BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1926, Page 25

BOXING.

RINGSIDE GOSSIP..

Paul Demsky is to meet Billy Thurbon at Marrickville on February 22, his being Paul's last fight before leaving Australia for Manila. Thurbon recently scored a draw with the State lightweight champion "Bley" Jones, who had k-o'd Jimmy Allen in eight. Ignacio Fernandez, the Filipino who has been doing well in Australia during his six months' residence, wanted to have a go at some of the New South Wales championships, but was informed that he would have to reside in the oountrjjr twelve months before being eligible for championships. Visiting Melbourne recently was an old-time American boxer who fought under the name of Willie Fairbanks. Fairbanks, who is an engineer on the Eastern Sea, an American cargo boat now picking up Australian shipments, is still a rabid fight fan, and he "rooted" as freely as anybody when at the Stadium mid-week show. "Say," he declared, "dont these people get something for their money! Fancy a programme like that for a three-shilling limit. My eye! And what fights!" The visitor did not have a dazzling ring career, nor did he make much money, but he enjoyed the cxperince. "Yes," he said, "I fought Ad Wolgast— and I remember all about it. I got an awful hiding over the ten rounds, but I stayed. And my cut was 900 dollars—a far different return from what the match would bring nowadays. And when I beat Frank Picato I received the handsome cheque of 150 dollars. George Cook, the Australian heavyweight, made his Xew York debut in the semi wind-up to the Berlanbach-Delaney light at Madison Square Garden on December 17, opposed by the mueh-talked-of heavyweight King Soloman. He won his bout easily on points. Soloman was touted as a coming heavyweight champion of the world, and was a great draw-card in New York because of the fact that he was said to be of Jewish origin. The fact that there are said to be three million Jews in New York explains just why he was such a boom. Soloman, however, got a set-back when Berlanbaeh stopped him at the Polo Grounds - some time ago. Soloman towered over the 6quat Australian, outweighing and outreaching him, but Cook is an unimaginative type, and had no fear of his opponent. He tore into his big rival and kept him busy defending for most of the fight. The contest was not good to look at, but that was not Cook's fault. He had the shorter reach and he had to get in range. Soloman retreated and held on until the fane gave him "the bird." Cook's tenacity had him bothered. The King took a terrible lacing throughout the contest, and when in the eighth he opened up and fought back Cook punished him so severely with body blows and left hooks to the face that the big man was on the verge of being knocked out. Desperately Cook tried to land his right on the button, but it landed everywhere except on the spot. Cook came through a winner in nearly every round, but could not show his best because of Soloman's tactics. Had he put Solomau away he would have been right in line for a feature fight at the Garden. He just failed to do so, and now New York is waiting for him to show a little more against some other opponent. "Middleweight champion of Great Britain" sounded good to the stadium people, so they promptly introduced Len Johnson as such an important fistic personage on his arrival in this land, says the "Sydney Sportsman." Next move was to further that bright idea and match Leonard with Harry Collins for the middleweight championship of the British Empire. Which sounded even sweeter publicity music to them, and was accompanied by the clinking of many golden sovereigns and the clicking of fast worked turnstiles. But from ten thousand miles across the sea comes the wail that it cannot be. British boxing authorities are aghast at the suggestion, and rather frantically point out that Johnson, though he has beaten the middleweight Lonsdale belt-holder, cannot be England's champion on account of his colour. Only full-blooded whites can hold boxing titles in good old conservative England. That fact, however, will not trouble Austi-alian fans. All they will be concerned about in the forthcoming match is how Collins will fare with a man of Johnson's standing. The trifling matter of whether the bout is recognised as being an Empire-cham-pionship by British authorities will not enter their heads. Luis Angel Firpo is said to be training in his spare time, preparatory to invading the United States again. Firpo had his opportunity to garner glory and riches. He missed the glory and obtained only some of the riches. Opportunity passed him by when he shelved Jimmy De Forrest because of the fee he asked, and took South American advisers into the ring with him on that memorable day that he opposed .Jack Dempsey. The crown was in his grasp when he knocked Dempsey through the ropes. A quickwitted second would have gained him a victory—but Firpo didn't have one because of his penny-wise policy. Firpo showed poorly against Charlie Weinart after that bout. He was in no condition to do himself justice. De Forrest's advice was just a cloudy memory, his magnificent body was heavy with fat. "They never come back" is something that is often said in athletic circles, but the recent victory of Rocky Kansas over Goodrich proves that "crack" wrong. "They seldom come back" would be better. Will Firpo be one of the few? It is interesting to note that Paolino, the Basque wood-chopper and champion heavyweight of Europe, proposes to invade America in search of a Dempsey match. Tex Rickard rather likes the idea, but will insist on some good "try-outs" before the Basque is given a big shot. Paolino was twice defeated by George Cook, the Australian heavy, and Cook's opinion was that he couldn't fight much, but was a big, rough,-strong man, Deschamps and Carpentier are interested in Paolinio's ring future, and Georges has refereed a couple of his matches. Fancy a man interested in a fighter being appointed a referee to one β-f his fights. According to accounts the big axeman recently put up a good against Breitenstraeter, the German champion. Paolino's record is 32 wins by the knockout in 30 matches. They call him "the Pyrenees Tiger." They used to call Firpo the "wild bull of the pampas," but changed it 'to "the tame cow." Maybe they will soon be calling Paolino the Pyrenees -house cat- ■ - .