BOXING

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 March 1922, Page 6

BOXING

BELL OUTPOINTS HEENEY. (Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, March 17 Word lias been received here that Colin Bell (Australia) beat Heeney (New Zealand), on points, for the Australian heavyweight boxing championship at Mackay, North Quensland. DEMPSEY AND LEWIS. Australian and N..’l Cable Association NEW YORK, March 17. Edward (‘‘Strangler”) Lewis, the world’s champion wrestler, to-day hallenged Jack Dempsey for a mixed 'natch. The challenge was made bj a pronouncement that Lewis's manager had deposited 5000 dollars as a. guarantee that he would meet Dempsey. Jack Kearns, manager for Jack Dempsey, to-night declared that Dempsey is ready to meet Lewis on whatever basis ho suggests. CARPENTIER. TO MEET NILLES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, March 17. Carpentier fights Nilles in JuneGENERAL NOTES. (By “Looker-on.”) The Westport Boxing Association are out to cater for boxing and fans dike, the northern sports having decided to put on two profession;! lights on Saturday night next. The principal bout will be a 15-ruund contest between Erank O'Neill and Paul Hannah, while it has also been decided to put on a return bout between George Curran and Jimmy Carr, the latter being a 10 rounder. “Clique” -(Runanga) and Pickles, of Westport, will provide one of the special bouts at Westport on Saturday night. . INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS. LONDON, January 29. If the spoilsmen closely associated ■ with professional boxing fail to profit by what they saw at the Albert Hall when the Carpentier v. Cook and other international bouts were decided, then they must be blind. The victories of the French boxers over then British and Australian rivals was not the main point. The striking feature was the marked difference in the appearance and methods of the winners nd the representatives of the British Empire. Perhaps it would be piling on the agony to say it was like trials between racehorses and carthorses. That, however, will serve to illustrate the point the writer desires to bring home to sportsmen. Our boxers are strong, plucky, can stand punishment, and some of them are clever craftsmen. More than this is necessary, however, the great asset of speed being vital to success. . Not only must a boxer be quick . in his bodily movements, but his brain must also be alert. We select a heavy, powerful, but slow horse for ploughing, and one with blood, speed, stamina, and courage for the Derby. Gensrallv speaking, our professional boxers of the heavy-weight class may be said, to come from the stock which cor-

responds to the plough horse. We want quite another breed, and until a different stratum is tapped we are not going to reach the high position we should like. —We Have the Men. — Probably the most likely circles from which to develop a future world’s champion heavyweight would be the class of young who take up rowing at Oxford and Cambridge. Brains, physique, careful upbringing, speed, stamina, and pride of race are great assets in any test. Plenty ot men from the very best families embark on big adventures e in tiie wild parts of the world. Lumbering, railway construction, ranching, sheep farming, mining, and other outdoor occupations have attracted many of cur best men. If some of tins class would embrace boxing as a career it is possible that our prospects of producing a real champion would be much better.

It is more than strange that so many people look on professional boxing as a career with disfavor. Ten years’ deletion to it might enable the right man to retire at thirty with a fortune and the satisfaction of knowing that lie had done something for the prestige of the Empire. There is a wide range between the heavy, powerful, but slow stamp of men who usually try their luck and the University, oarsmen. Somewhere between there must be plenty of young men with the necessary qualifications. —A Marked Difference. — It is merely stating a truth to say that the French boxers looked Let!er than their rivals at the Albert Hall, both bodily and in features. Some would say they appeared to be bred on liner lines. Certainly their movements were more graceful, and, when they hit, the speed and force were plain to see Another all-import .nt point is that the Frenchmen hit, from a position which permits of full force being put- into the blow. Thio i.s a point which our men often neglect. It is not overlooked that Carpentier was a miner at Lens once upon a time, but in appearance he might be a young solicitor or bank clerk. Many generations of manual workers must produce a breed of men who are slow of speech, to act, and in movement. Tints it is not to be wondered at if many of our boxers (who come from this section of the community) are decidedly lacking in speed. Me have speedy athletes, who are also big men, the ranks of Soccer and Rugby football, rowing, running, swimming, and other pastimes illustrating this. If something can be done to break down the prejudice against professional boxing, then the time will be brought nearer when a Britisher will again hold the world’s championship at boxing. —How to .Hit.— Carpentier and Nilles, who beat i'enaell, sent in straight and speedy blows, which were in marked contrast to Penwell’s slow swings. Nor did Cook's chops to the back of Carpentier’s head and neck when in clinches appear to have much force. Speed is very essential in hitting, and weight alone will not meet the situation. Carpentier’s strong suit is to lead with the left and instantly follow up with a terrific right. Cook met the attack by ducking the right, and then coming up into a clinch. Carpentier took great chances, and when he missed with the right his glove went over Cook's neck, and his body and head were unguarded. Had Cook moved his head back cut of distance when Carpentier led vi'h the left and then anticipated the following right by stepping in with a straight left (guarding the left chin with the right glove), the impact would have been terrific had he landed. Mere defence will never do, unless it is in combination with attack.