Ringside Topics

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 8 (Supplement)

Ringside Topics

Finnish Boxer in America. Gunnar Barlund, the Finnish boxer, who was one of Maurice Strickland’s opponents in America, now boxes only at shows which give 10_ per cent, of the proceeds to the Finnish relief fund. Well-known Boxing Figure. Mr E. A. (“Dad”) Dawson, of Wellington, whose death was reported in a Press Association message last week, was a well-known figure in boxing circles. He travelled through New Zealand as manager with several visiting amateur boxing teams, and in 1922 took a New Zealand team to Australia. He last accompanied an Australian team on a tour of New Zealand in 1934. He was known as the “grand old man ” of boxing in New Zealand. For Royal Navy. Tommy Dunn, crack Hutt Valley amateur boxer, has been notified that he will be posted shortly to the Royal Navy. A first-rate sportsman, Dunn is the present national light-weight cham{pioh, and enjoys the additional distinction of being the holder of the Jamieson Belt, awarded annually to the most scientific boxer at the New Zealand tournament (says the ‘ Sports Post ’). But Dunn’s activities do not end with fighting. _He is a capital Soccer player and cricketer. For the Moera Stop Out senior B Association football team, he has been outstanding at centre-half. Last summer he repped for the Hutt Valley senior cricket eleven. Dunn will be the second New Zealand amateur boxer of note serving in the Royal Navy. Darcy Heeney, of Gisborne, welter-weight champion for the past three years, after qualifying as an engine room artificer, was posted recently to a warship.

—pu —-

Popular Fighter. An interested spectator at the Christian Brothers’ High School boxing tournament on Monday night was Bill Langley, an ex-pupil of the school, who was in Dunedin on leave from the Hopu Hopu camp, where he has been serving with the Railway Company. It is not so long since Langley was one of the best-known amateur welterweights in the province, and he gained for himself the reputation of being one of the most durable fighters in the game. During his active career in the ring, Langley met some of the best amateurs in the Dominion, and those who saw him in action in various parts of Otago and Southland will agree that a gamer boxer never laced on a glove. He has not been in active commission in the ring ..for some years past, but when Tom Harris gave up his activities as an instructor Langley carried on Harris’s gymnasium for a whilo. Since entering camp, however, ho has found the lure of the ring too much for him, and he engaged in a tournament at Hopu Hopu, having the honour of winning the welter-weight class. Boxing 'enthusiasts throughout Otago will join in wishing this popular gloveman a safe return.

Otago Titles in Dispute. Despite the number of prominent amateur boxers_ with the fighting forces, competition should be keen when the Otago titles are disputed at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday night, and interest has been greatly enhanced by the entry of a number of Southlanders. These are Frank Brown (fly-weight champion of Southland), A. Cameron (Southland bantam-weight champion), W. Brown (Southland feather-weight champian), Hec. Calder (who was runner-up last year in the New Zealand light-weight championship), D. M‘Kenzie (who after being runner-up to Tom Denny in the Southland welter-weight championship last year put up a good showing against Darcy Heeney at the New Zealand championships), and Bolger (a hardhitting welter-weight, who won the scientific award at the first Bluff tournament recently). Local entries appear to be satisfactory, and among those taking part will be P. Ruston (exOtrago light-weight champioif), R. Stevens (whose improvement has been one of the features of the season —he is a hard-hitting middle-weight), Larry Salmon (feather-weight), and Dick Ferguson (who is also a feather-weight, and like Salmon, is from the Archie Leckie school), and J. Ramsay (exOtago light-weight champion). Altogether a good night’s boxing seems assured.

