BOXING AT HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 15

BOXING AT HOME

"SAMMY" CHAPMAN WRITES

COOK'S POPULARITY

Some interesting observations regarding boxing and other matters at Home arc contained in a letter reeeivod by Mr. G. P. Aldridge, secretary of the New Zealand Boxing Council, from Mr. "Sammy" Chapman, a well-known boxing trainer, who has probably done more travelling than any other trainer. Mr. Chapman has many, friends in New Zealand, which he has visited more than once, the last time being when he came over with Bobby Delaney.

Mr. Chapman ctates that he took his time on tho trip from Australia, paying visits to Cairo and Malta. "I was altogether just four months on my run here," he writes, "and landed just in time to hop down to Cardiff and see George Cook through his fight against Jack Peterson in Petersen's home town. It was held in the open at Ninian Park before an attendance estimated at 50,000—what a crowd! Cook's popularity is unbelievable unless you have seen the way he is received by the crowd wherever he goes. He is without doubt the most popular fighter here, even though he is ito longer a youngster." "Well, I have just seen him through another fight. AYe commenced training at a place called Shoeburyness, at the south end of the : nioutb of.-tho. Thames, alongside England's gun-test-ing plant—a lovely place at this time of the year when everybody is out of doors. We trained at; our own camp, complete with gymnasium, and worked every clay to an audience which was never less than 500 and was up to 1000. After two weeks we left in a speedy car for London, where we caught tho train for Liverpool. COOK AND GEEHING. "This time J had plenty of time handling Cook—not like the Cardiff fight when, after going 40C miles in tho train, I just had time to step lively and meet George in his dressing-room. We were met by all Liverpool —or so it seemed. After a couple of days to get settled George met Ernst Gerhing, a tall German about 6ft 6in high weighing about 16 stone, I think, although neither boxer weighed in. The fight was a good one with Cook being fouled several times until finally he was given the decisiou on a foul and Gerhing's money was held up for his explanation. "When a foul ends a fight herd the Board of Control make inrjuiries: until they are perfectly satisfied that it was unintentional, otherwise no money is paid out. Just now every one is interested to soe whether Jack Doyle will get his £.5000 for his Petersen fight, which ho lost on a ±'6iil in the secorid round. Tho Board of Control held his money and Doyle, decided, to test ..the matter in the Law Courts. .It is with all the interest in the world, tha' the boxing f ratornity await the. finality in this contest between Do-ylo, and Petersen. It lroks as if it will be a bitter legal fight, with much prestige to be won or lost to the boxing fraternity— particularly the Board of Control." j DIPLOMATIC MISSION. Before leaving Australia Mr. Chapman was entrusted with a mission to bring about a friendly and official connection between the Australian Boxing Association and tho British Boxing Board of Control. "I called officially o" the board," ho writes, "and wo went through every phase of the system of control here. First of all.l must say that I was given a welcome'by the honoured personages who control boxing here which was of tho high standard I have always associated with the New Zealand boxing fraternity. Following the discussion the board expressed deep interest and unanimously assured me that they would be delighted to be affiliated to, and cooperate- with tho Australian Association." Mr. Chapman also went Home as the representative of tho newly-formed Australian Boxing Managers' and Trainers' Association, but his letter does not state the purpose of his endeavours in this connection nor-the amount of success ho achieved. INVITATION TO NEW ZEALAND. In the course of Mr. Chapman's discussion with the British Board of Control several boxing organisations with which he has come in touch were mentioned and among them the New Zealand Association. "I gave them all the news I could of Now Zealand," he writes, "and suggested that Now Zealand might also like to become related to the 8.8.8. of C. although I had no authority to do so. They said they would be pleased to welcome New Zealand, and that they would, write to you extending an invitation to affiliate." Mr. Chapman states that the advantages of such a move would be evident in the case of a British boxer visiting New Zealand, or vice versa. It was hoped that all the Empire boxing associations would become linked up, while retaining the control of their domestic affairs. ' He offers to act in an honorary capacity 'as New Zealand's representative in any negotiation that might take place. . . In conclusion, Mr. Chapman remarks that his stay in the Old Country is indefinite, but that in any case he will remain for a considerable time as he could see many attractions around him. Ho had visited the old camps on Salisbury Plain where the "Diggers" were quartered, and had "done" Paris twice, in addition to visiting Wales and Scotland. IRELAND'S SHIRTS. So far ho had not visited Ireland. "Things are very unsettled over there," he writes, "what with Blue Shirts, Red Shirts, Grey Shirts, Yellow Shirts, and Black Shirts —about seven different clans—all straining their physical and mental powers, things are very unsettled. I was to go over there recently in connection with a couple of fights, but there was a chance of the 'stopper* being put on visitors,. so I decided it wasn't worth the risk. There is a chance that I may go to Barcelona, if the promoters give Cook the guarantee we want.

"I am associated with Len Harvey and Kid Berg in addition to Cook, which means that I have many ac-

quaintancos in the boxing game here. I also meet many old p"ls in Johnny Curly, Ernie Rice, Ernie Izzard, Harry Mason, Sid Tur'ne-, Pat O'Keefe, while every now and then I meet chaps like Johnny Summers, Mat Wells, Bombadier Billy Veils, Sid Burns, Gunner Moir, Johnny Sullivan, Johnny Basham, Loo Wax, Jim Sullivan, Alt' Spencoley, Jimmy Wilde, Johnny Best, Young Josephs, Ted "Kid" Lewi-, and the pre-sent-day men such ns McCorkindalc, Gains, and Ncisel, of the heavies, in addition to many in the lighter classes.

"If at any time you want information regarding a fighter, or are looking for a team, I would be able to offer you the best available, even if I were not working with them myself."