BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 25

BOXING

BY "Aensab" DONOVAN AGAIN

DOBLE OUTPOINTED

SPLENDID CONTEST

After, ono of the greatest contests ever seen in New Plymouth, if not in New Zealand, rommy Donovan, Waitara, gained a points decision over Tommy JDoble, Australia, at the close of a fifteen-round bout packed full of incident, thus repeating his perform auee of ten days ago at Wellington.states the "Taranaki Heraia." This makes the fourteenth contest that the tireless Waitara boxer has taken part in, and incidentally it gives him his thirteenth win, but it is safe to say that o.i no previous occasioi. has he been so fully extended or had to fight so hard to gain the victory. Certain it is that he has never met an opponent who was so able to stand up to his solid punches and then come back at him. Admittedly Tommy Donovan suffered a sot-back when his eye was accident ally cut during a mix-up in the fourth round. The injury itself was not veiy serious, but the bleeding proved diseon eerting for several rounds. The bout was cleanly contested. Donovan as usual, was as aggressive as a tiger, but he found he was up against an elusive foe, and Doble, too, found that Dono van could make hiir miss. Each man fought in a sportsmanlike manner, and though on one or two occasions Dono,van did land a blow on'the back of the neck, it was due to the speedy Australian lad swinging round after the Waitara boy had let go his punch. It was thought Donovan had the measure of his man in the early rounds, and about the seventh another knockout was predicted, but though Donovan did not appear to tire, neither did Doblo. Indeed, in the latter rounds he appeared to show more vim and poked out his left frequently, though his blows did not possess the sting that his opponent's did. Donovan landed heavily to the body and face, but the elighter-built Australian was evidently very wiry, as the pounding did not take the same toll of him that it has done of Donovan's previous opponents. The fight will long be talked of by the enthusiasts that packed the house, and the two lads are to be complimented on their game display, while the Taranaki Association is also to be congratulated on having staged the tournament. Mr. A. Maxwell was the third man in the ring, and though his decision did not meet with universal favour, it was the,only decision. Both men scaled 9st. Donovan looked sturdy and rugged and had his usual mentors in the corner, while Doble had a galaxy of talent in his corner comprising J. Jones, the Welsh lightweight champion, his sparring partner, J. Orowley, and W. Crawfprd. •J. Jones (9st 41b) was introduced to the audience, and it was intimated that he is prepared to box any lightweight, as he is remaining in New Zealand. Doble leaves on his return ,to Australia tomorrow. .The preliminaries all proved thoroughly enjoyable, some willing bouts being witnessed. Some amateurs new to Taranaki were seen in action, among them being a promising Okato lad, J. Hudson, who has held the featherweight championship of Te Aute College, and he certainly gave a clever and convincing display. After the contest the visitors were the guests of the Taranaki Boxing Association at supper. Messrs. J. N. Stephenson (president) and J. Garcia (chairman of the association) complimented both the winner and the loser on the splendid contest they,had fought and expressed the hope that.both Doble and Jones had spent an enjoyable time in New Zealand and particularly in New Plymouth, where they had made many friends. A hearty welcome rfas extended to Mr. G. P. Aldridge, secretary of the New Zealand Association, and to Mr. S. R. Veitch, secretary of the- Hawera Boxing Association, as well as to Mr. Alan Maxwell. The splendid showing made by the amateurs was also mentioned and they and their trainers were thanked. In acknowledging, both Doblo and Jones remarked that their stay had been most enjoyable, the latter remarking that he intended to remain in New Zealand, if possible, and make it his permanent home. Messrs. Aldridge and Veitch also briefly replied, as did also the secretary of the association, Mr E J Carr, whose enthusiastic and painstaking work was eulogised. Return Contests. On Friday night at Ashburton, Hector Leckie will meet Tommy Donovan in a return contest. Donovan won in nine rounds at Stratford. Ted Morgan and Beg Trowem meet again m Gisborne on Saturday niglit. They fought a draw at Greymouth. Hawera Association. ' Negotiations for a meeting at Hawera of Hector Leckie, New 8 Zealand lightweight champion, and' Jack Jones, a prominent Welsh bt>xer of the same division, were discussed at a meeting of the committee of the Hawera Boxing Association this week, and it was intimated that every probability existed of the bout, being arranged in the near future, the match committee being authorised to take further steps in thi matter. Jones is visiting ,New Zealand at present as manager and train r to the Queensland boxer, Tommy Doble. Ho has announced that he will be prepared to engage in matches if suitable dates pan be arranged. The Hawera Association has first claim on his services. The succpss of the tournament was commented upon by several people, said the chairman (Mr. W. B. Fearon). The profit on the tournament was £30 15s 4d, without members' subscriptions, lire accumulated fund totalled £169 bersMpSo ISO™ 8 t0 Umit mem" Unusual Interest. So great is tho interest in. the forthcoming Billy Grime-Johnny Leckie match at Napier on 7th December, that applications for seats have already been made from many places outside the usual area drawn upon for Namer contests. . • Phil Scott Matched. It is reported that Phil Scott ana Tommy Loughran are to meet on 22nd November. Tho latter was recently knocked out by Sharkey, but is being given another opportunity in the heavyweight elimination series'. By his victory over Campolo, Scott mado many friends among sporting writers, and it is expected that ho will defeat Loughran. ; Auckland Contest. ■ The Northern Association1 has arranged for a contest between Artie Hay, the New Zealand welter-middleweight champion, and Billy Thomas, the Welsh welterweight, who has been in Australia for some time, to take place at Auckland on 26th November. Mr. Frank Burns, the well-known Auckland referee, will return to Auckland in company with Thomas early next week. It was upon Mr. Burns's recommendation that Thomas is being brought over by the Northern Boxing Association. Mr. Craig's Opinion., Mr. E. A. Craig, president of the Northern Boxing Association, is of the opinion the time has arrived when boxing will have to be considered as are

