RINGSIDE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 20635, 7 November 1930, Page 5

RINGSIDE TOPICS

LATEST FISTIC FLASHES

[By Hooker.]

COMING EVENTS. November 10.—Norman Gillespie v. Hector Leckie, at Dunedin. Novembe*' 15. —Llew. Edwards v . Tommy Donovan, at New Plymouth. November 29.— Johnny Leckie v. Tommy Donovan, at Napier (featherweight title). MONDAY NIGHT’S CONTEST. Dunedin will have the opportunity of seeing in action 'on Monday night one of its own products against a former light-weight champion ■ of Australia. Norman Gillespie, who meets Hector Leckie. the New Zealand light-weight champion, on Monday night vacated the Australian light-weight , championship by reason of the fact that he had not defended it within a certain period, according to most Australian writers, but lie is still reckoned as one of the best light-weights in Australia,_ and is no stranger to Dunedin, having fought here on a previous occasion. He was beaten by Tommy Griffiths and Johnny Leckie, but he had Griffiths very groggy at the finish, and gave Johnny Leckie one of his' hardest contests. _ On his present trip Leckie beat him by a t.k.o. in the thirteenth round, and he was outpointed by Tommy Donovan at New Plymouth. ' • ■ Gillespie reckons, however, that he has yet to show-.his real form, and he will have that opportunity when he faces Hector Leckie on Monday night. Hector will certainly, need to keep out of the way of Gillespie’s right hand, but according to trainer Archie. Leckie Hector is in fine form just now, and fit to give a splendid display. It should be an interesting contest between two willing fighters, and will be refereed by Mr Don Paterson. ‘ Another big attraction on the same night is the meeting of Bert Lowe. New Zeal arid amateur welter-weight chamniou, with L. Strickland, of Wellington, who is reputed to be a solid •fighter. It should afford local, fans an

opportunity of observing their best amateur in action opposed to a fighter of some quality. . , , TUZZOLINO MAKES GOOD. Tony Tuzzolino made good at the Sydney Stadium on Saturday evening, when by a virtual knock-out he won over Frank Van, in the fourteenth round, the referee stemping the bout (says an exchange). Tony has placed himself in lino for matches against Pearce, Haines, and Palmer. One foes not expect him to overthrow either of the latter pair. The tall, olive-skinned son of Italy is far superior to most importations of his < division in recent years, without being -in championship rank Svdney has no grievance against George Blake, of La Barba fame, for sending him. Tall, lathelike in build, somewhat of the cornstalk type physically, ho relies largely on his left in hi» long-range fighting, but in close he is two-handed. In the latter phase of boxing he revels. Possessing advantages in height and reach, it was thought he would consider it tactical to keep the solid Van at a distance, bub he did not mind the infighting in the least. INTERPROVINCIAL COMPETITION. As mentioned from time to time, efforts have been made to' revive the mterprovincial competition for the Wairongoa Shield between Otago and Canterbury, efforts which have at last been crowned with success. .The Christchurch Sports Club is to stage the first tournament that has been held between Otago and Canterbury for a long time on December 2, and a pretty strong Otago team has been selected to do battle on that occasion. There is some likelihood of the. team being sent to Christchurch on the day it is to compete, but it seems hardly fair to the boys to ask them to travel by train all day and then to fight the same night. , The big attraction in, the Otago team will bo Bert Lowe, the New Zealand amateur welter-weight champion, who has such a long string of knock-outs to his credit and who is a cool, calculating fighter. .He is regarded as one of the most promising boys in the dominion at the present time,' and h« should certainly create a good impression in, the Cathedral City. The light-heavy-weight is Watson, who is a rugged type of fighter with any amount of pluck, as he . demonstrated when as a novice he made a igallant showing against Alan Campbell, the; then New Zealand amateur heavy-weight champion. Watt, the middle-weight, has progressed . from novice to championship ranks in one season, .and is; a solid puncher, though still a trifle unfinished. He was beaten at the Otago championships by K. Bagrie, of Southland, who subsequently won the New Zealand' middle-weight championship. . Dick; Leckie and his consul, Bill Leckie, will take part in the featherweight division, both being well-per-formed fighters. Billy Leckie has twice been runner-up in the New Zealand amateur feather-weight, championship, and is the present Otago feather-weight champion. He is a brother of Johnny Leckie. . . , Tommy Walker is the Otago lightweight champion and a boxer of moods,, who has had considerable experience at the New Zealand championships. He is a solid short puncher, but at times seems to lack dash. Johnny Richmond is the Otago bantam-weight champion and a former New Zealand, fly-weight champion; He was the victim of a most .questionable decision, at the last New Zealand championships,, the victor of this particular bout being the subsequent: winner .of the bantam-weight "'title. ' ‘ M. Anderson, the Otago fly-weight champion, is an improving youngster who can be defended on to give of Ins best all the way, and taken all round the Otago; team is one that should give quite a good account of itself. HERE AND THERE. Charlie Glasson, the Victorian fea-ther-weight, has no small opinion of himself. He is offering his, services to the Otago Boxing Association for the maximum purse of £3OO. Glasson certainly beat Johnny Leckie at Wauganui a couple of years back, but he has done very little since, then, and the writer ventures.to assert that lor any contest he engaged in in Australia, at the present time Glasson would not get £IOO. Stadiums certainly did not consider him a big enough draw do match with Johnny -Leckie when Leckie was in Australia. 1

