BOXING.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 7

BOXING.

LECKIE V. RADFORD.

The .surprising career of Norman "Radford, the Yorkshire champion boxer, since he Joined the professional ranks in 1921 makes him one of the most interesting personalities in the ring to-day, and a worthy opponent for Johnnie Leckie in the match to-morrow night at the Municipal Concert Hall. Radford met eignty opponents before he left England, and won seventy-two bouts. He drew with Jobnny Curley, feather champion of Europe, and beat Bugler Lake, European bantam champion, and Albert Colcombe, the Welsh bantam champion. Upon his arrival in Australia in. 1926 Radford was beaten by Bryden, but thereafter had sixteen wins in succession. Johnnie Leckie has won eighteen of his nineteen fights as a professional. Radford's first fight in New Zealand was against Johnnie Leckie. The conteßt went the full distance, and Leckie got the decision, but the fight served to enhance Radford's' reputation. When Leckie and he met again 'in Wellington last month, he was knocked out in the fifth round with a lucky one This is the. only occasion in his career that Radford has received the knock-ont from a feather-weight. Radford can use his head as well as his hands, and is an able boxer who has weH earned the title of "The Battling Coalminer." The four amateur preliminaries which fill the first part of the programme promise to provide really good bouts, as the boys ™ n tphfid include some of the best amateur Si-nt It ii probable that this will be the Inst public appearance of the popular Johnnie I pride before he leaves for America, and a record attendance is expected for his final appearance. The bos plan rs at Lange's, United Service Buildings.