BOXING

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 217, 9 June 1926, Page 6

BOXING

(By

Left Hook).

Jamito. Jamito can be tabbed as the most fortunate boxer to visit New Zealand in recent years. When he arrived here all associations were communicated with, but showed decided hesitation in being the first to use his services, “for he might not prove to be a shadow of hie former self.” Then Wellington was lucky enough to be the first, and Jamito was lucky to get Trowern, who is just made to order for him, for these two will always put up a contest worth walking miles to see. This contest established Jamito' as the best draw in the Dominion, and let it bo said here that no boxer will give the public more for their money than Jamito will. But how the scene changes. Having put up a couple of good showings, he is now rushed on all sides with offers of contests. In fact, he has three for this month and one booked for July. Good luck to him, and my advice is to keep going as long as offers are falling thick, but as soon as they become scarce do not wait for better days, but make for fresh fields.

Carpentier Finis. Although Georges Carpentier made a valiant attempt at a come back when lie fought Hoffman, he failed by niles. Although e possesses the ring generalship, judgment; and early all his form of previous years, lie can never regain the youthful stamina that nakes every cham-o-on, and he will now no doubt realise this, and quit the box’ng game before he. spoils his appearance for picture acting. Purdy’s New Adviser.

Charlie Purdy has had a couple of advisers within a short time, his latest being Pat Conners, of Wellington, who seconded him against Jamito last month. Conners is certainly a very capable framer, and has handled hosts of boxers, so that his experience will be valuable. No trainer, however, can make any improvements in a boxer unless the two exactly understand each other, and the boxer must-be of the type that will heed and digest what he is told. This little advice will not go amiss to budding champions. Many boxers are spoilt through taking notice of outsiders, who are certainly’ conscientious, but absolutely incompetent to give advice, and I could name dozens of cases where "wet nurses such as these have caused a split between boxer and trainer, thereby spoiling good combinations. A good trainer spoils success for any boxer. Luck.

There is no doubt that luck is a great factor in the career of every boxer, and there are dozens of ways m which this is borne out, but the following examples are true and of. recent Harry Natham, a wealthy bookmaker from Australia, visited America and brought back with him Ted Seidman, a featherweight, who was guaranteed -£2OO to meet Fernandez in Sydney. What a wonderful chance if he had beaten Fernandez; he was in a lino for jhe world’s championship, because the L'llipino is going to America for the purpose of having a shot at that title, and although Seidman lost to him he put up such a good showing that he is sure to get many contests and good money over there. If Natham had not visited America possibly Seidman would never have seen Australia. Bill Squires was another who was treated the same, after beating all and sundry in Australia. John Wren, one of the wealthiest mon in that country, also one of the greatest boxing enthusiasts, sent him over to America to meet Tommy Burns, and c-f course he was beaten, but John Wren gave him a chance to be world's champion. Archie Bradly, of Queensland, is another example. Ho went to Sydney after winning many contests in succession in Brisbane, and on his first appearance in Sydney he met. Mel Coogan. U.S.A., and although ho lost on a foul, he put up such a good showing that H. D. Mclntosh, who was at the ringside offered to _ pay his way to America and gave him a chance to get big money. Unfortunately he did not

accept, but- he would surely have marie a. fortune in the States under the wing of one so influential as Mr. Mclntosh. Merv. Williams. Seeing that Merv. Williams has been in the country twelve months and so is eligible to fight for a championship he has issued a challenge to Lackie McDonald for the middle-weight title and to Eddie Parker for the heavv-weight title. Williams fought McDonald in Dunedin, and a packed house resulted, with Williams winning narrowly on points so this should Ire enticing to some association, seeing that McDonald has twice beaten Parker who has in turn twice beaten Williams. Murray v. Jamito. A good deal of discussion has arisen out of the contest between Murray and Jamito at Invercargill, and there is no doubt Jamito like many untortuaate visitors has been the subject of a tad decision, for he knocked Murray down in one round with a good punch ar.d had him groggy on several occasions, but according to the peculiar ruling of some referees in this country this counts for nothing. I think it would be a wise plan to have a competent official referee appointed by the New Zealand Council and make every association engage this referee and so do away with the judges. If necessary import a man to fill the position. It would end all the trouble arising from local referees controlling contests where a local boy is participating, and overv one would rest assured that the referee wus at least competent Al. McDonald v. Jamito. Negotiations are afoot to arrange a match between Al. McDonald and Jamito for Wanganui, and it is expected to be clinched for a date early in July. It should prove a great match, for Jamito is fighting all the time, and McDonald is possibly the Joest puncher in New Zealand for his weight and has had plenty of experience. About Judging, A correspondent "pair Play” writes under date June .2: — In the boxing news of a local paper lately it was stated that the time had come when it was rotten ripe for a change in tho methods of judging contests. This statement has been confirmed by the last contest in' this city-, when it was announced that the judges disagreed in their decision of the contest between Purdy and Jamito. It would be interesting to learn on what lines tho judge that gave the decision in Jamito’s favour outlined his points. Boxing is said to be not a brutal sport, but the most scientific of all athletic sports, and should be judged on those lines. I failed to. see where Jamito could have been given points on his scientific display. lie never connected a clean, straight punch during the whole contest. He slapped and pawed and endeavoured to use the rabbit nunch during the entire rontest. Ho is hard to land a solid punch on and is very aggressive, that is all that can bo said in his favour. On the other hand, Purdy thrilled the judges of the game with his brilliant panther-like footwork, his clean, straight, snanpy punches, and his elusivenoss which made his opponent miss his feet. Purdy is one of tho best boxers that ever New Zealand produced. and if he was judged fairly on the points laid down by the New Zealand Boxing Association he would take a power of beating. When he competed in the old country one cf the task judges in the wor’d stated that Purdy was one of the most finished boxers he had ever seen in action. The fairest methods of judging contests were adopted bv o"c of the small southern associations. They maintain that the promoters of a contest sbop'd not be tho indees of that contest. They selected seven judges who had bad many years of exnerience ns borers ami who had no connection with the r.ssociation or boxing s-hools or clubs. The names were placed in a hnt and after the boxers had entered the line and t’-cir names and wete l ’t= were announced, the announcer would then draw two names from the hat. which would represent the two judges for that contest. This method leaves no room fm- comment, and T consider that it world he greatly to H>e interest of boring if there was a regulation made to this effect, to. be carried out throimhont Um Dominion.