BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 73, 30 March 1929, Page 19

BOXING

»» 'AENEAB" NEW HEAVYWEIGHT

YOUNG GERMAN'S RISE

CAREER OF MAX ,SCHMKLJN(J

According to the American boxing writers tho now heavyweight _star^Js Max Schmeling, the Goni:::r. "hTavyweight, who scored the first knock-out victory over Johnny Eisko. Schmeling bears a remarkable resemblance to Jack Dempsey. "Schmeling hasn't done much yet, or won many fights, but what he has done has been spectacular," writes Kobert Edgren. "Ho looks like a fighter. Ho isn't afraid to take a chance. He has a punch. He can take a punch. Schmcling has made it impossible for either Sharkey or Stribling to do any claiming without first settling tho claims of the German."

Schmeling. is 23 years of age, 6ft lin tall, weighs ISo pounds, and was born in Hamburg. When Dempsey toured Europe after beating Carpentier, Schmeling managed to meet him and put the gloves on with him. They boxed four rounds, and Dempsey was so pleased with tho young German that he told him he was 'a "good boy" and advised him to keep right on boxing, because he would make good. After cleaning up in European rings, Schmcling went to America. Like most of the promising young boxers, ho fell into the hands of a mob of managers. But ho remembered Jack Dempsey's_advico and set out to learn the American stylo of boxing, especially tho stylo used by Dempsey, whom lie had begun to resemble in many ways.

Like most of the inexperienced fighters who punch hard, he hurt his thumbs. Schmeling learned how to hit correctly. Ho found that Americans, like Dempsey, relied a great deal on hook blows, especially left hooks. In Europe the useful left hook was not regarded highly in point scoring, so he had not mastered it. Now ho wont to work, with German persistence, to master that punch. He developed ;i good stock of hook punches, although ho still favours the straight blows. In the ring ho shows how well ho has studied Dcmpscy's action. He weaves continually and can hit from any position with either hand, and hit hard. His right is his best hand. It takes years to develop the loft until one can use it like a Dempsey or a Fitzsimmons.

In all Schmeling has had forty-eight fights, amateur . and professional. Ho Avon thirty-eight with knock-outs. His best was the fight with Eisko, but when Tex Rickard saw him knock out Joe Monte in eight rounds Rickard told his friends that the German would develop into what ho had always been looking for —a dangerous foreign contender with plenty of colour.

"If Schmeling should go through the other contenders a curious situation will arise," states Edgren. "Perhaps the promoters will drag Jack Dempsey out again to try to keep the title in America. And it would bo an odd thing to soo Dempsey, whoso friondly advice encouraged Schmeling, to become a professional tighter and whoso fighting style has been Sclimoling's model, facing the youngster who looks almost an exact duplicate of the Dempsey of Toledo."

"He's willing—a good lighter, :iml young" said Dcnipscy recently. Perhaps Dempsey was thinking of the days when he was.young. Not all tho Sharkeys and Striblings, and Paolinos and Selunelings could have i bothered him then, and if Tunney had been coming along just when Dempse}' did —well, Tunney might never have been heard of. Youth is a wonderful thing. Sonic young fellow may come- along any day and become just as colourful as Dempsey. And if he has colour enough tho promoters won't caro whether he's a Gorman or Italian, or comes from Virginia stock like Jeffries a.nd AVilla.nl and Dempsey. They all draw at the gate. When Gloves Were Unknown. In tho days when padded gloves were unknown, Larr.y Foley was as well known in Australia as the Yarra. Becorded in the "Talos of the Prizo Ring" as one of the most daring Imro knuckle fighters of his day, and one

to whom a tilt with biggor and stronger bruisers than himself was a "real treat," Larry succeeded iv inscribing his iiamo in the annals of listiaini as a groat champion of pickled maulers. In IS7O Foley won the championship of Australia by defeating Abo Hicken, at .Uchiica (Victoria) iv a sixteen-round battle that lasted one hour twenty minutes, and carried a stake of £500 a.-sido. Somo of the contests in which Foley took part were of long duration, his bout with Professor Miller lasting three and a hnlf Jiours. Foley subsequently retired when there were no further honours to be won iv tho^ bare knuckle business, but prior to his retirement ho was presented with a valuable gold bolt at the old Queen's Theatre (Sydney), and a thousand sovereigns by his admirers at tho Victoria Theatre (Sydney). In some of the fierce battles in which Foley figured he presented a strange appearance owing to his bruised and battered face with its whiskers matted with gore.

