RECOVERY OF BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1934, Page 15

RECOVERY OF BOXING

[INFLUENCE OF "THE HEAVIES"

CARNERA AND BAER

Tho opinion that boxing, at least in America, is on Xhe up-grade is expressed in "The Ring" in the couise of au aiticlo giving that journal's' tanking of tho woild's leading piofessional bo\eisi in tho various classes.' Theie v>as a decided slump m tho spoit after the death'of Tex Eickard, the famous {fight promoter, in 1D29, contributing factors being tlie absence ot a promoter with Kickard's enteipnse, a decline in the general standard of the bo\ers, pirticulaily among the heavyweights, and tho arrival of tho economic depression. List year theie weio distinct signs that bo\ing was rccoveiing, and pcihaps tho gieatcst impetus,to tho foiwanl move was given by the riso of' Pump Car--nera, tho piescnt woild's heavjUeight champion, and-Max Baer, the colourful young Californian, who may wrest the crown from tho Italian before the end of 1934.

Theie is still somo uncertainty, however, largely/bocnuse it is hard to tell what Cai;nera and Baer will do in the futuic, and considerable .difficulty may bo exporiencedc in getting them in the ring together.' -Carncia is managed by shrewd heads-determined to turn his abilities to the best possible account financially, and 'they will be in no lfurry to ppon tho way for a possible defeat.; Like tho German, Max Schmeling, Camera had no sooner won the title than ho headed for his native land, where a "has-been" in Paulino stood up to him for fifteen rounds, and considerably shook the confidence of the champion 's supporters. BAEK "GOES HOLLYWOOD." As for Baer, ho has "gone Hollywood," and seems to have a hankering for the night club, the stage, and the motion pictures, despite the fact that he has all the attributes of a first-rate fighter of the Dompsey type. Since his dramatic 'knock-out of Schmeling in New York ho has not been as active in tho ring as ho should havo been. He has been busy cashing in on that triumph in every way but tho one that should havo appealed to a real fighter— in tho ring.

Paradoxically, it may be necessary to knock down the very men who at present seem to bo leading the renaissance. Neither Schmeling nor Sharkoy did the game any good while holding the titlo and, since tho success of tho entire sport is linked up with the heavyweights, it may bo necessary to find successors to Camera and Baer, also, before tho revival is completed. FEW GdOD FIGHTERS. "Unlike previous years," states J'Tho Ring," "when there was so -•much good material in every class that tho selection of a group of men to head each division was far. from easy, the dearth of good material during 1933, and-the lethargy which gripped the sport during the major portion of the year, make this year's task a simple one. In fact, there were not ten really fiist-class fighters during' the 'year to whom one could T point with pride as ■ leaders ,in their'profession. Those who didw stand, out\ with 'few exceptions, were below par when'compared with' the best of- other years." ;

Tho star performers of the year,' according to "Tho Ring," wero as follows:—Heavyweight, Camera, Baer, and Tommy Loughraiy Hght-heavy-weiglit,1' John Henry Lewis and Tony Sluiced; middleweights, Lou B.rouillard, Vince'VDnndee, Teddy ■Yai'osz, ,and Marcel; Thil; weltorwciglitsj Jimmy J^cLariiin;, and ' Billy Petrolle;'lightweights. ' Barney Ross and -Tony' Canxbnefif*,. .Ceathcrweißlits ..^ahifl llJSSiivtam\vciglits,"Freddie, Millier,''/'':Kia'lV;Chbcplate, a)id<iA.l;Brown:?'v- -ri •: - ;r

Much was dono to help boxing in America by Barney Ross, who deprived Cnnzoneri of his lightweight title and subsequently retained it in a return bout, ,bnt McLarnin, one of tho most popular of- modem,< boxers, decided to sit baqk and wait f<jr a guarantee of SO.OftO dollars ..before he would defend his welterweight title. After gaining tho title from YOung Corbett 111, his work for the year ended.