BOXING MYSTERY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20139, 8 January 1940, Page 4

BOXING MYSTERY

CONTEST IN pNGLAND UNFULFILLED BOUT Jimmy Vaughan, of Becontree, Southern area light-weight champion, mystified his manager and supporters by failing to turn up at the Stadium Club, London, for the principal fight of the programme—a 10-round contest with Tommy Hyams, of King’s Cross, last month. Urgent inquiries were made as the time approached for the fight and at the last minute a lessexperienced boxer, Joe Slark, of Egham, who had already fought previously on the same programme, pluckily stepped into the breach. His appearance in the ring after the situation had been explained to the onlookers was cheered, and his pluck was appreciated more when it was seen that he still bore the marks of his earlier encounter. He was, however, unable to survive the second round against the wily Hyams, being knocked out.

In the meantime Mr. J. Sharpe, Vaughan’s manager, had been making further inquiries, but was nonplussed. “I just cannot understand it,” he told a reporter.

“Jimmy telephoned me at mid-day that he was ready for the fight and that he would see me at the Stadium Club. Something must have happened to him. Jimmy would never let me down if he could help it.” Vaughan explained the following day why he failed to appear against Hyams. He belongs to a demolition squad of the A.R.P., and, as he was getting ready to go to his professional scene of battle, he had to answer a call in the sacred duty of national defence. He requested a colleague to advise his manager, Mr. Sharpe, of the situation. No contact was made, however, and, until he left duty at midnight, Vaughan was unaware that he had become the central figure in a mystery affair.