LECKIE'S NEXT BOUT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 27, 4 August 1928, Page 23

LECKIE'S NEXT BOUT

ANOTHER STIFF HURDLE CONTEST WITH BARBER It is confidently expected that Tommy Barber, who is again featherweight champion of Australia since Norman Gillespio's move into the lightweight division, will ' extend Johnny L'cckie, and will show us how good tho New Zealand champion is. Barber has started off his New Zealand campaign by outpointing Tommy Griffiths. According to the "Duiiedin Star," the Australian forced the fighting all the way. Griffiths was content to move back practically all the way, and Barber had a difficult task chasing him round the ring. Tho Australian is a somewhat similar ,style of fighter to Johnny Leckie, though not as fast on his showing against Griffiths, and he does not indulge in those holding tactics in which some of the others that have visited here recently are so adept. Barber is a two-handed fighter, and, while Griffiths frequently had him puzzled, and he was failing to get his distance or missing with his left in the early stages, he was very effective with his right to the face and body, and it was this that nearly brought about Griffiths's downfall in the last round, when the Dunedin boy was floored twice, . and was practically saved from the full count by the final gong. There was a fair amount of in-fighting, and, whilo Griffiths was clever in this style of boxing, he lacked the punch of Barber, who scored with telling short lefts and rights to tho body. Towards the finish the Australian was timing better with his left, and in practically every' round ho did tho loading. Ho is fairly open about the face, but frequently nullified Grifflths's work to the body by taking many of the punches,on his gloves. Griffiths fought on the back. move practically throughout, and no sooner did Barber come after him than Griffiths would start to move back. Griffiths has to be given credit for his cleverness, but he might have made a better fight of Saturday's mill had he stood his ground with Barber. He relied mainly upon his left hand in the straight work, and in the earlier rounds particularly got, home with swinging lefts to tho face, and occasionally with a straight one to the body., At infighting he chiefly employed his right, but he did not have the punching ability of Barber, thus being less effective at close quarters. While some of the rounds.were very tame, others contained plenty of incident, and the last was sensational, Barber nearly finishing Griffiths, who hung on desperately when he was in a bad way. Indeed, Griffiths held too frequently, though it must be said that in this contest there was less holding than in some that have been held recently. Many of the rounds were close as rogards points, but Barber won fairly comfortably by reason of his forcefulness and harder hitting. Ho took ten rounds to Griffiths's three, two being evenly divided. The decision in favour of Barber was the only one possible. Purdy and M'Donald. Charlie Purdy and Lackio M'Donald. who have returned to New Zealand to fulfil engagements, after successful visits to Australia, report themselves in good trim.. According to the boxing writers in Australia both have improved during their ssay in the Commonwealth. Purdy meets Jack Carroll, wel-ter-weight champion of Australia, at the Town Hall on Thursday night. On Wednesday night Lackie M'Donald once more meets his old opponent, Harry Casey, at Palmerston North. M'Donald should be in lino for a bout with. Tommy M'lnnis, who has been imported toy Auckland to meet Clarrie Pocock, but there is no other suitable opponent in. sight for Purdy. It was rumoured that Ernie Izzard would be coming to New Zealand, but ho has. evidently changed his mind., Heeney Saves a Life. News comes from the United States that Tom Heeney and his chief sparring partner, Phil Mercurio, have just had a thrilling .adventure to relieve the

monotony of training for Tunnoy, writes a "Post" correspondent. At least, it was thrilling to those who witnessed it. The New Zealander treated it as a huge joke. Tho pair were taking a trip in a cauoc on the picturesque Shrewsbury River, which is only a short step from Homey'a gymnasium, when the craft capsized, and pitched both into the fast-running water. Mercurio cannot swim a stroke, but Heeney is completely at home in the water. In a trice he had put a safety lock on his companion, and, swimming strongly, hauled him safely to, the- bank. Completely clothed, he dived in again and brought the canoe ashore. Heeney holds the bronze medal of tho Royal Humane Society for saving the life of two girls who were being swept out to sea off Waikanae Beach, near Gisborne. Leckie Willing. In a letter which appeared in the Otago "Daily Times" on Monday _of this week, a correspondent signing himself "Ringsider" states that there is "more than one sporting man who would be quite willing to make a substantial side stake available if the association should be prepared to match Johnny Leckie against Norman Radford again under an outside referee." In reference to the statement, Archie Lockie states that his pupil is prepared to meet Radford under any association in the Dominion, and, if necessary, provide a side stake. He also states that Tommy Griffiths is prepared to meet Archie Hughes again at any time. North Otago Association. The North Otago Boxing Association made a profit of £30 out of the recent amateur tournament. The association is negotiating for a • return match between Normans Radford) the English featherweight, and Johnny Leckie. Failing this, they will approach Archie Hughes and Tommy Griffiths. . Hawkes Bay Proposal. The Hawkes Bay Association is talking about matching. Jack Carroll with Artie Hay, the New Zealand welterweight champion. Registration of Amateurs. During the past few years, many associations have ignored the N.Z.B.A.'s rule regarding registration of amateur boxers. The rule states: (1) No amateur shall take part in any contest or competition conducted by a loca) association unless or until he is registered in accordance with these rules. (2) Registration shall be effected by the council. In accordance with these rules, it is hoped that instructors will apply to their local associations for registration forms and fill them in as required. The N.Z.B.A. intends taking a very firm stand this year, and any amateur failing to comply with these regulations will be barred from appearing in preliminary championship contests. Taranaki's Star Bout. The final bouts of the Taranalu amateur boxing championships provided keen sport for a big attendance of patrons at the Stratford.Town Hall on Saturday evening, fast open exchanges marking the majority of, the contests with but little too choose between,the willing contenders (states the "Hawera Star." Seven competition bouts and an exhibition bout made up an interesting programme, the star feature of which was the meeting in the flyweight final of the Hawera boy, "Mick" Spavin, who for the past two years has been the paperweight champion, and D. Roebuck, ofr. New Plymonth, a clever brother of the Dominion flyweight champion, N. Boebuck. The pace kept by the youthful pair evoked continuous applause from the spectators, but while each was popular, the decision; was earned,by the Hawera boy by his forceful display throughout. The trophy for the best losing fight of the tourney was awarded Roebuck for his exhibition in this bout. Hard Times in Gisborne. "We have had a hard timo in past years, and it has been a real fight to keep going," remarked the chairman (Mr. B. H. Aislabie) at the meeting of the Gisborne Boxing Association on Tuesday evening. "It has often been a question of fighting for dear life, but , enthusiasts have always played loyal with us and given us every support. Better times are promised now, and we have a tournament in prospect.

