Why Is Lewis Banned?

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 107, 9 May 1939, Page 15

Why Is Lewis Banned?

ENGLISH ACTION. HARVEY BOUT OFF. DECISION OF DOCTORS. NEGRO HAS HAD TROUBLE. V7ITH HIS EYES IN AMERICA. The refusal of the British Boxing Board of Control to sanction the proposed bout with world cruiser-weight champion John Henry Lewis and Len Harvey in London after the medical examination of the negro, has no doubt caused a first-class sensation in boxing circles on both sides of the Atlantic. No reason was given in the cable on Saturday why Lewis was turned down for good in England by the doctors, but is significant that before he left America he had been having trouble with his eyes. The medical boxing officials, however, gave Lewis a clearance before he sailed for London.

The decision will be a big setback to the ambitious proposals of English promoters. £56,000 For Three Battles. Writing in '"The Spurting Life"' (London) of April IS, Joe Bromley says: l'ierce competition between two London boxing promoters reached something of a climax yesterday when, within an hour, plans for big tournaments were announced by tin; Harringay Arena authorities and Sydney Hulls. If the visions now#being seen in the lival headipiarters materialise, British enthusiasts will pay practically £."><>,ooo to see three Imtt les inside a month. -Hulls was first in the fcld yesterday with a scheme for a mammoth "working man's"' show at the new Earls Court Exhibition Stadium 011 May '2:1. Directly afterwards Harringay broke the news that .lohn Heliry Lewis, negro holder of the world cruiser-weight championship, will be leaving New York for England on Thursday to defend his title against Len Harvey, probably in early June. These tournaments are in addition to the outstanding attraction which Harringay have secured for next month, the light for the world welter-weight crown between the American negro, Henry Armstrong, and the British title-holder, Ernie Roderick, of Liverpool. Hulls dccltres that, with popular prices ranging from .'!/»> to L.t V, he could take £25.000 at Earls Court. Harringay have given me 110 oflienil ligures. but based on the fact that they are paying Armstrong £10,1100 for his

services, I anticipate tli-it they hope t.; rt'curd it "gate"' of nearly £18,000 f->r tliat pliow. Harvey and Lewis will probably mean a "sellout"' if stajrort at llaninuay. but if put on in tilt! open air the bout would probably take more. Jn any ease, the promoters would hope to net at least £1:1,000 on the tournament. While the Narvey-Lewis i-oiitost cannot vet lie jriveii a <lelinite date in view of tiie plans which precede it, it is on the cards that it will ii"l be stayed titer than Ascot week, which liegins on Jui'e 12. Tliis would I>iiiij» it within a month of tiie Ariiistroiijr-Koderick buttle, which may he fixed for .May Hi or :>•'!, and the Kails Court slmw will come in between Whetlier <'iitl:usiasts will Iμ: siiHieiently intrigued by the promotorial proiioiiiicenients to di<r ><' ileeply into their pockets to produce Ihc t.")fi,ooo is it matter for the fill lire, but it is flood to know that the rival impresarios are determined to fjive. Kritaiu biyjii-r and better boxing than she has had for a lony time. Bout in London, 1936. When Harvey and Lewis battled for llio Kllino title at Wembley on November !>. liirill, Lewis (who had In-aton Hob Dliii for it in U.S.A. in 10:{.l) out|iointed Harvey in l-"> rounds. The Englishman holds both the British ami Kmj>irc heavv-weijrht chainj»i«iiiski;i3, as well as the Hritisii cruiser-weight,, which In: won back from .lock MeAvoy at on April 7 last year. When Lewie aspired to world heavy-weight honotiis he was tecliiiically knocked out by .Jo»Louis in one round at New York 011 .Jiunary 2't of this year.