AUSTRALIAN BOXERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1928, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN BOXERS.

GILLESPIE AND HARVEY.

ARRIVED AT DUNEDIN.

"HERE TO FIGHT."

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

DUNEDIN, this day,

"The New Zealand associations have yet to make themselves felt on the Australian boxing market. If many of Australia's leading boxers knew more about contests likely to be offering in the Dominion they would come here in much larger numbers." These views were expressed to a "Star" reporter by Norman Gillespie, featherweight boxing champion of Australia, and Eric Harley, Victorian featherweight.

Harley has just attained his majority, and it is interesting to note that he lived in Auckland until he was fifteen years of age. Harley did quite a lot of exhibition boxing at Harry Donovan's gymnasium while he was in Auckland, but it was not until he returned to Australia that he commenced the game in earnest. He began in the amateur ranks, carried off the bantamweight championship of Victoria in 1923, and, later, the featherweight championship of the Victorian Railways. Harley was a contender at the Australasian amateur championships in Melbourne, and, strangely enough, in the final of the bantamweight championship he lost on points to the clever Dunedin boy, Tommy Griffiths, whom he hopes to meet in the ring during his stay in New Zealand. Last year Harley was runner-up to Tommy Doran in the £1000 Victorian featherweight tournament, and in a return contest, over fifteen rounds, beat Doran comfortably on points.

Tommy Barber, who had defeated Gillespie On points a year ago, was deprived of the Australian featherweight crown when he met Gillespie a few weeks ago, being knocked out in the tenth round. As Gillespie himself put it, "Barber uncovered his chin, and I connected with a right which ended the contest."

Gillespie expressed his to meet Barber, who arrives in May in New Zealand, providing a reasonable purse is offered, and it seems quite likely that the pair will meet. Gillespie will enter the ring In Dunedin at about 9st, and with the reputation of having disposed of most of his opponents by the knock-out route.

Prior to leaving for New Zealand Gillespie met Gordon Kiely, the middleweight who defeated Lachie Mac Donald. Kiely, like other Australians, is eager to try his fortune in New Zealand.

"We're here to fight," said Gillespie, when questioned regarding his movements, and added that, following their engagements with the Otago Boxing Association, they would be prepared to fight for a reasonable purse anywhere.

LECKIE WINS AGAIN.

TEDDY GREEN BEATEN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, Wednesday. Johnnie Leckie, the New Zealand champion boxer, defeated Teddy Green, the Australian bantam-weight champion, in a contest at Napier to-night. The bout was scheduled to go 15 rounds, but the Australian retired in the tenth round. Green complained of soreness on the front of his head, caused apparently through a collision with Leekie's chin in about the eighth round. A medical examination showed that he was suffering from slight concussion.

Leckie soon established a lead, which Green reduced somewhat in the ninth and tenth rounds. As far as it lasted the fight was an excellent one. Green displayed splendid knowledge of ringcraft and Leckie found that his opponent's skill, speed and smallness told against him. Nevertheless, he wore his man down and inflicted at times heavy punishment.

Green was 81b lighter than Leckie, the latter being Bst 1 lib, and this disadvantage, combined with the Otago man's strength, greater reach and height, proved too big a hurdle. Taylor, of Auckland, has challenged the winner.