BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 124, 21 November 1925, Page 20

BOXING

AMATEURS^AGAIN BRIGHT PRELIMINARIES FOR MONDAY NIGHT WORK OF LOCAL ASSOCIATION. Although one can find .very little fault with the work of the local association, some of the fans make comparisons with what is done in other centres. Comparisons are sometimes permitted, but in . this case they should not be. Ihe Wellington Association has as ita own aim and object the encouragement of amateur boxing, and it can be quite justly said that no other association in this country—and perhaps one could go further afield than that —does more Eor the amateur boy. Other centres have not met with the same success as Wellington has in their amateur championships, and the gum that Wellington handed over to the New Zealand Boxing Council after the centre championships this year, when an entrance fee of half-a-crown was charged; surely speaks volumes for the association. In Wellington one can see a contest for 2s 9d, whereas in Auckland the cheapest seats cost in the neighbourhood of 5s 6d. So those who wonder why other associations are in a better financial position than Wellington do not hare to do much thinking to find out the reason. As a matter of fact, it is incorrect to insinuate that other associations are better off, as when one looks into the matter one discovers that the local association does not set out to make huge profits. It always offers a good ■ purse, and as £200 is the maximum amodnt that can be offered to a professional there is not much point in piling up a fortune. The local association pays its way comfortably, and has betrothed itself to the sport and not to the ducats. If a candidate is not' considered good enough he is not matched, and huge purses, quite rightly, are not given to contestants who are going to take it easy throughout the fifteen rounds. So those who think we will see ' better fights by offering bigger purses are not correct. * . * ■" A Northern writer says: "Thrills are demanded in Sydney. Professionals must earn their money over there—or get out. Some of those compelled to take the latter course come to New Zealand, to make a triumphant' tour and swell their bank accounts with easy money, for if there is one tradition our professional ring lacks it is.the .tradition of hard fighting, and visitors find that they can get along very nicely without over-exerting themselves. Take the case of Eddie Parker, middleweight champion of the Dominion, and the point is amply illustrated. He crosses the Tasnian and meets Harry Gollins in an engagement that arouses much enthusiasm, provides a plenitude of thrills, and provokes much talk of a return match. This fight is quickly followed by a contest in which the Maorilander is pitted against 'Tiger' ?ayne, the American coloured boxer, and, if the cabled news ft to be relied upon, a great fight it was, over 13 troublous rounds, with Parker on the canvas at the end of that period. 'The contest was hard and willing,' we were informed, and details of the fight indicate that this statement was no exaggeration. Both boxers were attended by a doctor at the finish! Now, .who in recent years has seen anything like this in New Zealand? Did Parker fight like that when ho was in New Zealand? Everyone knows that lie did not, though lie provided some entertaining bouts after joining the professional ranks. Tile whole point is that the association? of the Dominion do not insist on boxers earning the good purses which are offered them; time and again we see professionals taking it easy over the full journey of 15 rounds,' without any real attempt at fighting. Ringsiders cWI in vain for more action. This sort of thing is not tolerated in Sydney, as was shown lately, when Purdy packed up and came home in a hurry, after an unsatisfactory exhibition. The .time must come when New Zealand ringsiders will demand value for their money, and the sooner the referees of the various associations realise this the better it will be for the sport."

It seems that the ■Wellington Asso : ciation is taking the lead in following out what the aliove writer says ought to tie the object of New Zealand .associations. If we have not got the professionals, ire have bright amateurs who will sooner or later leave the amateur ranks, and by giving them the larger, share of its attention Wellington is making headway towards improving the standard of boxing. Tho Preliminaries. / The preliminaries on. Monday night promise to be. quite up to standard. F. Keith and M'Curdio, and Collins and Callaghan meet in two featherweight bouts; E. Morgan meets Anderson in a lightweight contest, while B. Fitzsimmons and G. Evatt will try conclusions in a heavyweight bout. Gastein, who has figured so much in preliminary contests in the last few months, is in hospital, and had ho been well his services would, have been availed of. With such wellknown boys in action, patrons at the Town Hall should be more than satisfled with the first half of tho programme. Demsky Beats Volaire. "A picture of condition, and fighting with confidence on £th November," says E. M. Stevens, of the "Sydney Sun," "Paul Bemsky had his older rival and more' seasoned rival, Eugene V>laire, always on tho defensive in each of the twenty rounds. It was a clever defence, too, and repeatedly the gentlemanly Frenchman carao back with pantherlike rapidity, and showered . blows [ with either hand at a hurricane pace. Condition, however, favoured Demeky, and indeed he appeared so well at the end of the journey that he could have repeated it. There was little to choose between them, and when Referee Fred. Baker gave his ■ decision in favour of -Demsky the' cheers which followed might easily be shared by victor and vanquished. Demsky's weight was given as 9st i:i}lb, 'and Volaire's at lOst 5-51b." Fairhall Reappears. The writer in tho "Sydney Sun" commenting on the Tommy FairhallJinfmy Allen contest fought on 6th i November, says: — "After- many' months' absence from the ring in Sydney, Tommy Fairhall (9st 111b), a clever boxer, returned to it at M'Hugh's Stadium, and knocked out ■ Jimmy Allen -(Ost 111b), another leading light of the Australian ring, in four rounds. It was a most exciting . encounter. Both, men w.erc in the pi»k of coiulkion, Jfrotn the first tiioy becauic bu»y pa one aaoUj.cr 4