Hatton's Baa Luck.

Matt Hatton, who for somo timo has been carrying on a very successful boxing school in the Auckland V.M.C.A. basement, will be giving up teaching owing to tho la.rge room ho has being required by the V.M.C.A., states the "New Zealand Herald." Ho has been unsuccessful in obtaining other suitable premises in the city. Mr. Hation has had such large classes that ho has required tho services of Henry Donovan to assist him. This will mean tho most up-to-date school will go out of existence, leaving but two established schools in the city, namely, those of Henry Donovan, in Parnell, and Eugene Donovan, at tho central fire station.

Never in Doubt,

So great was the Interest taken in the return bout between Fidel la Barba and WilJie Smith at the Sydney Stadium on Saturday night that by 5 o'clock fully 5000 people had gathered at the doors, and when the contestants entered the ring at 9 o'clock there was not a vacant seat in the whole stadium. La Barba scaled Bst 9Jlb and Smith Sst lOJlb. There was littlo between tho pair in the first four rounds, but in the fifth La Barba's fireworks commenced, and he followed Smith round tho ring, giving him no respite, and the South African had to call up his best footwork to keep out of trouble. In the seventh round La Barba let loose a tornado of blows and towards the end sent Smith down for one with a right to the heart. No sooner had .the South African risen than ho was sent down with a terrific left to the solar plexus, and was under the count when the bell went. Smith made a fine recovery in tho eighth, but in the tenth tho American put in another brilliant burst, and with a right to the heart had Smith under the count of eight when the bell went. Smith came out of his corner for tho twelfth looking very groggy and like a flash la Barba.connected with a left to the point, followed by a right to the heart, and down went Smith. He stayed down for. eight, looked up at the clock, and made an attempt to rise, but rolled over again. The fight was over and la Barba has rightly been described as perhaps the most versatile and wonderful fighter at his weight who has over been seen in Sydney.

Without a Permit,

To a charge of having held a. boxing contest without having first obtained a permit from the Inspector of Police, George Ma.rtinengo, manager of the Academy Theatre, pleaded not guilty in the Waihi Magistrate's Courtlast Tuesday. Mr. F. W. Platts, S.M., with Colonel T. Jowsoy, J.P., was on the Bench. The defendant conducted his own defence. Sergeant .D. L. CaUlwcll , said . that last month ho saw an advertisement in tho Waihi "Telegraph" drawing attention ,to tho fact that a boxing bout would bo staged as a prelude to a picture called "The King." .Ho called on Mr. Martinengo and talked tho matter over, pointing out that such a bout would bo a breach of the law. The defendant, however, had said that there was to bo no payment made to the parties concerned*, nor was there to be any prize awarded. It was merely to be an exhibition bout. Witness pointed out that in his opinion it would be illegal, but the bout was nevertheless staged, the contestants being brothers nged 15 and 17 years. The exhibition lasted eight minutes. There was no referee on the stage, and no decision was, of course, given; it was purely an exhibition. Sergeant Caklwcll added that one of tho objections was that the boys had not beon medically examined before the bout, as would be the case if it were held under tho aus-

pices of the local boxing association. Martiiieugo said tho exhibition was merely a prologue to tho picture, ys had been announced in tho advertisement, and that the head of the boxing association had said that a permit was not nocesary. Witness afterwards saw Mrs. Hayward, proprietor of the theatre, and said that tho police seemed to bo making a bit of a i'us about the matter. Mrs. Hayward replied: "Oh, the police make a fuss about anything." (Laughter.) Sergeant ,Caldwell said he did not press for a penalty. Tho Bench warned the defendant that a repetition of tho offence would be serious and ordered him to pay the costs of tho prosecution.

Wellington Association's Loss.

The decision of Mr. P. W. Woods to resign from the Management Committee of the Wellington Boxing Association has been received with regret by those in active association with the game locally. Mr. Woods has done yeoman service for many years. He judged his first contest in Wellington in 1014 and in 191b' became a member of the committee. Ho has also served on the Match Committee. During his period on the judge's seat ho had judged over 800 contests.

A True Amateur.

