RINGSIDE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 15

RINGSIDE TOPICS

LATEST FISTIC FLASHES [By Hookbh.] FIXTURE. April 26.—Amateur tournament, Fuller Hall. NOVICES IN ACTION. The Otago Boxing Association’s first novice tournament in the Fuller Hall this week provided followers of the fistic art with entertaining fare, and one or two promising boys have emerged as a result, though it must be said that the best of them have been seen in action in local rings previously. In a few cases competitors were found wanting on the score of condition, but generally the boys took the ring in pretty good trim, and by the time the next amateur tournament is held on April 26 ra&st of them should be in really good shape. . - A few words of praise are due to the 0.8. A. officials for the manner in which the affair was conducted. It is a long time since the programme was put through with such celerity, there not being the slightest hitch throughout the evening. Spectators had just on two and a-Tialf hours of boxing, and there was scarcely a dull moment. A boxer of much promise is W. Cole, who has furnished into a nice stamp of fly-weight, and who had little difficulty in carrying off the honours of this division. He is an aggressive twohanded fighter, good in the straight work, and also possessed of a pleasing variety of punches. In his bout witii A. Buckley it might be said that ho was prone to overdo his footwork, and would have been still more effective had he stood in closer to his man. Ho is such an accurate puncher that he would have had little difficulty in beating his opponent to the punch. Forrester was. no match for Colo, and the final ended early. Cole is an impressive boxer, and his appearance at the Otago championships will be awaited with interest.

The feather-weights were a' disappointing class, and none more so than W. Spence, who was eliminated in the semi-final by J. Brosnan, though the writer did not think there was much in it. Spence has shown _ previously that ho is not afraid to mix it and that ho can box, but he stood off his men on Monday night and made little attempt to put any power behind his punches. He was inclined to slap with liis right hand, but I am satisfied that he did not show his true form, and he may do better at the tournament at the end of the month. J. Brosnan was the winner of this division, but he did not impress greatly. He is fairly elusive, and has a good left jab, but prefers to bos on the back move and makes little use of his right hand. A rallying fighter of the Montgomery type would jhustle him quite a lot. !

The light-weights staged some good scraps, and u.ptn the final was reached I thought the Milton boy, J. Arnot, was the winner, lie took the eye as a nice stamp of fighter, using a left to the head and body and connecting now and then with an inside right. He boxed coolly, but had a hard go with J. G. O’Neill, a game and willing fighter, in the semi-final, which apparently took the sting out or him, for he crumpled badly in the final, and after running into a right-hander with his jaw took another in the stomach, and was kayoed in the first round. It was unexpected, and if he can rise superior to the effect of that punch he may yet be heard from again. He has a lot in his favour.

W. Grant won all of his bouts by the short route, and improved in. each succeeding mill. He packs a punch, in his right hand, and is an awkward sort of fighter to tackle. Ho is not afraid to mis it, and no doubt will be one of those taking part in the open lightweight class at the next tournament. He should improve with experience. The welter-weight division drew only two entrants, neither being very finished boxers. M. Bain was the winner, but he must learn to time his punches and place them to advantage if he wishes to meet with further success. S. A. Brough was the light-heavy-weight winner, but he .did not meet with the opposition expected from “Andy” M'Lean, who failed to use his reach to advantage. Had the latter elected to box at long range he must have taken the decision. ALAN CAMPBELL’S CHANCE. Alan Campbell, who was to leave for Sydney to-day, will have a great chance to make good on the other side, as his first opponent is to be Ambrose Palmer, the new heavy-weight champion of Australia.

The game is now booming in Sydney to such an extent that Campbell’s share of the proceeds should come to anything from £250 to £3OO, if not more, and if he is successful then he may look for some attractive matches in the very near future. Otago boxing fans are sorry that they did 091 have the opportunity of seeing him in the ring against Ray Nicol, but all will join ■with the writer in wishing the champion the best of luck in his forthcoming engagements. SYDNEY STADIUM. Mr Hugh D. M'lntosh has now definitely taken over Rushcutter Bay Stadium—which he founded in 1908— on behalf of a company of which Earl Beauchamp is chairman (says the ‘ Sporting Globe ’). Already Charlie Lucas, who will continue in his service, had moved in the matter of bringing the best overseas boxers to Australia, and his efforts were immediately supplemented on Mr MTntosh coming into control. Cables have been sent to the leading men in each division, and Sydney should once again witness fights of real class. A hitch seems probable in the arrangements for Camera and Dempsey to visit Australia. They had both tentatively accepted terms to come, and a meeting between them was regarded as one of the early big events under the new regime. However, they have signed up for a match in America in July. Should that match take place, says Mr M'lntosh, they will not be brought to Australia. “Nothing second-hand for me,” he declared; “first call or nothing,” It appears as if the new syndicate is likely to have some trouble in getting really class men while they can get matches in the States.

