TOURNEY AT INVERCARGILL

Evening Star, Issue 22774, 8 October 1937, Page 5

TOURNEY AT INVERCARGILL

Unless the Southland Boxing Association gets support from outside boxers for its proposed special amateur tournament it is possible that the fixture will bo abandoned (says the ‘ Southland Times’). The tournament was set down for October 18, but because of the replies of some of the boxers approached it is unlikely that a programme will bo arranged by them. A number of boxers cannot got away, and outside Otago and Rakaia there is not likely to be strong representation. If the tournament has to bo postponed from October 18 it will probably be held, if at all, on October 25. Cyril Hayes (heavy-weight), Lex Greaney (feather-weight), and J. Ramsay (light-weight), Otago representatives, have been invited to take part. Greaney and Ramsay won titles at the Southland championships. TOM FARR’S ADAPTABILITY Mr Thomas Farr, of Tonypandy, is perhaps an even more remarkable man than his recent conflict with Mr Louis, of Detroit, would suggest (writes “ Janus,” in the London ‘ Spectator’). Even from his boxing one can see his quickness of mind, and still more his adaptability to circumstances that have never unduly favoured him. One so courageous can hardly fail to be popular; hut among those who know him Farr is liked and respected because he has never forgotten his early friends and especially liis family. It is easy to see why a man from the valleys, with several brothers _ and sisters, should havo every incentive to “get in the big money but Farr is remarkable for his determination to make, not himself, but those who depend on him comfortable. For himself, his ambitions are probably directed more to tho stage than the ring, which is his business; he has a fine singing voice, would like to have it trained, and would certainly work as hard at it as he has in rising from the boxing booth to the Yankee Stadium. There was a suggestion last year that he might referee the boxing scene in ■ Hugh the Drover ’ at Sadler’s Wells; I don’t fancy be did, but I’m sure he would havo prepared himself for it with conscientious thoroughness. NEW ZEALAND BOXER PRAISED Calling tho New Zealand heavyweight boxer, Maurice Strickland, _ a “ transformed fighter,” an English writer says that he looks like a world champion. “ Strickland is now moulded on the physical lines of Jack Dempsey, to whom ho hears a particularly strong facial resemblance,” states the writer “ Don’t ho surprised if ho is a contender for a world title in 1938.”

"TOO MUCH FOR KE" Frank Goddard, British heavyweight boxer of a decade or so ago, once refused £4,000 for a fight because h© thought it was too much. Here is the story:— “ Peggy ” Bettinson, it, appears, was trying to arrange a Goddard-George Cook fight. Ho was very enthusiastic about the bout. “On percentage you’ll _ get £4,000 out of this Frank,” he said. Frank paused and thought for a while. Then he replied: “That’s too much for me, Mr Bettinson. Just give me a fiat sum of £2,000 and I’ll bo satisfied.” HERE AND THERE The bout between Norman Fisher, of Christchurch, and. Dick Baker, of Invercargill, has been cancelled by the Christchurch Association. Difficulty in securing a good supporting programme was the cause of the bout being put off (says the Southland ‘Times’). For the Farr-Louis fight the top price for a seat was reported to be £4 12s and the cheapest 10s. Baseball parks are better suited to big fights than football grounds, being circular, so those in the “ bleachers ” are not badly off, especially as many patrons take binoculars with them (says an exchange). As the result of an injury to Jack Jarvis, involving a sprained angle, the Wellington Boxing Association has had to postpone its projected lightweight title bout between Jarvis and Clarrie Rayner for two months (says the * Sports Post ’). It is now proposed to stage the fight at the Town Hall on November 29. The intention to stage a professional programme on October 7 has been abandoned-, hut the Match Committee is endeavouring to arrange a suitable contest for Thursday, October 28. That Australian opinion regarding the ability of Jim Purcell was not overestimated is demonstrated by his success in his second engagement—at Manchester. He outpointed Jack Lord, considered the hardest-hitting welter _in Great Britain (says the * Sporting Globe ’). One paper describes the fight as the greatest welter battle since the days of Kid Lewis, That is the only comment to hand. Nice reading, but with all due regard to Purcell’s skill, it savours rather of exaggeration. Lewis belonged to a school rarely seen in the last decades at least, for in addition to being a star boxer, he was a dour, tough fighter. And as at least three men in England have been named as superior to Lord, the discrepancy of the description becomes more apparent.