Whether tins will succeed depends on our young amateurs—we have started the ball rolling, and it is up to them to carry it to its goal. Let them stick to their training, attend the rooms regularly, and show they really are keen enough to want a tournament —that is the encouragement we want." Boxers in Business. Jack Dempsey, who recently announced his retirement from the ring, has now gone out of the hotel business —with S, 20,000 profit. Last month he sold the Barbara Hotel in San Francisco for a reported consideration of £130,000. This is approximately £ 20,000 more than he paid for it in 1924. By a coincidence, Jess Willard, from whom Dempsey took the title, came into the limelight at the same time, as the Dempsey sale was announced. The huge excowboy, who is now a wealthy dabbler on the Stock Exchange, sold "corner" lots on 'Change for £40,000 and £19,200 respectively. The old-time prize fighters were as a race apart from these modern business men of the ring. Pahiatua Active. ( The Pahiatua Boxing Association has decided to hold a second tournament in September. The first venture was a great success, and enthusiasm seems to prevail amongst the members and patrons of this newly-formed body. Contest Postponed. The contest between Mat Hatton and Archie Hughes at Napier has been postponed until 15th August, owing to Hatton contracting influenza. Fidel La Barba Coming Back. Fidel La Barba, who retired from boxing while flyweight champion to enter Stanford University, is preparing to return to the ring. The plan of La Barba to seek a come-back was disclosed recently when "Wad Wadhams, of the Olympic Auditorium, announced he was attempting to arrange a bout between La Barba and Bud Taylor, of Terre Haute. Taylor's manager has agreed, to the match, but George Blake, the former champion's manager, is holding off \f or better terms. Blake ' also favours a warm-up bout for his protege before he takes on a formidable opponent. The return of La Barba to boxing, according to ring followers, will be in a heavier class than that in which he won the title. They point out it would be impossible for him to make the one hundred and twelve pounds, as

it was difficult even in his championship days, and he has developed considerably in the last year. Peculiar Situation. In the final round, states the "Otago Daily Times," a peculiar situation arose. After some infighting Griffiths jumped in and landed with his le:!t to the face and Barber swung baclc his right, which caught Griffiths on the jaw. He fell to the mat, but then. raised himself to his feet, leaning with one hand on the mat, while Mr. '•J'ft* martin stood between him and Bai'bft? and counted nine. Barber could be seen, protesting, and a section of the crowd. hooted, because they considered that Griffiths was not "down," under the boxing rules, and that the fight should have gone on. Griffiths, however, was wnll within his rights, and Mr. Kilmartin's ruling was the correct one. The rule of the New Zealand Boxing Association bearing on this,point reads as follows: "A competitor shall be considered 'down,' even when on his feet, if at the same time any other part of his body is touching the ground. . . ." On the count of nine Griffiths rushed Barbcv to the ropes and had both arms clutched around his .body. Barber held his arms aloft in protest, and the referee went across and called "Break." On the break away Griffiths slipped behind the referee, Barber connecting with a right swing as the Dunedin man moved. The referee apparently checked Barber, who then followed Griffiths behind the referee and connected with another right, and the refp-ce left them to it. A solid left hook from Barber then caught Griffiths under the jaw, and he waa down for six, and the final gong then sounded. Barber is an open fighter, with a left lead and a heavy right swing. His style is something similar, indeed, to that of Leckie, but whether he is quite as quick with his punch as the Dunedin man remains to be seen.