GEORGE COOK’S CONSOLATION. A broadcast announcement is to tiie effect that,Mrs Cook was at the ringside when George mixed matters with Prirno Camera in the London ring. What Mrs Cook’s thoughts were when she saw hubby being drawn and quartered by the man mountain is not known, but the wound would be healed when George received his cheque the following day, for Cook was under a guarantee of something in the vicinity of £4,000 (says an exchange). Mrs Cook is recorded as being the only woman since Mrs Bob Fitzsim-

mons who actually conducted her husband’s affairs, and it is only because she has not been allowed to do so that she has not been found acting as corner woman and assisting with the “what nots ” in the angle during spell time. ANOTHER AMATEUR TOURNAMENT. Pursuing its policy of fostering the amateurs, the Otago Boxing Association is to hold another amateur tournament in the Fuller Hall on Tuesday, April 26, and as all novice classes are to be catered for further opportunity will be given to the unsuccessful competitors on Monday night to show their mettle. Two open classes will be decided—-feather-weight and light-weight—and as both are popular divisions there should be good entries. HERE AND THERE. The New Zealand Boxing Council has indicated that it has confidence in Bert Lowe by coilfirming his nomination for tho New Zealand Olympic team, and the Olympic Association has included Lowe in its final choice of the team to go to Los Angeles. Despite his temporary lapse from form against M'Ewan, if such it may be called, no one who has seen Lowe in action at various times will gainsay his qualifications, and over a period of several years he has done all that has been asked of him, building up a formidable record of knock-out victories. Throughout his career he has been handled by Tom Harris, who must feel most gratified at the fact that the first Otago boxer to gain Olympic selection owes so much to his training. The writer is satisfied that Lowe will acquit himself well and should return to New Zealand a still more polished fighting man than he is at present. To Bert Lowe Otago’s congratulations will be extended and also best wishes for his success overseas. According to a San Francisco paper Tom Heeney was picked to beat Hans Birkie, the heavy-weight who has been clamouring for a match with Max Baer. Since the paper was posted Heeney did the job, and lived up to the view expressed that he had not been in such good condition for some time, Pete Sarron is € now rated fourth in ‘ The Ring’s ’ world rating of junior light-weights. He is now being managed by Harry Durant, and following a win against Mickey Genaro scored a one-round knock-out against Charlie Von Ileeden, tho boxer who was tho centre of a sensational happening during his visit to Australia. An American writer says that Pete is now ready for the best, and boys like Johnny Pena and Eddie Shea, contenders for the feather-weight title, would do well to side-step Sarron now. Jack Dempsey recently met King Levinsky in the Chicago Stadium in a four-round affair before a record gathering of 23,322 fans, who paid nearlv £15,000 to witness the contest. It was listed as an exhibition affair, but a poll of the newspapermen present showed 18 in favour of Levinsky, 2 for Dempsey, and 4 declared for a draw. Dempsey may be able to come back, but it does not look like it. _ It is not surprising that exception was taken by some of those interested to an extract that appeared in these notes last week from a northern paper, in which Mr .1. Kilmartin was stated to have made certain comment on Bert Lowe’s showing in the recent bout here. Mr Kilmartin made it clear to the writer that his remarks must have been misrepresented, and stated that ho had made no such comment about the incompetent seconding of Lowe, since it is his opinion that lorn Harris, who seconded Lowe, is a most competent second. And those who know anything of the _ capable trainer will agree with this view. When Pablo Dano arrived in Australia tho stadium authorities sold his contract to the Leichhardt promoter, as it was thought Dano was not in possession of the goods (says an exchange). This little Philippine has proved the greatest little mitt man seen in Australia since Fidel la -Barba, and has proved a veritable gold mine to the Leichhardt people. He has won all his contests in a line, and recently won a thrilling victory over a fellowcountryman in Gildo. . Harry Johns created quite a stir in the south bv his scientific methods in his fight with Leckie at Greymouth (says the ‘New Zealand Referee’). As a clever boxer Johns goes very close to emulating that one-time great Aucklander Charlie Purdy, but in other departments of the game _ Johns is Purdy’s superior, for he carries a punch in cither hand that is dangerous to the recipient and likely to cause a tensecond sleep on the canvas. _ There has been some talk of Johns going to England, but it is just possible that he will remain a while and journey to Sydney when the boom breaks in. The West Melbourne (Vic.) Stadium authorities have three good bouts slated for the reopening of the building, which has been closed down for nearly twelve months (states the Sydney ‘Referee’). Jack Carroll has been matched with Ambrose Palmer and Fred Hannaberry. There may bo a ralmor-Hannaberry bout; but whether this will bo the return meeting which Palmer is sueiug for consequent on his recent defeat on a foul by Hannaberry has not yet been determined. Stadiums Ltd. will concentrate on West Melbourne now that the Rushcutter Bay Stadium has been taken over byMr Hugh D. M'lntosh’s syndicate. A determined effort will bo made to revive boxing in the southern capital.