, one of the oldest of America s active fighters, cannot he any giea shakes. Rosenbloom, as 'liis best, was not comparable with Len Harvey, for instance, and, if I could be sure that Eddie Phillips would not develop nerves I believe the Bow cruiser would beat him. , . As a middle-weight,' and when considered to be at his zenith, Rosenbloom was knocked out at the Albert Hall by Tommy Milligan. I well know how he pitotested that the blow which laid him low was foul. The fact was that Milligan caught him full on the solar plexus, and Maxie was left to wonder whether the roof had fallen upon lum. I understand that McAvoy proposes to cross over into Canada almost immediately to fight the best they have in the Dominion.