Boxing at its Best. Always standing out as one of the highlights of the boxing season is the Christian Brothers’ High School tournament, and as Mr Jack Kilmartin, veteran. Otago official, remarked on Monday night, this tournament is recognised as one of the best conducted in the Dominion, and down through the years the school itself has given to the game some of the best amateur and professional boxers this country has had. Officials at this week’s fixture included several prominet old boys of the school, among them Mr Kilmartin himself, whose services to boxing in all its phases are unsurpassed by any man in the Dominion. Mr Kilmartin, as much as any man, was responsible for the organised instruction of boxing being introduced to the school, and he can .look back with pleasure on the success of his efforts. ; Mr Bob Fulcher, a former light-weight amateur champion of New Zealand, and now one of New Zealand’s most capable referees, is also an ex-pupil. Among the many champions in_ later years who had their first lessons in the noble art. while attending the school, one who stood out was the late Bert'Lowe, an Olympic representative in 1932, and later professional middle-weight champion of New Zealand. It has always been the aim of the Christian Brothers themselves' to imbue in their pupils the finest_ principles of the boxing game—manliness and sportsmanship—and the splendid spirit invariably shown at the school tournaments is striking testimony to the success that has attended their efforts. For many years now. Mr Alf. Goodman, a former New Zealand amateur champion, has been the school’s boxing instructor, and the average boxing follower finds much to enthuse over in the displays served up by his pupils. This year’s tournament was no exception to the rule, and from the smallest midget to the school champion, every competitor obviously entered the ring with the desire of giving of his very best, and showing that the lessons of the instructor had been taken to heart.

The programme consisted of 30 bouts, and there was not one dull mill among them. The boxing was of the usual high standard, and if all boys who take iup the sport were taught the importance of correct punching as these lads are it would be for the good of the game. The school championship was won by J, Skinner, who was not fully extended to outpoint Harry Veint, but the latter offered plucky resistance to a more experienced and stronger boy. Skinner moved well for a big fellow, hit with good judgment of timing and distance, and made full use of his advantage in reach. Skinner is a nice stamp of boxer. It would he impossible to sort out all the boys of promise who paraded their wares, but one , could not fail to bo impressed by the ssest shown by some of tbe most diminutive of. the contestants in the midget division in which the cup was carried off bv a busy little two-banded boxer in 91. Paterson. This lad waged a non-stop attack, but did not throw discretion to the winds, blocking and countering like a veteran. Another little fellow who pleased was B. Kelly, who made up for lack of inches by his cleverness.

The intermediates were not perhaps such a strong class as some of the others, but it was in this division that two of the host boxers of the tournament were seen in action. These were T. Phillips and J. Foster, between whom there was very little to choose. The decision went to Phillips, but the writer thought Foster a little unlucky. However, he had his compensations by being awarded tbe scientific trophy. The most torrid mill seen at any tournament in Dunedin for a long time was battled out all the way hr Tom Casey (a son of the 1905 All Black, Steve Casey) and L. O’Gorman, who indulged in a two-handed barrage of punches from gong to gong. The judges could not separate this pair, and at the finish the audience rose and cheered the two youngsters to the echo. It was not a wild slogging match, but cn P in which both boys indulged in solid straight hitting These boys carried off tbe honours in tbe Junior class.

T). O’dorman provided one of the best mills in the senior division but

he found B, Scanlnn just a shade too good for him on the night, Scanlan hitting a little more accurately and with better judgment. N. Mullin, who won the cup in this class, was another strong two-handed boxer who used the ring to good effect.

Record of Activity,

Revived this year after a spell in recess, the Bluff Boxing Club, now the only promoting body in Southland, has a very line record of activity in the last 17 years. One of the first bouts staged at Bluff was that between Hector Leckie and Les. Adams over six rounds in 1923. This was an amateur affair, and Leckie afterwards became the professional light-weight champion of New Zealand. The same year Billy Sycamore kayoed Hector Leckie in the third round, but in a return, which marked Leckie’s entry into professional ranks, Leckie won on points after a great bout. The pair met subsequently over 15 rounds at Invercargill (in 1924), and Leckie again won on points.

Many well-known Dunedin boxers have fought at Bluff, and they will all have pleasurable recollections of the sporting port enthusiasts and of the hospitality invariably extended to the visitors.

In 1925 Jack Paul (afterwards a successful professional in Australia) wou the honours of the amateur welterweight division, D. Sutherland was runner-up to Jack Kelly (who is_ still active in the ring, and is still associated with the Bluff Club) in the light-weight class, and “ Fighting ” Johnny Leckie (soon afterwards to win fame as one of the greatest feather-weights New Zealand hexing ever produced) won the feather-weight division. The following year Tom Griffiths (outstanding in amateur and professional ranks) and Louis Drew also fought at Bluff, and in 1927 Bluff staged some good tournaments, including the Bluff championships. A 15-round professional contest was staged at Winton by this club, Hector Leckie winning on a k.o. from Jimmy Carr. Fans will also remember the programme of 18 bouts staged at Bluff in May, 1928, the last contest being fought after midnight! That was the last tournament held by the Bluff body until July 11, 1940. A 15-round professional contest was fought at Bluff round about 1920, when Denis Boreham (one of Otago’s best fighting men) beat Charlie M'Quarrie on points after a great fight which attracted a record crowd. Both contestants of that memorable mill are now resident in Dunedin.

