BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 21

BOXING

"•'" ,'■' ' ••r'/'««Nt*»'" ' ' . ■' " DEMPSEVS CHANCES DEBATE WITH CORBETT PROBABLE COME-BACK ' Dcnvpsey's. Chances. Jack Dempscy and James J. Corbett have engaged in' an interesting debate relative, to Dempsey.'s prospects in the event of his seeking'to come back, writes Artie Skinner, -the. "Melbourne Sporting Globe's" American representative. Benny Leonard, lightweight champion, who has now become a hockey .magnate, is all against Deinpsey's return to the ring. (Jorlictt, on the other hand, is positive in the opinion that Dempsey, if he makes up his mind to do it, .can come back. To prove his point, Corbett points to. the fact that he made'one-of the greatest battles of his career at the agu of 32, and--after -c hadlost the title toFitzsimmons. Corbett .signed for a bout with Jim Jeffries, and for that match spent hours on the road in addition to perfecting his boxing through the medium of many tedious gymnasiumbouts. • But it was his ; road work that put .his legs in. shape to outpace Jeffries for over twenty rounds, and, had he not grown careless 1 afterwards, would have finished up to take a 25-round verdict from the. heavyweight, king. "What I did, you can do," Corbett told Dempsey. "It was your legs which beat you at Philadelphia,, and it was your legs which boat you at Chic-, ago. Get your legs iii shape so they will carry you along at top speed, and you can still beat all-the other heavyweights ie the' ga'mo : to-day. You aro riot any older to-day than I was when 11 made: my come-back." Corbett went 23.'rounds.with. Jim Jeffries on the occasion he speaks of,in 1900 before he carelessly ;gave Jeffries the opening

which beat him. Corbett was in top shape that night, and, Jeffries has always insisted that Jim; was tho fast-, est and cleverest man he ever met—an .opinion;- ho 'formed 'during the .course of that: encounter. * Corbett was in shape, iaiul; he kept his. condition to tho end. ■■ To-day's contests run . but " 15 rounds, and, although Corbett trained a year for Jeffries, Dempsey, ..with application,' should be,able. to. got himself in shape within six months to go 15 rounds at top 1 speed. The writer knows that Corbett 'a advice has made a deep impression upon Dempsey. ■ The fact that Jack, is well .provided for, however, is a point against him. Dempsey does not;-havo to, box. His only urge in the event of a return would be to engage Tunney once, more, and. I doubt seriously whether Geno will ever perform again. Corbett was 'moved by the belief that he could defeat-Jeffries, who had whipped • Fitzsimmoris, a man who, had. never .given,'him another .chance at tho .title.' after .having defeated him. The ■come-back was .in. search of personal satisfaction.' Nothing like that moves ; Dempsey in this case*, and for .that^reason, the. return road will'bo more-difficult. ■ . , •

