"FIGHTING JOHNNY."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 45, 22 February 1929, Page 5

"FIGHTING JOHNNY."

LECKIE ARRIVES FROM SOUTH FOR AUSTRALIA NEXT WEEK. Feather-weight champion boxer of Xew Zealand, "Fighting Johnny" Leckie, arrived in Auckland this morning for his'match with Matt Hatton on Monday, He is in tip-top condition. Only twenty-two years of age, Leckie, who comes of good fighting stock, has the reputation of being the best little boxer produced in the Dominion for some years. His professional record— twenty-one fights for nineteen wins— speaks for itself. Quiet and unassuming, he is very popular in Dunedin, his home town, and the other centres in which he has appeared. Leckie is not well known to local fight followers. He has appeared in Auckland only once, the occasion being when he beat Duke Maddox for the featherweight title in 1027, winning on a technical knockout in the second round.

Leckie's last fight was at Wanganui a week back, when he dropped a decision to Charlie Glasson, the clever Australian featherweight. It was liis first engagement for four months, and he was hardly a*, his best, although he has no complaints to make. "After the eighth round I could do nothing right." he said, when discussing the fight to-day. ''Mv feet were heavy and I couldn't land a good punch. I don't know what was wrong, but think the food I had before tlK\ fight must have had something; to do with it. Still it was a good fight, and many of those who saw it were of the opinion that it should have been a draw. Glasson has returned to Aust'alia, and I should like to meet him again over there," he added.

Following his figlit with Hatton, Leckie will Peave for Australia on Friday of next week. Although he is not under engagement to Stadiums, Ltd.. he does not anticipate any trouble in getting matches. It will he a combined business and pleasure trip, and Lcckie will remain in the Commonwealth just as long as he can get matches. He wotild particularly like to meet either Willie Smith, the South African champion, or 1* idel Le Bar ha, the Italian-American. The last-named is claimed in America as the holder of the world's title, though Englishmen will have it that Teddv Baldock is the best of the bunch, and Leckie is hopeful that he will he given a chance against the brilliant La Barha. With Leeki-a when he leaves for Australia will go his wife and his trainer and cousin. Archie Leckie. In Sydney the partv will join up with Tommy' Griffiths." who leaves Wellington for Sydney on March 1, Mrs. Griffiths, and Mrs. Archie Leckie. About his proposed American visit Leckie is still undecided. A lot will depend on the way things go in Australia. He has an offer to go to the States for a three years* programme from Leo Flynn, who managed Jack Dempsey. Leckie was hard at work on the. road this afternoon, getting the stiffness out of his limbs after the train journcv from Wellington. He will spar at the fire station gvmnasium to-morrow afternoon and Sunday morning, when he will have Leslie Urquhart and other local boxers as partners. He expects to turn the scales about 8.13* when he enters the ring next Mondav.