In the Ring

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 19

In the Ring

THE BANTAM TITLE

BRICKMAN AND CANN TO MEET

LOCAL AND AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

(By "Mile")

Quite a considerable number of years have elapsed since a bantamweight contest was last staged in Wellington, but at last a start is being made towards giving the little men a chance in the Capital City, and on Thursday week the New Zealand title will be disputed by the present holder, Charlie Cann, of Wanganui, and the recently returned Syd. Brickman, who acquitted himself remarkably well during his sojourn in Australia. A substantial purse is held. out. as an additional inducement to the. boys to fight hard for the better of the fifteen rounds.

To stand a, chance with the hard-hit-ting champion, the Wellington boy will need to have improved almost one hundred per cent, on the form he showed in his fight with Cliff Pearce, just prior tq his departure for Sydney, but' if his Australian record, as he gives it, is correct (and the writer sees no reason why it shquld be d_qnbted), then he has "made an improvement to. this" extent, ' and should be with the man from Wanganui all the. way. Brickman claims victories over Bobby East, Frank Finnic and Syd. Shannon, and if he has beaten these first-class boys.Jie hag certainly done something really worth while, something which entitles' him to first consideration when the question of a challenger for the .bantam championship ig being considered. He also informed "Milo" that he had discovered a punch, something which he sadly lacked when he left this country, and in proof of this he quoted a string of-names of men whom he had stopped in short order. Any man with a punch is dangerous all the time he is on his feet, and even if Brickman has not progressed • one iotaVn ringcraft a rank improbibility, then the "sting" he says he has developed should help him a long way towards, victory. Another point worth consideration is the possibility of Cann finding difficulty in making the reqiured weight, Bst 61bi and while there is really nothing upon which one can rely in saying that this will be the case, the fact that he has not taken part in a contest for quite a number of months is sure to work against him when he is bringing down his. poundage. If it is necessary for him to "dry out" for a long period, he will not be physically strong when he enters the ring, and the challenger's prospeqts in consequence will be considerably' brighter. ! ■' "

On the other hand, everyone knows that Cann is a great little fighter, and Wellington enthusiasts will long i-emera-" ber the spectacular battle at the Town Hall two years ago, when he outpointed the then holder of the featherweight crown, Lin Bqbinscai. Punching hard with both hands, he was always forcing the fight, and his popular win was both clear cut and well-deserved. Strength he lias in that compact little, body, ha thinks quickly, and acts almost as fast, and if he' catches his opponent squarly on the chin with either hand it is the sure forerunner of trouble for the unfortunate one, and is very" ofter a case of "curtain." However, having regard, to all the circumstances of matter' under review, the fight between these two bpys, Briekman and Cann, is sure, to have in,tevesting features, and it will no doubt be, witnessed by a capacity house. Evidently there; shall be no. fixture for the Northern Boxing Association this month. Although riot particularly keen' on the match, rather than- allow the Town Ha.ll booking to slip, by an endeavour was mad© to bring together the heavyweights, Jim O'Sullivan and. Jack. Howard, but the former boxer was found to be still suffering from effects of the treatment he received at the hands of Tom Heeney, and, in addition was contemplating a trip to the Commonwealth. However, Harry: May and Larry Lasher' "were then questioned, but the welter champion replied that he would not be ready until -at least two. weeks after the. date on which he would be required: Then the hopeless muddle with Murray, Velaire, and Stone, particularly the last mentioned, and finally an attempt to arrange for an all-amateur tournament. Even the "lilywhites" were reluctant to forsake the beach for the gymnasium while the sun _ continuued to shine, so that the "association had no option but to banish all idea of using the hall, and the booking accordingly waa cancelled." At the inquest concerning the death of Frank-Soady, who collapsed in the ring a,t Brisbane while fighting Eddie Lynagh for the championship of Queensland, evidence was given by the deceased's opponent to the effect that he did not think that it was the punishment he administered which caused the unfortunate happening, and this statement was borne out both by the opinion of the doctors and that of the father of the dead, boser, who believed that the cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage and congestion of the lungs. The father testified that his boy complained of feeling very languid, and weary while training^ and he thought that the fact of his boxing }n the ring, when the collapse took place was a mere coincidence. The fight-loving section of the Wanganui public is | due for a pugilistic treat on the evening of 21st prox., when the tough little Frenchman, Eugene Volaire, will be seen in action, opposed to Larry Lasher, of Auckland, for a substantial purse and the better of IS rounds. Voljaire has been resting in Wellington .during the past few weeks, and, with his trainer, Mr Ike Kutner-, has been a frequent visitor to the beaches, taking only sufficient light exercise to stop himself from "slipping too far back." He will be resuming training in a few days^ and under the : presenfsemi-trppieal weather conditions should hav 9 little difficulty in making even the. light-weight limit. Since leaving the Dominion three months ago the young Australian lightweight, Tommy Fairhall, ha.s tried every means to induce the authorities on "the other side of the. Tasman to match him with the title-holder, Syd Godfrey, and failing this:, he expressed his willingness to do battle with any other boy in his class. His opportunity came on Satm>day evening, however, when he took the ring at the Sydney Stadium, opposed to the recently arrived young Englishman Alf Simmons, a glove artist with a record of victories over some of the best men in Europe, including Mike Honeyman and Harry Mason, of Leeds Fairhall evidently realising that this was his big chance, made no mistake worth mentioning, and according to the meagre reports to hand he was the only man in the picture from the eighth round onwards, gaining a very popular decision. One New "Zealand association in particular had been concerned as to whether it would match this promising pugilist if he returned to Maoriland, but now it seems that the best purse that could be held out here would not be sufficient inducement for him to leave tho country where he is now, no doubt, a great draw card and in the position of earning as much as £600 in one night. Contracts for star engagements should now drift his way without much coaxing and it should not be. long before he is given a battle,for the championship. Few New Zealanders were not pleased to hear of his success, but two men in particular were more than delighted, and the names el. thu psir would not b« hard to miess —has .trainer on jhia aide, Jack Doa-

