Boxing

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 54, 27 November 1929, Page 8

Boxing

(By "Bight Cross.”) | MANY MEN OF CLASS SARRON’S FIRST APPEARANCE. In local boxing circles the principal item of interest is the lirst appearance ot Pete Sarron, who is to meet Jack Jones, tile Welshman, on -Monday next. The exchampion of Wales is bound down to weigh in flst. 51b. or less, which he is said to be able to do without any difhculty. Sarron, expects to weigh not more than 8.11, hence he will be giving away about eight pounds to a man with a reputation of not only being clever and evasive, but withal a hard hitter.

Southern Activities. In the last few months most of the activities have been’ coutiued to the. North Island associations, but there are sigus of the Southern organisations getting busy shortly. From Dunedin an offer came to Lou Bloom as to his terms to meet Morgan, and Christchurch negotiated for the services- of Stone to - meet Carey. Bloom is not keen to try conclusions with Morgan as his first contest. He has not had a contest for close on a month, and at his best weight would be giving Morgan.. 8 or 9 pounds even if the latter agreed to make IOst„ which it is understood he is not agreeable to do. Nothing thus far has eventuated in regard to the offer to Stone to go to Christchurch.

Tommy Donovan Again. It is understood that the Taranaki Association has completed a contract with. Tommy Crowle,. the Australian featherweight champion, to meet Donovan early in December. If this eventuates, and with-, Sarron, Grime, Leekie, Jones and Bloom round about the feather class iu New Zealand, aud Thomas, . Hay, Stone, Trowern and Morgan in the welter class, associations should' have any difficulty in making matches which will attract public patronage.

Leckie’s Re-entry. ' Johnny Leekie passed through Wellington on Sunday, and one of the first persons he met on arrival was his old opponent Sarron. Despite the somewhat severe trouncing banded out to Leekie by Sarron in their last contest, the two are the best of friends, and there was much humorous interchange relative to what each might expect when they again tried conclusions, probably at Napier on New Year's Night. Leekie stated his willingness to box under the Wellington Association during the January race week.

Sarron’s Programme. The services of the American have been in much demand since the news of his arrival became known. Already he has entered into definite arrangements as follows:—Jack Joues, at Wellington on December 2; Jack Jones (return), at Hawera on December 10; Grime, at .WeUington. on December 17; aud Leekie. ,at Napier, ou January 1. Regarding the latter fixture, the Manawatu Association still conteuds' that Leekie. haviug agreed to contest under them on Boxing Night agaiust au opponent to be selected, is bound to meet their nominee, Sarron. Ou the other hand. Napier was first in the field in securing Leckie's signature to a definite agreement to meet Sarron, and it seems unlikely that the latter will agree to meet the New Zealander on the 26th and again on the Ist. A suggestion thrown out ... to Manawatu. which ■ was not too well received, was a match between Leekie and Jack Joues. Incidentally, It may be mentioned that while Sarron, out of regard to the .Wellington Association, agreed to give weight to Jack Jones, for his first contest, he has stated his Intention of insisting that in future contests his opponents must make the feather-weight limit. Both Grime aud Leekie may have some difficulty in complying with this.

Wellington's Next Fixture. With so many men of high-class record in New Zealand, it is likely that Wellington may depart from, its past policy of not promoting any tournaments, during the first part of the New Year, and it may be. that an attraction will be staged during the summer race meeting of the Wellington Racing ,Clul. Sarron's services have been retained, oud Leekie has also agreed to hold himself available. The necessity of their calling usually precludes any professional boxer from developing a hobby outside the glove game. Sarron, however, is a keen disciple of Izaak Walton, and proposes to utilise his spare time with the rod on some of our streams. HIS present intention is to take a spell after the Napier contest with Leekie, and during the early part of January he will probably be indulging in the peaceful pursuit of tr<;ut at Taupo iu company with a prominent official of the 'Wellington Association, who is reputed to be an adept at the 'fly-casting game..

Next Monday’s I‘rellmlnaries. The amateur preliminaries for Monday’s tournament will probably be Hanseu v. Merrilees, two bantams from Meat’s and Cotterill’s schools; Berry, a recently .discovered heavyweight from McKinlay s Trentham school, and Sarcich from Crawford’s gymnasium; Arbuthnot, from Donoghue's, and Knox from Tracey s school, and Billlsh from Mear's, opposed to Pollett, a new welterweight from Tracey’s. Those responsible for arranging the preliminaries in local tournaments have considerable trouble in coming to decisions, seeing the large number of amateurs who are always looking for engagements.

Norman Gillespie Probably Coming. Early in the week the Wellington Association received overtures from Norman Gillespie for a lightweight contest In Wellington. While the programme for December is completed, Gillespie should have no difficulty in securing matches with lightweights like Bloom and Jones available.