BRINGING BOXING BACK

Evening Star, Issue 22896, 2 March 1938, Page 5

BRINGING BOXING BACK

OTAGO ASSOCIATION'S EFFORTS IMPRESSIVE SHOWING BY JENKIN AMATEURS IN GOOD FORM [By Hooker.] In spite of many setbacks the Otago Boxing Association was able to live up to the slogan “ The show goes on,” and the first professional contest in many months was staged at the Town Hall on Monday night before one of the largest audiences that has attended a boxing match in Dunedin in years. It was disappointing that the 12-round professional contest between Stan. Jenkin, welter-weight champion of New Zealand, and Jackie Sharpe, of Australia, should have' terminated so unexpectedly with Sharpe’s disqualification in the ninth round, but the position arose through circumstances over which the association had no control if a bout were to go on at all, and the match served to show that in Jenkin South Island associations have a boy who promises to develop into a great fistic attraction. When a professional fight was first mooted Jenkin was matched with Don Glengarry, of Wellington, for February 21, but Glengarry’s defection left no alternative but to make a postponement. Eddington was then matched with Jenkin, and arrangements were made for Dick Baker, the Southland welter-weight, to begin his professional career in a bout over eight rounds with Frank La Hood, of Dunedim The latter contracted pleurisy, and in spite of a thorough combing of the South Island it was impossible to find an opponent for Baker at such short notice, and two amateurs had to be substituted as opponents for Baker in special exhibitionbouts.

The Match Committee of the 0.8. A. had spent considerable time in endeavouring to secure an opponent for Baker, but it looked as if hopes of a professional contest were not to he realised when news came to hand on Saturday that Doug. Eddington was

unable to appear owing to concussion. To Messrs Frank Paape and Dick Morris, with the co-operation of Mr Jack Kilmartin, special praise should be given for their decision not to throw in the spohge, and throughout Saturday they sought to secure an opponent for Stan. Jenkin. The Match Committee has gone to unusual pains in its desire to bring boxing back to the popularity it once enjoyed, and when Jackie Sharpe was contacted in Wellington on Saturday night it appeared as if a way out were open. That he did not come up to expcctaticms was no fault of the committee, and too much criticism should not be levelled at the Australian, since he would have been almost, superhuman had he lived np to his past reputation. Ho travelled from Wellington to Blenheim by aeroplane on Sunday night, went on to Christchurch by car, and travelled by train throughout Monday to reach Dunedin in time for the contest.

He was unlucky enough, under the circumstances, to meet the New Zea-

land welter-weight champion, who was In tine shape and ready to fight the battle of his life. That the public recognised the difficulties of the association was shown by the splendid crowd that attended, and while the professional bout did not reach expectations, the splendid form shown by the amateurs compensated in measure, and there is no doubt that with the policy of regular promotion decided on by the 0.8. A. boxing will come back to stay. Sharpe did not have the condition to stay the pace set by Jenkin, who made full use of his height and reach advantage, the Oamaru boy giving the Australian a boxing lesson at long range. 'At the outset Sharpe connected with an occasional left, but he was strangely ineffective at close quarters, Jenkin covering up well and quickly moving to long range again. In time, the persistent left-hand attack of Jenkin wore Sharpe down, and from the sixth round onwards he was a very tired man.

In Sharpe’s corner was Jack Crowley, formerly well-known professional boxer, and it was evident that he was fully aware of Sharpe’s failing condition. The towel was thrown in at the beginning of the ninth, but the referee (Mr Harold Baker) kicked it out of the ring and ordered the men to box on, this being in accordance with the rules. Ciowley, feeling that Sharpe was in no condition to continue, clambered through the ropes, and automatically brought about the Australian’s disqualification. Jenkin was making his first_ professional appearance in Dunedin, _ and stood out as a much more polished boxer than when he last appeared here as an amateur. He showed excellent judgment of timing and distance with his left, but could have made better use of his right. At times, however, he unloosed a solid right uppercut, and ho moved round smartly throughout. He was fast on his feet and quick to the punch, and his next appearance here will be keenly \ awaited. In the meantime, he is to meet Jack .Jarvis at Oamaru in defence of his title, and this should be a clinking contest. BAKER HAS COLOUR.

There was general regret that Dick ißaker could not be fully tried out, but in his exhibitions he showed the same impressive form he did here as an amateur last year. His footwork was very pretty, and he punched with speed and precision, though it was obvious, of course, that he never really let himself go. He stands up well, has good defence, and plenty of variety and colour, and he promises to_ be an outstanding success in professional ranks. It will be some time yet before he is prepared to go in against Jenkin. but in the interim his professional bouts should be well worth watching. THE AMATEURS. It is many a day 'since the Town Hall has resounded to such applause as greeted Neil Deckle and M. Hunter at the conclusion of their six-round bout. Leckie was only three pounds over the lly-weight limit and conceded five , pounds in weight and also height and reach to the Oamaru boy,_ but he made up for any handicap in this direction by his aggressive two-handed work. He is a real chip off the old block, and though he still lacks experience he deserved the decision that came _ his way, close though it was, his punching, once he settled down, being cleaner and rather more decisive than Hunter’s. The Oamani boy made a great fight of it, nevertheless, but at times was inclined to push his punches. A return between these boys would be a welcome feature of the next programme to be staged by the Otago Boxing Association.

C. Hanham, Bill O’Connor’s protege from Waimate, is a comparative newcomer to the game, but he is a promising light-heavy-weight, and he showed against J. M'Lennan that he could come hack strongly in the face of punishment, for after a count of seven in the second round he disposed of M'Lennan in the fifth by means of a technical knock-out. Hanham stands up nicely to his man, hits cleanly, and is effective in the straight work, and he should he heard of in the coming season.

M'Lennan is still a comparative novice, hut he packs a wallop in his right hand. He is an awkward man to box, and relies too much upon his vicious right swing. In the hands of Mr J. F. Morris there is no doubt that bis attack will be straightened up, and he should be a much tougher proposition next time up. Vic. Pyster has a couple of promising welters in N. Ferguson and George Burgess, the latter’s win being gained by cool and confident boxing. He is an improved performer, and has quite a useful two-handed attack.

With the regular tournaments indicated in the next few months, amateurs have every incentive to get down to early training, and'a good time seems in store for the boxing fraternity.

Mr Harold Baker’s firm control of the main bout was a feature of the evening, and his work as third man was carried out with an absence of fuss and flurry, qualities which have gained him recognition internationally as Australia’s leading referee. The esteem in which he is held is shown by the fact that he was invited to return to Australia to referee the bout between Jack Carroll and Ceferino Garcia, outstanding world’s welter-weight contender, ■who had Barney Boss (world’s champion) on the floor when they met some time ago.