BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 57 (Supplement)

BOXING.

Of the newspaper writers in New Zealand who devote a certain portion of their time each week to the making of "copy" for the boxing columns of their . respective journals, one young man stands out prominently as an amateur boxer of ability, who knows by practical experienci! what the glove game really is. The scribe referred to is Ted Scott, of the Wellington "Evening Post." Under the pen-name of "Milo" he conducts a well-informed column, and in the ring, privately in the gymnasium, and publicly at tournainente, he gives a practical testimony to the fact that he is well acquainted with matters pugilistic. Scott has scored another win, his vanquished opponent on this occasion being one Sharkey Burne, whom he defeated in a four-round preliminary to the Bert Brown-George Curran feat her- weight contest at Petone last week. According to a report in a Wellington weekly journal, Scot, boxed very confidently, and took the first two sessions by a wide margin. Burns was groggy when the third started, and it looked odds on his withering under the onslaught, but he connected with a lucky one. "The fourth found them both war-worn," says the report, "but they traded willingly to the huge delight of the crowd. Burns wa« having the better of the exchanges at the death knock, but his superiority in the final session was insufficient to swing the verdict his way." Scott is well known in Auckland. He is a personal friend of Charlie Purdy, and on his visits to this city nothing pleases him more than to put on the chamois with the brilliant young champion. The C'hristchureh boxing people are apparently bent on promoting an openair ring tournament at English Park. Their optimism is to be admired, but there are few who will say that their action is judicious. It is proposed to light the arena with powerful arc lamps, and enthusiastic supporters of the scheme in the City of the Plains contend that an al fresco tournament will prove both economical and popular. Promoters of experience will doui>t the wisdom of this. The writer, who knows Christchurch, fears that if the public will not attend King Edward Barracks in sufficient numbers to make the promotion of tournaments a paying proposition, then they certainly will not sit under the stars on a November, night for the pleasure of seeing boxers in action. Bad weather, of course, would ruin the venture completely. For the second time in twelve months, the feather-weight championship of New Zealand has changed hands. This time last year it was held by that snappy little glove-gladiator, Mike Flynn, who took it from Harry Gunn at Tiinaru at Easter, 1923. Flynn went to Sydney, and came back just too lato to be still the champion. George Curran proved to be the pugilist who next wore the champion's crown, but he has been dethroned by Bert Brown, of Palmerston North. The event took place at Petone hist week, when the challenger ran out a winner on such a narrow margin of points that well-known critics have committed themselves to the statement that the contest might well have been called a draw without either side being unfairly treated. Brown, who is a much improved hid, is a good type of fighter. It is interesting to remember that Harry Hudson succeeded over Brown at Frankton a few months back. Hudson, who is hot after the title will probably seek a return engagement with the champion. Paul Demsky is to meet Eddie Baxter at Greymouth on October 27. The coal town people are anticipating an exciting contest. The suggestion made by Mr. Paddy Pascoe, that Trowern should have firet pop at Purdy as a professional is all very well in a way, but viewed in a broad light it would seem that the young Olympic representative should be banked against sterner stuff from the outset. Now, Reg. Trowern ig a clever boxer, fast, scientific and strong, but his reputation falls far short of that enjoyed by Purdy, and his ability cannot be said to equal that of the last named. Whatever else Trowern may be able to advance in support of his claim, he cannot say that he ha 9 ever been given the decision over Purdy. Nor was he equal to the task of carrying off the honours in his division at the New Zealand championshipe. Granted that he is a clever lad, deserving of success, it is surely presumptioue to urge that he should be matched with Purdy, who has just returned after doing bat-, tie with men of the type of Pat O'Hanrahan. England's best in the welters, and P. Dwyer, the Irish champion. Purdy outclassed both these. The great Jim Driscoll saw Purdy and described him as the most finished boxer he had ever set eyes on. Surely a lad who can win so handsomely from overseas frontrankers, and who can earn such praise, is worthy of a match with someone higher in the boxing firmament than youn" Trowern. There is evidently some "professional' , feeling between Trowern and Purdy, which must eventually be quenched per medium of a victory to one or the other, and hasty patrons who do not favour either lad are .prone to say 'let them settle it in the ring." But that is a poor plea. Professional boxing : 3 not conducted for the settling of personal differences. Aueklanders are tired of poor contests. When a really good bout is staged, patrons will stand up and call the name of the N. B. A. blessed, but another disappointing match in the Town Hall will cripple the game for a long time, Let Purdy 'be matched with a professional of some experience. Trowern's turn will come later. A pood story of a parson who wee pugilistically inclined is told by Rev. WE Lush of Auckland. Some twelve or fourteen years ago, there was a certain Anglican "p riegt who B e. work "* WaS tO minister to the spiritual neeos of a widely-scattered flock in the out J backs of Australia. The job was no einecure; there were miles of bad roads to be covered on horseback, end the "sky trilot" had to deal with a very rough stamp of man. But he was equal to the task 4.S a youth he had learned to use ■his fists, and it was his custom to cany a set of gloves in his saddle-bag. Aβ he became better known, it was always considered a good joke to persuades, newcomer at a sheep etation to don theTloves with tie visitor. The UMUfl- ' necting shed-hand would, in nine «see out of ten, consider the parsonan easy r.™T>n«ition but a second or two later neTouW"Wake to the fact that he had ,w "knocked" most scientifically Seas to say, this particular priest £fa seal in the work «f **> <*««*•