RINGSIDE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 22202, 3 December 1935, Page 4

RINGSIDE TOPICS

LATEST FISTIC FLASHES [By Hooker.] COMING CONTESTS. December 4.—-Frank Hutchins v. Don Stirling, at Hawera. December 9.—Ray Nicol v. Val Luttrell and Bill Pasco v. Em Jacobs, at Invercargill. CLARRIE RAYNER'S INTENTIONS My Wellington correspondent writes in regard to the drawn contest between Clarne Rayner and Jack Jarvis at Eltham, and-states that these boys are evenly matched, as in their three meetings each has one win and a draw. Jarvis , still heads the _ Dominion lightweights, but Clarrie informed my correspondent that he is going after the feather-weight title, which he relinquished some time ago. If Rayner is still strong at the 9st limit he should regain his title, although the Wellington boy, Billy Aitken, should extend him all the way. Clarrie Rayner also informed my Wellington correspondent that Bob Morrighan, the Marlborough man is turning his eyes in the direction of the cash ranks. Morrighan is 10.12, and is at an awkward weight, so that he might ho wiser to stay in the amateur ranks for another 12 months.

Jarvis and Rayuer not only drew a great house at Eltham the other night, but turned on a scrap to watch as well.

/ WILL NEVER BE CHAMPION Confirmation of the suggestion that Joe Louis will never get a chance at the title, because of the colour ban, comes from Jackie Clark, former allround cyclist, who recently returned to Australia (says the ‘ Sporting Globe ’). “ Louis could whip Braddock inside five rounds,” declared Clark, who came to Melbourne to meet Bep Van Klavoren, the Dutch welter, whom he will manage in Australia. “ But,” be added, “ he’ll never get the chance. The colour line will be drawn.” Clark also confirmed the good opinion of the skill of Louis and of his manliness and modesty. Jack has had considerable experience with boxers, and has seen most of the important fights in America. He expressed the opinion that Baer “ squibbcd ” it in his fight with Louis. “ llaer is just a flash fool,” said Clark. “ He showed a yellow streak when he went into the ring against Louis, and simply turned his back on the black and took the father of a* hiding. He simply thought his cut of the gate was worth the trouble. “ It’s a novelty to see coloured boxers and athletes out here, but with millions of them in America there would be racial riots if a black became champion heavy-weight of the world,” said Clark. HIGH-CLASS WELTER ' Bep Van Klaveren, -Dutch-American welter, who is to meet Jack Carroll at Sydney on December 10, claims ranking as third welter in the world (says an Australian writer). This position, he explains, was noted in the September ranking, those above him being Barney Ross (champion) and Jim M'Larnin. Twelve months ago he was rated seventh; but he has since beaten three of the men placed above him. They are Garcia, Falco, and Aatcca, the Pacific Coast champion. Van Klaveren, who was born at Rot-terdam-on September 2C, 1908, has been boxing for nearly nine years. He had considerable success as an amateur, including the feather-weight championship at the Olympic Games in 1928. As a pro. he won the light and welter championships of Europe. Since going to America, where he now lives, nearly three years ago, he has had only three reverses in 29 contests. Two of those were on points, and the other a technical knock-out bv Billy Petrolli, in 1933.

For some time Bep has been suing for a title match with Ross. It was not until he was ready to start for Australia that he could have had it in December; hut he says he preferred to honour his contract to come to Australia. In America he is known as ” the Dutch windmill ” —a tribute to the consistency with which he keeps his arms going- With Van Klaveren is his wife, a dainty little Californian, and his father, who came with the young couple from Holland, •

WATSON RETIRES At the age of 28 Seaman Tommy Watson, former holder of the British professional feather-weight boxing championship, has decided to retire from the ring. He_ realises that his hitting power is waning, and also that a severe injury to an eye in a recent fight is likely to cause him a lot of trouble if he stays in the ring. So, as he has saved his money, he is going to get out of the ring while the going is cood. Watson has been fighting as a Imht-weight for some time past. His last” fight was with George Daly, _ of London, a few weeks ago. In the first round Daly cut Watson’s tight eye. Watson could neither hurt Daly nor outbox him. The cut oyer Watson’s eye was reopened, and in the eighth round Watson, still strong but with Ins vision impaired, retired from the contest. / FORMER WELTER-WEIGHT CHAMPION W: G. Parris won the New Zealand amateur welter-weight championship at Hastings in 1934, and subsequently represented New Zealand at the Australasian championships at Invercargill. He has great difficulty in getting contests anywhere near Weilington, and cannot travel far because of his position with the Wellington Harbour Board. He has had only two contests since last year’s Australasian championships at Invercargill both losses to T. Arbuthnot, the New Zealand amateur welter-weight champion,

who has been nominated for the New Zealand Olympic team. Other bouts of opposition are not available in the Wel-ter-weight division. HERE AND THERE Jerry Joyce, a Wellington amateur feather-weight, went to Sydney some time ago, and while there he turned professional, engaging in five bouts in the cash ranks, of which he won four, two by the k.o. He has now returned to Wellington, and issues a challenge to'any of his weight in the Dominion. Billy Aitken outpointed him in the 1934 Wellington amateur championships in a dose bout. Mark Candy, who defeated Frank Hutchins recently, is right after Don Stirling’s New Zealand professional welter-weight title. Another good match would be between Watty Robertson the Hawke's Bay fighter, and Stirling, and the winner would not be easy to pick. A Southland boxing official, in a letter to “ Hooker,” stated that Bill Pasco was not in it with Ray Nicol, who fought a great fight. Pasco showed no improvement at_ all. The Southland Boxing Association’s next show will be on December 9, when a double bill will be presented, Ray ,Nicol meeting Val Luttrell and Bill Pasco meeting Ern Jacobs. Each bout is over the twelve-round route.