Jackie (Kid) Berg, of England, holder of the world’s junior welter-weight championship, ■ will a challenge from Jimmy M'Larniu if the conqueror of A 1 Singer desires a shot at tnc title (savs an American writer).. lorn M'Ardle set tho wheels in motion for a Berg-M‘Larnin battle for the 1401(3 crown in Madison Square p arde . n ; M'Larniu is considering offers to ngna Justo Suarez, of the Argentine. He may accept a chance to fight Suarez in South America.

For Jong past Ted Morgan has been talking of going to Amenoa. Unless ha can arrange a string of fights ai hc'T, Zealand to take place m the immediate future, he proposes to follow Cleverfey to the States (says, the ‘ New Zealand Sportsman’).

One minute after the first round of the professional contest at Hawera last night had started, Jack Jones, Hawera (9st 8ilb) dropped Glenn Leslie, Auckland (9st Sib) for the full count (says the Wellington ‘Post’). Leslie opened with a two-handed attack. Jones then going to close quarters, did some damage with his right. .As they drew back Leslie crossed his right twice, forcing the Hawera man into a smother. Jones rallied, driving Leslie across the ring,' and then chopped his right to .the jaw,: the Aucklander dropping like a log.

Tho fact that Ambrose Palmer avas able to make a draw of it in his return contest with Jack Haines 4or.the mid-dle-weight championship or Australia is bound to give boxing a further fillip m Australia, especially in view at the fact that Stadiums Ltd. intends importin o' a number of middle-weights in the ne*ar future. As an amateur Palmer won the welter-weight championship or Victoria in 1927, and in,eighteen months ho has had twelve contests as a professional, winning all but one of them. His father was a boxer of note, ana three of his brothers have ail been boxers.

Fidel La Barba’s splendid win over the Cuban fighter, Kid Chocolate, at New York during the week will bring the ex-fiy-weight champion of the world more prominently into the limelight than ever, and he seems right m inis for a tilt with Battling Battalino lor tlie feather-weight championship of the world if Battalino can be induced to agree to the match* La Barba is on© cf the most popular fighting-m#m m the States.

Uzcudun, the Spanish heavy-weight, bias been signed for _ three _ fights ua Europe (says an American writer). His first bout will be with Pam on October 13, and the second will be with Camera, and if he wins over Prnno he will get a shot at Stribhng in London. ■■ '