nelly, and mine host, Mr Frank M'Par-u land, a keen enthusiast and a. friend, to " all boxer*. '. „.,.".".

George Curtan, who h«e Been training- ;' at Harry Barlow's Newtown School, • boxed three fast rounds with Norman M'Arthur the other dayj »nd ?rav 'greatly impressed by the showing of this amateurj- M'Arthur is keeping-in work-in the hope of securing a return match with Percy Black, of the Tracy School, and judging by the way the previous encounter pleased the "fans," he should not have long to wait, . A» an amateur, Herh Robinson wag both fast and impressive, but since' joining the professional rank*, I* avers thathe has improved easily 100 per cent. His first fight for a purse was at Blenheim' last year when he was opposed, to Tapp, •• of Nelson, and all enthusiasts will no . doubt recall the fatal and unfortijhaite' ending to this encounter. Since then, « Robinson hag remained in comparative obscurity, at least as far as tie ring is cqneerned, but he has intermittently worked out in the gymnasium to keep himself in trim. However, hjs chajice to make good has at last arrived, and' his many friends will be pleased te near^ that he is to be given a try-out at the" Melbourne Stadium with one of the leading preliminary boys. If he shows' to". gpqd advantage, he will no doubt be '" matched with a good second r rater. He y leaves for Australia by the Maheho on Ist prox., and will-be accompanied by the champion axeman, Dave Pretty ajid' Bill Peck, who have engagements in' Tasmania and New South Wales. '' The popular Australian lightweight', •• Freddie S*ith, has been matched to"'■ meet Clarrie Blackburn, 'of Auckland, : ajb New Plymouth on 14th February, when the residents' of this town should see something really worth while in theway of leather-pushing. It ■is a well- ' known fact that the relationship between ' these boys has been somewhat'strained since, unfortunately for all concerned, one of Blackhurn's "chatty letters" to a.member of the Wellington Boxing A*: ' sociation became mixed with the official' correspondence, and in consequence was - read at the meeting of that body. The Auckland lad, perhaps without any deep' feeling, declared in a casual way that v he-knew nothing at • all about Smith: : The last-mentioned promises to remedy1 this lack of knowledge on the part of tlie.'"■ New-Zealander, and says that- after-mat- r ters have been argued at New Plymouth, in the approved style, Blackburn' wilF know quite a lot about him. Personally, this writer only hopes that'the de- ' cision, if it is necessary for the referee. to give his verdict, will go to the bet-" ter man. ■>■•■"=

For fighting Syd. Godfrey, the Belgian" lightweight, Louis Plees, received over£4oo; but for battling seventeen rounds/ at The Bing in London, .with Alf Sim-.;. raons, the Gaul wag financially ■benefited^ to the extent of only £32. Evidently' England at the present time is not a particularly happy hunting ground fpr « ambitious pugilists, ' *•■■'"'. Les Murray, N,ew Zealand's, light--weight king, will be managed during his? Australian tour by Mr. Bennison; whonr/ it will be remembered was' the man that obtained for Hughie Dwyer his' chance at the Commonwealth title.

