BOXING IN U.S.A.

Feilding Star, Volume 5, Issue 1203, 13 September 1927, Page 8

BOXING IN U.S.A.

WHAT LES MURRAY FOUND. AGGRESSIVENESS X ECESSARY. (Per Press Association) Auckland, September 12. '“ln America aggressiveness counts for everything, and only the man woo will ‘tear in,’ fight and stand up to heavy punishment is wanted.”

Les Murray, the well known Dunedin boxer and ex-lightweight champion of New Zealand, returned to the Dominion to-day bv the Niagara with this impression. Murray, who has been absent from the Dominion for 1G months spent eight or nine niqnths in America, and during,the course of a bout with Jack Bernstein, ex-cliampion lightweight of ijie world, he injured a shoulder. Hoping to recover, he decided to make a tour of Europe, Asia Minor, Italy and Africa. However, when he thought of returning to the States he found his shoulder still tender, and he thereupon decided to return home.

“My shoulder is practically right again now,” lie said to an interviewer this afternoon, “and l expect to he in harness again in a few weeks’ time. I will attempt tf> regain my former status of lightweight champion of New Zealand.” Murray saw a. good deal of Tom Heeuey, the New Zealand heavyweight, who, he said, was lighting well and had recently met three men of quite good class. Asked if lie knew whether Heeney was returning to New Zealand, Murray said he did not think so, as Heeney was doing too well lor that. Whilst in America Murray, who is looking lit and well, fought three lightweight contenders for the world title—Bernstein, Petrolic and Solly Seaman. The latter, who had just lost a very doubtful match with Man dell, the lightweight champion, was beaten by Murray. The New Zealander, however, lost to Petrolic and Bernstein.