BIG CONTRACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 91, 17 April 1936, Page 8

BIG CONTRACT.

TITLE CONTENDER. HEAVY-WEIGHT BOXER. MAXIE rosbnbloom here

Under what is reputed to be the biggest contract price ever paid in Australia for a boxer, Maxie Kosenblootn, former world liglit-lieavy champion, and an American contender for the world heavy-weight championship, together with his trainer, Frank Doyle, arrived in Auckland by the Mariposa this morning on his way to Sydney.

Rosenbloom has a guarantee for a four-figure sum for his first fight in Australia, and a guarantee of 25 per cent of the gates for two other fights. He is under contract to Mr. Jack Munro, the promoter for the National Sporting Club of Australia. Bosenbloom's first fight was to liavo been against Ambrose Palmer, but cable advice received to-day states that Palmer has announced his retirement from the ring owing to eye troubles, which have intensified since his recent bout with Leo Kelly.

In September next Rosenbloom is scheduled to fight Joe Louis in Los Angeles, a match for which he has a 50,000-dollar guarantee. Rosenbloom. Max Sclimelling and Joe Louis are all contenders for the world title. Louis is to fight Schmelling in New York in June, but in Rosenbloom's opinion Louis will knock his opponent out. He mentioned in passing that Max Baer had shown no heart at all against Louis.

Lost Title. A year ago Bosenbloom lost the light-heavy-weight world title. Since then he has had 30 fights, and lost one, but he has beaten the champion, John Henry Louis, twice since then. When Rosenbloom was beaten, he fought Hank Hankerson, a giant of 6ft din, weighing :2401b. "I beat him bad," said Rosenbloom, "but the decision was given in his favour. That was in Oakland. The crowd went mad. There was a riot over the decision. The crowd threw bottles into the ring at the referee. One just missed me."

Just before Rosenbloom left America lie completed three moving pictures—a gangster film, a comedy and a fight picture. He may also make a picture in Australia.

"I am 30 years of age, I weigh 1821b. and I am sft 11 in in height," said Rosenbloom. "I have given most of my life to boxing—why, I don't know. But I hope to retire from the ring at the end of the year, and perhaps continue making pictures. But I want to win that world title first."

News of New Zealand's Tom Heeney, who went to America several years ago in search of the heavy-weight championship, was brought by Rosenbloom. Heeney, he said, was now living quietly in Miami, Florida, where he was very popular. Two years ago Rosenbloom refereed a fight which Heeney vvon.