Australian Importations. . , Besicl.es Fidel la Barba, AViliio Smith, tho Filipino' featherweight, Kiel- Johnson, who. knocked,out 'Norman Gillcspic in tho second round, : , there arc: several' other successful boxers booked toTftrko part in the Australian revival. These include Vie Foley,'the Canadian featherweight, "who was beaten a'few months ago by New Zealander Bert Brown, and Joey Sangor, one', of the' best featherweights in' America.. 'Billy Grime is also due back, and another "Filipino, Young Along, is considered to be a boxer of class. : \ : . , \ A-Lean Year. -■ . The contest between Kid Johnson and Norman Gillespie finished up the 1028 season at the Sydney Stadium, and the. encounter ended just as disappointingly as did so many. ■of its predecessors, states the "Melbourne Sporting Life." The fight was a fitting finale to the most unsatisfactory year from a'boxing viewpoint, that the big arena has had since the first contest was decided there some 20 years ago, and the public aro-wonder-ing why such a state of affairs lias eomo about. Australia has always been a great boxing country. It always will be, too, and tho sooner tho nigger in the wood pile atKushcuttcr's Bay is discovered the sooner will the grand old glove-game bo enjoying the popularity it is entitled to. Matchmaking is the main thing about boxing contests 'and the "match-maker at any stadium must bo able to tell a boxer | from a baritone, singer., The- clashes seen at some clubs have been .exceptionally good, but. the bouts seen at headquarters during 1928 havo failed to enthuse, and. wiso-acrcs aro saying that a man w.ho*-,has never been a carpenter cannot successfully run a carpentering business. ; ■ Be that as it may, the fact remains-that no boxer of note has been developed in Australia for years, and enthusiasts 'want to know how this fault can'be remedied. Tommy Griffiths. •■■/.■' '''■'" I Tommy Griffiths: is vkecn on making the trip to. Australia,-but-the. Bunedin featherweight -boxer; twho will ' probably make the. bantam;■.■limit..on the other: side,: has not. yet.definitely accepted' Sydney Stadiums' offer. In conversation with a Duhedin "Star' reporter, Griffiths's trainer,-Archie Lockio (who also, has charge of- the featherweight chariipioii, Johnny 'Leckie, and brought Lacliio Macdonald, former nudilloweipht champion, to the i'oro), stated that ,Grifilths l,nd. written, to Stadiums asking for a-guaranteed purso and expenses for himself and Ins trainer. ; It will be! impossible for ..Gnfhthsfo I meet, Fidel-la- Barba, former fly-

weight champion of the. world, on 26th January, but if Stadiums are prepared to find a guarantee Griffiths will be ready to take the ring about the middle of February., , Should the trip .to Australia eventuate, Griffiths, will be accompanied^ by Archie Leckie. La Barba's Intentions. It is probable that Billy M'Alistor will be Fidel la Barba's first opponent in Sydney. He is,to make "his clcbut there on anniversary night. It is la Burba's intention to return to America in March and will.re-enter Stamford University. He aims 'to become a stock and sharebroker. German Fighters. I am all for .internationalism in each and every sport, and .I am delighted that Mr. Lionel Bettinson, the manager of the National Sporting: Club, London, has now completed his arrangements for an Anglo-German night, writes Eugene Corn in the "Christehurch Star." He returned from Germany last weekend, after fixing up with the best available heavy, middle, and welter-weights of that country. He tells me that boxing is going with a bang in Germany, and that indications suggest the day is not very far distant when Germany will have more than one; champion. Ho considers that present' German heavyweights have more than average ability. If that be so, let the best of them be trotted but, and-put up against Phil Scott. , .. -, Thuru in America. Marcel Thuru, the French middleweight, who was in New Zealand' with Raymond Jansen and Ted Scott, is paying his second visit to America, and is at, present in San Francisco. First-class Welterweight. ■ That well-informed American writer,. Robert Edgren, has a very, high opinion of the Los Angeles Hebrew welterweight, Jackie Fields, who recently most decisively defeated !Jack Thompson, who just previously had knocked out Dundee, holder of the world's welterweight championship. He writes: Jackie Fields looks '■' like by ft*' the best of the welterweights.' This boy is the greatest fighter,l've seen in that class in niuny years)- ' He is much better- than Mickey Walker was. when

Mickey beat Jack Britton for the- title. Ho- is a more clever boxer than Jack Britton, and combines his skill with an astonishing aggressiveness such 'as is rarely shown by, great boxers. • I can remember only one fighter in the past twenty years who boxed in tho stylo used by Fields, and with' the same effect.- This was Packey M'Farland. Melds has everything.Packey ever had in speed, boxing, skill, and the ability to fight continually at close quarters and not be. hit., P.aekey M'l'arland '.could stay right . on.- ; top :of his - man and reach out to.' block blows almost before, they .■ started. He ;know exactly when blows would, start, and how. Fields has. this rare talent.- It showed in his recent fight with Jack Thompson here. I wont to see that fight.rather expecting that 'Thompson, who • has plenty of speed and : skill and- is a terrific hitter, would break through Jackie's defence. "But Fields carried the fight to Thompson, through, ten rounds without taking-a siuglo backward step.' ■ The way he pressed in against the heavy slugger, blocking or avoiding his blows with ease < and hammering him until'in'the last two rounds Thompson was dazzed, battered, and driven staggering around the ring, bent over his face '.to' save ' himself from a sure knock-out, was 'amazing. Benny Leonard ; afc his best never gave a finer exhibition of combined aggres--siveness and -boxing..skill.: . The result of this almost: one-sided victory put him in line for the welterweight championship. It's a ten to one shot he'll .get it. ■'■'' ' ' ' ' ■'■ ;■'■