Jack Finnic, who met disaster at-Pe-'.'■'■ tone last year at the hands of' Tommy' Fairhall, has once more developed' &"' winning isood; and recently knocked'out; Neil Hooston, generally recognised as/ one of the best lightweights in Victoria./" This success should serve to put the" hard-hitting Pyrmon't" b?y ba,ck in the?;game. He is nqt more thap twenty-two years of age, if he has. seen that majiy;' summers, so that there is plenty of time, for him to still gain the top1' of' the pugil-;* isfciq tree. ' . . '

: Writing to Trainer. Jstck Donnelly; Australian Tommy. Fairhafl. says that there is every chance of his being match ed at thet Sydney Stadium: in "a.' twenty-, roupd contest with lies Murray, with the; proviso, of course, that the New Zea-' lander is Teady to do battle with him.' This meeting wonld certainly settle the; dispute as. to which is the better man of the twain.

i Lorisdalo belts evidently are at" a discount^ no one seems to, want theni." If there is sufficient attraction; in a contract for five fights in Australia for.' Joe Fox to forfeit his- featherweight girdle, then it is quite on the cards that the Commonwealth will soon be JnV-T vaded by lesser lights ,in the English:fistic world, men willing to put up hard battles over the full course for modestr purses. When Fox's popularity in the ■ cornstalk country begins to wane 'it;. would be a good move on the part ofsome New Zealand association to bring* the yttle champion across the Tasm&n.. A guarantee of three good contests should have the desired effect. ■ -.-.

Mike Flynn will make hisi first apv pearance since his return from Maoriland at the Sydneyj'Stadium to-night,-when he will be opposed to the Com T . npnwealth bantam champion, Jimmy Semmens. On the previous occasion that the. pair met, the title-holder was. awarded the decision on a foul, and that the public were not in accord with tho referee's ruling is clearly shown by the, fact that ever since this incident Flynnhas been known as "tha uncrowned bantamweight champion." This little fellow is' really the present king of tha New Zealand featherweights, and can re: sume his throne at any time within six months of his departure, so that when he takes the ring to-night, he will have with him the best wishes of his many friends on this side. "'.""

Looking more like a middleweight than a/welter, that genial Irish boy, Pat Gleeson, has returned to Sydney after a tour of the Old Country, but at this present time his intentions are anything but pugilistic. He - declares that he intends giving himself a thorough rest from the ring, so that when he does once more don the gloves, great things may be expected from him. While inNew Zealand he engaged in many hardffought contests, and certainly deserves' the rest he has decided to take. While in England, he saw quite a lot of his confreres with their manager, Charles Lucas, but he was very sorry to learn that_ Albert Lloyd had severed his connection with tha team. He. was of the; opinion that Hughje. Dwyer was sure "to b,eat Ernie Rice on Monday, 28th, but we now learn that Dwyer, "unfortunately,, has- been obligtd to cancel the fix'-* ture because, of the bad state of his, j hand, which he broke in his battle in the States with Joe Welling. Dwyer is returning to .Australia, in." the near future. , -ytl

The Dominion welterweight champion," Harry- May, is particularly keen to take the ring with Eugene Vplaire, ■ and' he is. very confident that he holds tha beating of the. Hue-eyed Gaul. Ike Kutner, who watches "Gene's' welfare' both in and out of the hempen square^ declares that nothing would please V6laire more than to take away May** title, so that it now onto remains forsome live association to bring the pair ■together. As, an amateur, the' NewZealand boy took part in thirty-eightl contests, and was successful on all but' two occasions, incidentally annexing the Australasian championship. As a money-maker, he has h,a4 four wins,' one -- loss, and has divided the honours in two hard-fought battles. Suck a. record, certainly entitles him to the chance to make good with a man of the calibre p? the tough littlo Frenchman. .:*...