BOXING

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27614, 22 March 1955, Page 14

BOXING

PROFESSIONAL BOUT AT GREYMOUTH

VERN TUCK TO MEET JACKIE STEWART (New Zealand Press Association) GREYMOUTH, March 21. Vem Tuck, New Zealand amateur middle-weight boxing champion, and holder of the Jamieson belt for the most scientific boxer at the national tournament, will make his professional debut against the former Tongan and Samoan amateur champion, Jackie Stewart, now of Auckland, in Greymouth on April 20. Tuck, brother of Maurice Tuck, New Zealand representative at the Empire Games, has held national titles on three occasions, first as a light-weight and twice in the middle-weight division. It will be the first professional boxing match in Greymouth since the George Muir-Bill Pascoe bout in 1947. LECKIE INJURED IN ACCIDENT OTAGO ASSOCIATION TO ENGAGE HANKS (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, March 21. Billie Leckie, Dunedin professional feather-weight boxer, underwent an operation in the Dunedin Public Hospital today, less than a week after his entry to the professional ring with a points decision over Owen Smith, of Opunake. Leckie. involved in a motor-cycle accident early yesterday morning, was thrown from the pillion seat and suffered a broken leg and broken ribs. The operation is to relieve the pressure of a rib that it thought to have punctured a lung. Leckie's injuries mean that the Otago Boxing Association will now engage Johnny Hanks. New Zealand’s promt feather-weight title-holder, for the season. Earlier, Hanks expressed his desire to fijht in the South Island 'if a job could be found for him. The North Island, he claims, does not offer enough fights for the lighter boxers. Officials of the Otago Boxing Assocte* tion said this morning that Leckie was not expected to box again this season. .