Jess Willard. Jess Willard is in Los Angeles doing a thriving business in real, -estate (writes Snowy Baker in the Sydney "Referee). W^ard went broke right after he/lost the'heavyweight title, but he made some money in' a comeback battle with Luis Krpo, and followed it up with some good investments, and he is now very comfortable. Willard was never a great fighter, in' my estimation. He did not like tth'e-'game in the first place, and he was.fighting against his" finer instincts whenever he entered the ring. Necessity; drove, him to the best fights ho ever put up; He was glad to quit the ring he told me some time ago when wo had a little chat. To-night in Sydney. . > . The South African champion, Willie Smith, is scheduled to. havo his first contest in Sydney to-night, : Ho has been matched to meet tho South Coast bantam, Archie-Cowan.. < Cowan has been beaten by Billy M'Alister. Late Tex Packard. Tex Rickard, whose death was reported this week, was > born 5S years ago. He started life as a cowboy,, but his real adventure began in 1594, when lie started put for Alaska and the Klondike. This time he staked out claims which later he sold outright for £10,000. This was the money which gave him the chance to start as.a super-showman. In Dawson City he opened a gambling saloon under the name of "The Northern." For a while all went well, but m the end ho lost his money and had to lock around again for'something to do. There ho met Jack London and Hex Beach, both of whom were also in "slightly reduced"- circumstances. Beach and-Eickard' struck up a sort of companionship and spent ono winter logging; but when the spring came there was a rush- of- miners • to Nome, and Eickard started off, on an expedition there. , At. Nome -, he . opened another saloon and'then,,moved across to Goldfield, where he-opened a second. In Gold field, he first saw, the opportunity of making money by promoting boxing matches. His .-first venture: was getting a match 'fixed'lip ' between "Battling" Nelson and Joe Gans, after he had had some difficulty in raisinjr a guarantee of £6000. The contest was

a success-financially,. and. from, that modest affair "Tex" went on matching boxers from every corner of the world. He spent most of.his time when he was not on business- down on his ranch in South, America. „-".,' Leckie's Reappearance. Johnny Leckio is to reappear after a three months' spell against, Matt Hatton at Auckland on the 25th February for a purse of £150. It ' is stated that this will be Leckie's only bout prior to his- departure for Australia. The featherweight champion's right hand is said to bo 1 sound again, and it is to be. hoped that he will reproduce his great form once more. ■ If ho can he should be one of the great drawcards in the Australian revival, and a small fortune awaits him in Sydney and Melbourne. Leckie's proposed trip to America has;be'en;postponed indefinitely. Off to Sydney.