The strict adherence ■to the true spirit of amateurism whi'-h the wellknown referee, Mr. Earl Stewart, observes was referred .to by Mr. W. G. Mellish at the annual meeting of the Wellington Boxing Association this week. Mr. Mellish pointed out that contrary to the expressed opinion of some people, Mr. Stewart occupied a strict amateur status in connection with his boxing activities. It was Mr. Stowart's practice to refuse travelling, hotel, and all incidental expenses incurred when he officiated for outside associations. It was the same in Wellington, where Mr. Stewart persistently refused to accept any honorarium for his services, and there could be no possible grounds for tho suggestion that ho was even in tho slightest way a professional.

La Barba Leaves Sydney.

With four fights and four wins and about £3000 to his credit, as a result of three months' stay in Australia, Fidel La Barba, contender' for the world's bantam-weight championship, left 'for his home town, Los Angeles, by the Ventura on Saturday last. In an interview before his departure, La Barba said that there were several big matches awaiting his return to America. Chief of these would be the meeting with Kid Francis, who was brought from New York to the West Coast to stop La Barba's triumphant run, and whom La Barba is anxious to meet. Fights will follow in Chicago, Detroit, and New York, till September, when he will return to Stanford University to complete his four years' course in economics. A cable was received, offering a match with Teddy Baldock, in London, and Paris also wants to seb the little bantam in action. Asked how he had been impressed with Australia and Australians, La Barba at once became enthusiastic in his praise of his treatment here. "Tell the people I am grateful to them all for their, splendid hospitality," ho said. "We have had such a great time among the Australians that we hate to leave them, even to go back,- home to Los Angeles," he concluded. La Barba will seek a return match with bantam champion Graham on reaching America. He boat tho title-holder in a match in which the title was not involved, before leaving for Australia, and is so satisfied with his present form that ho is confident of winning again when next they meet.

British Hope Beaten,

Tin; defeat of 'Johnny Hill, the Scottish flyweight who holds the championship of Great Britain, at the hands of Emilo Pladner, the Frenchman, was a setback to the many in England who thought that ho would win back the world title onoa held by Jimmy Wilde. This was Hill's first defeat. After the contest, which ended in h knock-out, John Fearless wroto in the "Athletic Nows":—

"Johnny Hill has never curried his heart on his sleeve—but once. That was when he went to Paris. A ..prominent member of the party assures me that tho Scots boxer, walked about with an unspoken premonition of disaster in his attitude. Pladner's knockout and overwhelming superiority must have staggered the Scotsman's supporters/ Personally, I could never fancy Hill whining in Paris. For these reasons, Plainer gavo Hill two epic fights at the National Sporting Club. Fifty per cent, of the members disagreed with both decisions, so thore was little in it at the finish. Why I thought Pladnor would make the greater improvement was because lie waa a more aggressive fighter than the slow-start-ing Hill. The Scot is too methodical. He believes too much in taking matters leisurely. Pladner, on the other hand, fights with clever abandon. And although Hill outpointed Newsboy Brown, Pladner trimmed Izzy Schwartz in every one of their rounds. We are told that possibly Hill was stale. This Is a feeble excuse. He should not be allowed to get into that state. lam of the emphatic opinion that Hill had too long a rest after the Newsboy Brown light. Pladner has had three or four fights since then. Hill grasped at the substance—£lßoo—and has found the shadow. Hill was our nominee for tbo world's fly-weight title. I have now lost faith in his ability. Had he made a desperate effort or been knocked out in a fierce test of strength and stamina one could pardon him. Hill was practically beaten from the handshake. And his name has now been eliminated from the lists of championship contenders in U.S.A. I wish thero were some means of compelling champions to fight at least a dozen times a year. Many of our present champions wonder why they cannot resurrect their former speed after a resting for months."

Tom Heeney's Conqueror

Yon Porat, the "Norwegian Apollo," who defeated Tom Heeney in Chicago, is 25 years of age and 6ft 4in in height. In 1926 he scored a two-round victory over Big Ben Sullivan, and in 1027 he beat Ted Sandwinna in two rounds, Pierre Charles on points, and lost to Uzcudcu. He has been matched again with the last named, so is evidently now in the running of the elimination bouts.

Leckie and Grime,

According to the Australian papers, the contest between Johnny Leckie and Billy Grime will take place in Sydney to-night. It was stated previously that Grime had been advised by his doctor to lay off for a month, but apparently he is right again. If Leckie wins this bout ho will be right in the thick of it. If he does not he may find it hard to get contests, as it is considered on Grime's showing against La Barba that the Australian has slipped. The winner will be matched against the South African, Willie Smith.