othor professional sports, Winely, that the contestants be paid according to their merit or drawing ability. A boxer will fight all out if ho knows his performance is going to draw a record house when next he appears in tho same ring, but if he knows that he can still secure a match for a stated amount by just putting up a good performance he is not so inclined to do his absolute best—it may affect the next house, but he still secures his fixed sum. Overseas boxers of repute would be induced to come to the Dominion if they knew they could command worthwhile money, and with the advent of first-class men the public would respond and tho associations would benefit. Eddie M'Goorty Dead. .Eddie M'Goorty, the famous American middleweight, died recently in the U"«ed States at the age of 40. M faoorty was bora on 31st July, 18S9 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the United States. Ho was an Irish-American. He lirst came under notice in this part of the world by knocking out the New Zealander Dave Smith in one round in New York in 1912. Coming to Australia, he repeated this feat in the Sydney Stadium on New Year's Day 1914 His left hook got through Dave's defence M'Goorty's fights with Jimmy Clabby and Jeff Smith in Sydney created remarkable interest. But his meeting with Darey dwarfed all. 'The first light was believed by many to have seen M'Goorty go in determined not to win. However, Darcy repeated the beating when they met again. M'Goorty was famed for the power of his left hook' This blow was very deadly. When he fought Jeff Smith -the latter took great care to keep clear of it, and the fight became a kind of Porthos v. D Artagnan duel. M'Goorty frankly admitted that Les Darcy was too good for him. He went further and said the Maitland boy was the best fighter he over met, and that he would probably become the world's heavyweight champion in time. That prophecy might have been fulfilled if Darcy's life had been spared and his career had gone along the lines fitting to such a 'wonderful man. Matches for Morgan. Ted Morgan having agreed to light, the Otago Boxing Association is in touch with Norman Gillespie, lightweight champion of Australia, with a view to matching him -against Morgan here at an early date, says "The Post's" Dunedin correspondent. Gillespie previously expressed himself as boing very keen to return to Dunedin. •> ■ ■ ■ There is some talk of a Grime-Mor-gan match in Dunedin, and some sucn attractions as those mentioned are necessary to bring the game back into favour, for. the New Zealand Council's action in refusing to recognise Otago's contracts with Leekie brought about the cancellation of local associations' contracts with other overseas boxers who are now stated to be booked up in the North.