The much-travelled -manager-trainer, Ike Kutner, leaves again on Friday for Sydney. told."Aeneas" that while" in Australia ho will bo willing to give advice to any New Zealand boxers who may be there, and it is to be hoped that Leckie and Griffiths will avail themselves of his experience. No one knows the run of things over there better than he does. Kutner may return later with a couple of boys. Turning Professional. Fred Richardson,''the Hawkes Bay featherweight, wants to turn pro,, and with that object in',view.'is on the lookout for a match,, states .the "Hawkes Bay Herald." Eichardson is the class of boy likely to do fairly well at the game if he takes it seriously. He can box and fight, too, and ■ was at . one time looked upon,as,a coming champion. He has fought some good bouts here, and should be popular if he can got a start. The start is the hardest part, and few associations outside of Napier will take .the risk of, matching unknown boys. ' , ; , -. Impetuous Basque. . Impetuosity. cost Paolino the'decision against "Big Boy" Peterson. After an even first round'Paolino cut loose and had his opponent knocked out with his head hanging over the middle rope. So as to make perfectly sure the Spaniard applied one more blow and was promptly disqualified.' : ■ • '■ ■■/' ■■•■ ■ Willie Smith. ;." ■ ; - : .Prom the amateur;, ranks .to bantam, champion of South 'Africa is the record of Willie Smith,-now in Sydney under contract to Stadiums Ltd. ■ A keen intelligent young, man,-Smith was born and bred in.the land'of the springbok, and fromwhat has been seen 'of him so far, he is a credit to his country (says the ' Sydney Sportsman "). Ten years ago he was,a boy/ but he'had first scrap in a- Naval ' Brigade bout. He won that,.entered the.amateur junior championship of the Union, and won that, too. Then he went into the senior ranks, and 1, landed the flyweight championship":. of '. South Africa five years later. .Willie then-went to Paris to'the Olympic Games, and, curiously enough, Fidel La Barba, now in Sydney, was at the Games,' too. "I won the amateur bantam championship of the world that year, ■ and Fidel landed,the flyweight championship,'" Smith said in an interview. "It is strange we should both be-in; Sydney, at: the same time now, isn't it? 'When I got back to Africa I Had a few: more amateur fights, and;won, the feathenyeight, title. Then L decided to give up the ring. But its lure'was' too, strong for me, andafter six 'months'; spell I/was back to scrap'some'more. . >. ■ .

"Then I decided:'to turn pro., go to England, and seek a fight with London's idol Teddy Baldbek. All the fans reckoned Baldock was a boileddown certainty to lick mc when, at last' the match was billed! The betting was 5 to 1- against before the fight.commenced, .but in the second round ...the odds had shrunk to sto 2.!. During the, third round the bcttin'g-'tobk'.a complote: swing.. It was then.'3. to I 1 against Baldock, Without skiting, I clearly outpointed Teddy. ':' I made him miss terribly, and lie lost'his temper.■." He 'is speedy, and can wallop, but he docs not use his brains." Having got this off his chest,.Willie said how glad'he was to, be in sunny Sydney. SmithJ does not know whom he is to meet, but hopes to enter the'ring against La Barba before lie gWs.; ' .- ; ' ' :' ' "I think Australia 'is going to.be a

groat boxing country again. . In America I found the game is slipping, and I think the Commonwealth will take her place before very long. It will be a signal honour for South African boxing if I can step into the ring with the great Fidel La Barba;" said Smith feelingly. : ,• • . Eetum Contest. Eddie Parker, light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion ;of New Zealand, is to meet Jim Broadfoot at Tokoniaru Bay on 19th January. It is not stated whether titles will'be involved. When the pair met.at Talmerston North Broadfoot won on points. ■'■'■: National Sporting Club. ';" Speaking of the National Sporting Club and its limitations sonic months ago, Mr. Lionel Bettinßon' told me in confidence that there was a, .project afoot to acquire a site ■ in. the AVost End of London, and to erect on it a new and much larger club . on. lines which should'make it a National Sport-, ing Club in fact as well as in name, writes. J." Daniels in "Sporting Life." Its interests and objects, were- to extend far beyond boxingj.it was intended that it should be'the premier sporting organisation of its. kind .in the world; that visitors to :the ; country, whether as teams —say,.of cricketers.or footballers—or as individuals, could be accorded that hospitality and comradeship which one might expect from a. great sporting country, like.'. England'; The old club was not large enough-for this. It must have a site worthy of its name and traditions; and as ,the question of money did,not '■ enter,into it —there were members of .the club, who were read}' to back-the scheme to any amount, Mr. Betthison told me—-it was merely a .matter of finding .the .right' site. All this, and more, I.was told, but although, the project is taking definite shape, I can say. positively .that, statements in recent;- papers .re-, garding the scheme.are.'.not only premature and-unauthorised but inaccurate.