and traded hard punclie3. Allen was on the floor in tho third term, tho bell sounding while the referee (Em Elliott) was counting. In the next term Fairhall and Allen commenced a rally in the middle of tho round and Fairhall outed him. Fairhall should be seen in some big matches. If any-. thing, he is boxing better than when he gave Lduis Plees two boxing lesson at liushcutters Bay; He is a better fighter than many people think." A Correction. In lust week's notes it was incorrectly quoted that Dick Vercoe was Tommy (Jriifiths's first victim since the latter joined the professional ranks. Vercoe wrote this week to correct the statement. Vercoe and Griffiths tried conclusions at Blenheim, and the iesult of the match was a draw after what was described as one of the best contests seen in Marlborough for many months. Vercoe says that he lost to Carroll at Wanganui, when he admits he did not do well. This is where the writer .was mistaken. Quite rightly Vercoe says: "Tommy Griffiths deserves all the good things which are being said about him, but I naturally don't wish it to be at my expense." Vercoe is to meet Lin Kobinson at Blenheim on sth December for the New Zealand featherweight championship, Carroll having failed to accept a return match. It will be a case of youth and age at war, and whether Robinson will retain the title is doubted by many of the fans.: ' Champions and Titles. Signing himself "Iteferee," a correspondent says: "I think it is quite time the New Zealand Boxing Council made a real effort to place the championships of this country on a sound footing. . For years certain men have ljeld the championships without fighting for. them. It is true Murray, at last, did fight lor his title and retained it a short while back, and, I understand, is ready to defend it again at the end of six months from last championship fight. Clarrie Blackburn, on the other hand, Laa been offered several fights, and refused to defend his title. The other championships appear to be in the same position so far as the title-holders are con cerned. I consider that the council Inn the legal authority which would compel champions to make championship weight for each and every one of their con tests/ and they should be given to understand that henceforth they will not he permitted to protect themselves by nn insistance on odd-weight matching There is a rule in New York State tint when a champion, no matter,how heavy, he may be, gets beaten by any opponent' who has duly gone to scale at the ofli cial poundage, that champion shatl automatically forfeit liis title. I feel certain a recommendation to this effect would receive the wholehearted support of Press and public. Of course, boxera would raise objections, but .there can be little doubt that such a regulation would be for the general good of the game." .!

Netei". Colonel R. A. Ohaffey, 0.8. E., V.D., a former commander of the Canterbury Military District, died recently, and with his death. Canterbury has .lbsjt one of its ' keenest boxing . enthusiasts;: As a young man Colonel Chaffey was a champion heavyweight, and after his retirement as an active participant his interest 'in the sport, did not flag.", He was chiefly interested in amateur bax-ing,-"and for many years refereed at the annual boxing tournaments at Christ's College.' Colonel Charley also refereed for tcp years for the Christchurch Sports Club. He was well known, too, in both cricketing and football circles,, and his genial personality and presence at the popular fixtures will be/ greatly missed by many. When quite an. old man, the colonel Las been *nowh to travel forty miles'in the bitterest • weather in order to fulfil a refereeihg engagement, arriving half numbed with cold in time 100 see the first bout.. Latterly, he suffered from bad eyesight, but he could always see weir enough to asccrI tain who was the winner in a fight." ; , It is curious to note that Parker went the full distance with Collins, . who gained, a knock-out decision ..over Stewart, who knocked out Tiger Payne, who knocked out Parker. On the.face values of these performances it seems that Parker would have a good chance with Stewart. .... . Hector.M'Donald fought Griffiths, tipping the beam at 9st 3jlb. It was first announced that he was to meet Harry Gunn, but. Gurin was not available at the last moment. M'Donald usually fights at 9st 81b. He signed to meet ' Gunn at 9st 51b. "When he was ' training for his bout with Harry Collins, welter and middle champion of Australia, Alf Stewart injured a hand. He soaked a cotton-wool pad with iodine, and bound it across his knuckles for iin hour or so. .When lie took the pad off he found that it had burned a piece of flesh clean out of his hand. That, caused the ' postponement of .the bout, but when they did meet it made no difference to the finish. Possibly Stewart wished afterwards that, his hand had stayed injured." Commenting on Charlie King's victory ovor Georges . Bouquet, the Frenchman, the "Daily Mail" says: "The punishment that Charlie King, the Australian middleweight, received in his fight with Georges Bouquet would have overwhelmed a dozen ordinary men. His victory was a box- • ing miracle." "Sporting Life" 'says: "Ring fought at a moment's notice. Though ill-conditioned, he heroically withstood terrific punishment, and was heavily outpointed .when the fighters' heads bumped, opening Bouquet's eye. The fight was stopped and awarded to Ring." The well-known Filipino boxer 1 Gavino de Leon is in the South, Sydney Hospital owing to an injury to his eye. He. is suffering from a displaced retina, which is considered so serio.us that he may never fight again.