RICHARDS TO LAY OFF

Evening Star, Issue 23100, 28 October 1938, Page 4

RICHARDS TO LAY OFF

Big fight between 1?on Richards, Australian middle-weight champion! and Gus Lesnevieh, highly-graded American cruiser-weight, Inis been postponed for at least a month. Richards is convalescing after influenza and also has an inflamed finger (savs a Sydney writer). Manager of Richards, Jack Fennell, stated that Richards would be unable to fight for four of five week's. A doctor had advised him to rest for two weeks, but he had decided to have an additional spell, and a further week to complete his preparation. Fennell said that Richards

struck the third finger of his right hand on the gymnasium door. The finger was skinned, but did not bleed. Richards wore a glove for protection, but the hand became inflamed and ho resolved not to take any risk of complications. When Richards recovered, added Fennell, he would continue to fight under the Sports Ground direction. FOSTER TOO GOOD Johnny Foster won all the way in his bout with George Allen at Christchurch last week, despite the fact that the Canadian was conceding the cxNew Zealand middle-weight champion eight pounds in weight. Foster was easily the better all-round fighter, and the handicap of weight and reach did not bother him. For the first part of the bout he was content to lot the Now Zealander make the fighting, but he piled on the points in the closing stages. Allen did some forceful work, and it was not until about the sixth round that the Canadian really began to force the pace. Althbugh interesting, it was not a particularly exciting mill, the Canadian giving the impression that he could win at any time. As a Christchurch ‘ Star-Sun ’ writer put it: “ The New Zealander was fighting gamely, but Foster, with his wry smile, always looked confident and triumphant. His technique was just a wee bit too good.” ARMSTRONG TO SPELL Henry Armstrong,, negro triple world’s title holder in the boxing ring, will not box again until January, according to an American authority. Physicians have warned Armstrong not to appear in the ring until the cuts on his lips, which he suffered at the hands of Lou Ambers, from whom he took the light-weight championship, are healed. The 40 and more tough matches Armstrong had during the past two years have apparently taken their toll. His manager has asked for the match against Ceferino Garcia, scheduled for November 3, to be postponed until a later date.

FEATHER-WEIGHT BOOM Stadiums Ltd. expect a boom in the feather-weight division during the summer. First of the nine-stoners to arrive will be Vincent Dell ’Orio. Jackie Wilson, and Johnny Hutchinson. Dell ’Orto had 15 fights in 1937. All were in New York (says the Sydney ‘Labour Daily’). He outpointed Jimmy Lancaster, Joe Wach, ■ Leo Wall, Les Gusno, Jimmy English,'Joey W»vne, and lost to Henry Hook and A 1 Reid. Dell ’Orto had k.o. wins over Lou Sierra and Indian Quintana. Jackie Wilson is rated among the stars. Last year he twice defeated ex-world’s champion Freddy Miller, outpointed Mike Belloise, Charlie Burns, A 1 Mauriquez, Chico Romo, and Pierre Louis. Wilson k.o.’d Joey Brown in four rounds, and drew with Leo Rodak after 15 rounds. Kennedy Reed and Young llightmire shaded the youth. Johnny Hutchinson’s victims include Johnnie Cabello, A 1 Gillett, Tony Fernandez. Young Chappie, Nunzio Bisogno, Cristobal Juramilo, Willie Davis. Joe Dempsey, and Kid Hollie.

WORLD CHAMPION'S INJURIES

The American correspondent of a Sydney paper writes: Henry Armstrong, who has added Lou Ambers’s light-weight crown to his world feather and welter titles, took such a head beating from the Herkimer, N.Y., fighter that he probably will not be able to fight again for three or four months Dr Alexande: Schiff, who has been attending fighters’ injuries for 13 years, told of the severe lacerations suffered by the little Los Angeles negro as Promoter Mike Jacobs opened negotiations for Armstrong to defend his welter championship with Ceferino Garcia and for a return bout with Ambers. “ Armstrong has the worst lip I ever saw in my career,” Dr Schiff said. “ It is so badly mangled it looked like it had been pounded with a rough-edged steak hammer. It needs at least 15 stitches to close it properly, and I do not see how he possibly can risk reopening such an injury inside of three to four months.” The physician explained the lacerated lip was the cause of Armstrong’s repeated loss of his mouthpiece during the latter rounds. “ His mouth filled with blood so rapidly he either had to swallow it or spit it out,” ho said. “No one realised how badly he was bleeding until after the fight. I took him back to my office for an examination. “ He became very ill from the quart and a-half of blood he had swallowed. This explains why he became weakened toward the end of the bout, and his irrational actions, such as going to Ambers’s corner instead of his own at the end of the rounds.”

HERE AND THERE

Tommy Jones, an American negro welter-weight boxer, who has been competing with marked success in Australia. arrived in Auckland on Friday by the Awatoa. He is eager to meet any available welter-weight or middleweight fighters in New Zealand. Jones impressed Australian critics with his speed, science, and punching ability, and included among nis successes was a decision over Ron. Richards, the former Australian middle-weight champion There is a possibility that Jones will be matched with the Aucklander Vic Caltanx. Two Australian lightweights, Harry Summers and Claude Varner, are also due to arrive in New Zealand ibis month, the former having an engagement with Young Gildo at Napier on October 29. Many Stadium spectators were mystified by the appearance of white substance at the corner of Joe Hall’s month in a contest during the week (says a Sydney writer). It was a piece of cotton wool which Hall had placed over a slightly damaged tooth to prevent it from cutting his month. The two mouthpieces he possessed had disappeared, and Hall did not have time to get another made.

When AI Hostak knocked out Freddie Steele and thereby won the “ world ” middle-weight championship* it was the first time the vanquished title-holder had been knocked out in 115 fights. Fred Apostoli, however, had had a technical k.o. victory over him. At one time Steele and Hostak lived close together, and Steele gave the new champion some of his earliest pointers about the boxing game. Ike Kutner is training Alan Matthews for his bout with Fred Henneberry, ard the New Zealander is also training the Alabama Kid. Ike suggests that the “ kid ” is as vigorous as “ Tiger ” Payne. There has been no lack of demand for Johnny Foster’s services. He was approached last week to take part in seven contests, including offers from Auckland, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, and Invercargill. The Canadian is a classy performer, and when fully extended should be worth going a long wav to see.

Some fighters and wrestlers have admiration for one another, despite opinions to the contrary. Dean Detton. who lost his world heavy-weight wrestling title only last year, arrived in Sydney recently. When he was there on the first occasion in 1932, he was on terms of the greatest friendliness with Ambrose Palmer, Australian heavy-weight champion Detton frequently attended the Australian’s training activities Some wrestlers have had a blend of experience in both sports. Sammy Stein and Dick Raines were boxers early in their careers (says a Sydney writer) A profit of £ll4 was made on the national amateur boxing championship tournament at Gisborne last month which was £4O higher than that shown by the 1937 title fixture at Greymouth where the profit of £79 was the previous best for many years “ The financial results have given ranch satisfaction to the district and the national executive,” said Mr A S. Parker, president of the Gisborne Boxing Association “ and the figure should stand for many years.” The Gisborne Association’s share of the profits which are divided equally between the National Boxing Association and the district controlling body, will be £57.