That the Bluff Club is very active at the present time is shown by the fact that it intends _ staging the Southland amateur _ championships in about three weeks’ time. A successful tournament was held there last week, and the crowd had its share of thrills, there hejng several quick knock-outs. West won a heavy-weight contest against A. Anderson by a k.o, in the first round, and in the final outpointed M. Brice, of Riverton. Bolger, who is to appear here on Monday night, knocked out Braithwaite in the second round, and Don M'Kenzie (who is also to appear here) beat Spence, of Dunedin, by a k.o. in the second round of a welterweight mill.

A cup, presented by Mr ,J. Muir, formerly of the Hollyford Boxing Club, for the most scientific boxer, was won by E. Wilson. After 20 years in the ring Jack Kelly is still going strong, and hd boxed in a special bout with Private Bill Campbell (one of Southland’s well-known boxers who was on leave from Burnham Camp). Frank Denny, a brother of Tom Denny (now in camp), outpointed P Tunnicliffe, while M. Tennet beat M ; Hannah by a one-round knock-out

The record of Jack Kelly is a remarkable one. In 130 amateur contests he won 105 bouts, drew 5, and lost 20. He won the Southland light-weight championship in 1926 and 1931, was runner-up on Six other occasions, and in 1934 won the Mid-Canterbury light-weight championship. Australian Star in Camp. Charlie Glasson, who endeared himself to light fans all over Australia a few years back in scraps with such topliners as Pete Sarroo and Jimmy Kelso, is back in the fighting business. This time it is war. Charlie joined up and went into camp recently (says the ‘ Sporting Globe ’). Middle-weight Title Match. Bill O’Connor, Waimate trainer, writes that, his charge, Cliff Hanham (New Zealand light-he.avy-weight champion), has been matched with Vic Caltaux for the middle-weight title at Waimate on August _ 24. This fight looks what the Americans would call a “ natural ” and the enterprising Waimate sportsmen are to be congratulated on staging such a fine attraction. High Standard of Boxing. The standard of boxing revealed at the M’Glashan College tournament on Wednesday night was probably tbe highest since organised boxing was introduced into the school, , ami the instructor (Mr Tom Oxley) had every reason for satisfaction at the fine showing made by many of his charges, it is most encouraging to find such promise being shown by the secondary school boxers, and tins may encourage the Otago Boxing Association to revive a suggestion that was made some years ago that a secondary schools’ tournament might be instituted. In any case, some of the contests staged at M'Glashan College would have done credit to an open tournament, and I. King and A Cameron, who would actually be fly-weights in open competition, gave a display at the end of which they were cheered to the echo. When a man of Mr Jack Kilmartin’s experience classed the bout as one of the best he had seen the promise revealed by these youngsters may be gauged. 13oth boxed cleverly, and.both used straight-lofts to the head and body very effectively. King, though, punched'cleanly from all angles, and he was just as adept in the use of his right as he was with his left. He made skilful use of the ring, and hit with fine judgment of timing and distance, placing his blows to the best advantage. It was one of the best displays by a schoolboy seen in Dunedin for many a day. His brother. D. King (who happens to be full-back in the College Rugby fifteen), is also a solid puncher and a good boxer, and he won a lively senior bout largely by reason of his accurate straight-hitting and powers of punch. John Perry, winner of the scientific award, and D. Hogg who was Perry’s opponent. gave pleasing displays, Perry’s skill in the straight work with either hand turning the result his way. He is a very quick puncher and displayed smart footwork. R. Oakley and D. Carr showed boxing ability above the average, Carr-especially taking tbe eye as a very promising youngster. He stood up to his man nicely, punched quickly and decisively, and blocked andcountered like a veteran. There wasn’t a colourless bout, and tbe contestants invariably revealed a fine sporting spirit, giving and taking the hardest blows with a smile. It was a first-class night’s sport.