BOXING INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1927, Page 8

BOXING INQUIRY.

DELANEY'S PAY WITHHELD.

SEQUEL TO MONDAY'S FIASCO.

ASSOCIATION INVESTIGATING.

Question of payment to Kid Delanev for his match against Hatton on Mondav night in the Town Hall is to be considered at a special meeting of the Northern Boxing Association to be held on Friday afternoon. The contest in question lasted less than forty seconds, and Delanev was counted out.

This inquiry can only mean that the association is not satisfied that all was as it should be. That it is to be held will be welcome news to the majority of those who paid to see Monday's affair.

Another matter that might justify inquiry in the opinion of experts is the punishment meted out to Ern Mac in his fight with Jim Broadioot. This was the worse, if anything, of the two, for despite the almost unanimous appeal or the audience to the referee "to stop the fight/' the plucky, helpless Mac was allowed to be smashed for a third time to the floor to take the final count. One realises the difficulties of the referee in such circumstances, but surely in this case one man was allowed to take an unnecessary amount of punishment.

It, was pointed out in the "Star' report of the Hatton-Delaney fight that the latter went down to a punch that 999 boxers out of a 1000 would haye laughed at. It would be interesting to have Delaney's record. If he has the "glass jaw" that Monday's affair would make him out to possess, then the boxing ring, even as a preliminary fighter, is no place for him. A man who cannot take a tap on the chin without going off for the count has no right to pose as a fighter at all. Nay, more, he is a danger to himself, his opponent and the management that allows him to box. As a matter of fact Delaney never showed the slightest sign of having even a moderate degree of science. That, however. is not to say that he cannot box. It is of course very possible that he never got a chance to show what he reallv could do. Thirty seconds or so is scarceiv time enough to spar for an opening. Nevertheless good fighters have been knocked out in less. Bob litzsimmons knocked out Peter Maner in something like that, and it is on record that both contestants in the ring have been known to be knocked out together within two seconds of the start. On one occasion both drove rights to the chin and both took the count. The referee called it a draw. A good decision. Nevertheless many people will ti.-ce a lot of convincing about several things i connected with Monday s principal fight. What Happened? The difficulties of the association at their inquiry will undoubtedly be int creased because of the referee's decision. Mr. Johnson is an official of considerable experience, and he counted Delaney out. He apparently failed to see anything wrong, and his ruling should therefore be respected as being a perfectly honest one. That should be fully understood. It might, however, be pointed out that a referee when on the blind side cannot see everything that is taking place. For instance, it is doubtful if lie saw the blow that put Delaney down. In the face of things it does not look as though the association would be able to withhold payment longer than the | stipulated time within the contract, j unless there is a clause whereby payment can bo withheld for unsatisfac- | tory behaviour or other discreditable