THE SQUARED RING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 264, 20 August 1936, Page 3

THE SQUARED RING

ASSOCIATION’S £BO PURSE.

BOXING BOOM UNDER WAY.

(By “Referee.”) The revival of enthusiasm for boxing is becoming increasingly in evidence, being indicated by the unusually lengthy list of fixtures for the next few weeks. Associations from Wliangarei to Invercargill are participating in the “boom” which is by no means restricted to the larger centres. No better evidence of the extent to which the spirit is catching on could be provided than the fact that one of the smallest and youngest affiliated associations is to stage a contest this month between two imported heavyweights who were figuring in important contests in Australia before they came to New Zealand. The association referred to is Rakaia, and the boxers matched are the American negro Roy de Cans, and the unofficial Australian champion, Claude Nichol. The bout is to be staged on August 29, for a purse of £BO, an amount which few associations, even the biggest, could entertain a few months, or even weeks ago. Matching Difficulty. The main difficulty which has arisen out of the increased activity is in regard to the arranging of matches so as to suit the wishes of all concerned. Associations are so eagerly seeking the boxing talent available that interests inevitably clash and) it is becoming increasingly apparent that serious consideration will have to be given to the matter when delegates to the New Zealand Association’s annual meeting gather at Wellington in a month’s time. At present the associations are given a free hand in making their arrangements with boxers, the New Zealand Council merely approving of the engagements which fulfil all the necessary requirements. It seems that it will become necessary for tho matches to be drawn up by the council or its officers. The importation of overseas boxers is another matter m wliich it may be necessary to shift responsibility from the associations to the council. Boxers who are expected to arrive from Australia within the next few days include Jack Jarvis, the New Zealand light-weight champion who had his revenge on Hugliie Mehegan at Sydney last week, Tommy Jones, the highly - rated negro welter - weight who will be returning to America, Jimmy Purcell, an Australian wel-ter-weight for Otago, and Jack Rainsford, a heavy-weight for Southland. Rainsford’s first bout is to be on Saturday against the winner of the Nichol-De Cans figlit at Invercargill on August 10. It was won by Nichol. Hall-Rayner Return. A peculiar position, which illustrates the need for centralised control in the arranging of matches, has arisen in regard to the return bout between Joe Hall and Clarrie Rayner. Both Otago (who seem to have tho prior claim) and Marlborough are in the field, Otago having asked Rayner to substitute foi Hughes, Hall’s Australian trainer refusing to allow him to meet Hughes. It was thought that the matter might he overcome by matching Billy Aitken with Hall in a return bout at Dunedin, but it was reported that the purse and expenses asked lor 1)3 tho Aitken “camp” were too heavy for the match to be considered by Otago. The Hastings Association, which was responsible for Hall being imported, had first claim on the return bout between Hall and Aitken, but cancelled it after Aitken had been beaten by Rayner. Coloured' Fighters. Jack Johnson, the man that beat Tommy Burns, Stanley Ketchell and whipped the great Jim Jeffries, was a great outstanding coloured heavyweight. Peter Jackson was another great coloured wonder of the ring. Joe Walcott was still another. He stood 5 feet 2 inches in height and weighed but 135 pounds, yet he defied the world. Joe Gains was the Old Master and he packed that name to the grave. George Dixon was another coloured boy who made ring history. Bam Langford will always be mentioned as a great coloured fighter and there are several more of them. Joe Louis and Leroy Haynes might also bo included. Dempsey and Willard. Jack Dempsey says that "Willard was the greatest heavy-weight he ever fought. “Why, Mr Dempsey, how can you say that?” he was asked. “Did not Gene Tunney) beat you whereas you knocked Willard out?” “f was a kid when I fought Willard,” Dempsey answered. “I was getting along in years when I fought Tunney. Don’t forget that. I definitely do not think that Gene Tunney could have whipped the champion Willard, or that Jack Sharkey or Max Sclnnelling would have had as much as a Chinaman’s chance against him.”