BOXING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 June 1927, Page 13

BOXING

WELLINGTON ATTRACTIONS.

MCDONALD V CASEY. The programme of fistic attractions ,to be ararnged by the Wellington Boxing Association during the season was under discussion at a meeting of the executive held last week. "With the departure of Purdy, Trowern, and Jamito the lightweight class contains very few exponents. To compensate for this there has been a revival of interest in the featherweights, and the matching committee reported that it had made attempts to match four of the best- exponents in that class in ten-round contests in June, but on account of other immediate engagements this had not been possible. Attention was subsequently turned to the heavier classes, and- as a result of negotiations a match between McDonald, the holder of the middleweight title, and Harry Casey had been arranged for 'the championship, to be held on June 20. The committee confirmed this ar-

rangement. Both Casey and McDonald will be making their first appear- **■ ance before a Wellington audience. The pair have already met three times. Each has won a decision on points, and McDonald has also won on a foul. They were to have crossed gloves again at Christchurch yesterday (June 3), but owing to the ball having been booked for that date the scrap was postponed. The committee decided to promote the amateui championships on July. 18 and 19. It was decided to send a special amateur team to compete at Blenheim on June 25, and a "Wellington amateur team will probably _be seen in action in Christchurch during June or early in July. DOMINION ' CHAMPIONSHIPS. The Southland Association, which held four professional contests, a novice tournament, and a championship touxnev, finished up the 1926-2/ season with a credit balance of £4O. Of the four professional contests two resulted in a loss. The New Zealand championships are to be held at Invercargill on August 17, 18, and 19. NAPIER INNOVATIONS. The Napier Association hopped off with something new again. This time they allowed schoolboys to witness tlie lioxing for the quite reasonable charge of Is to the stalls. This should appeal to fathers who have several boys clamouring to see tlie bouts. Let us hope the association’s action received the appreciation it deserved. There is a suggestion afoot, that- as soon as suitable premises can be found at a reasonable price, the Napier Association may institute a weekly amateui tourney. The idea is a really good one, and, if carried out, will, boost the amateur game in that district. Boys would he prepared to take on contests for a reasonable trophy, with the sure knowledge that they were set for a contest at least once a fortnight. DWYER DECLINES. Hughi© Dwyer has replied to the offer sent by the Napier Association. He thanks the! association for the offer, ‘but has no intention of making the journey. Dwyer does not anticipate staying long in the game. He expects to re-enter business towards tlie end of. the year. Dwyer was to have met Eddie Butcher for his title in Brisbane, but so far no report has come to hand. This is nothing new for Brisbane, as we have previously had to wait for information from that quarter. TELLING FIGURES. Here’s a very interesting in connection with boxing control in New Zealand. When the council of the New eZaland Boxing Association, after functioning for 20 years in Christchurch, was removed to Wellington, there was a credit balance of £lO. Now, after three years in Wellington, the credit balance is about £IOOO, and some £6OO lias been spent in furthering the progress of amateur boxing in New Zealand. —Christchurch “Sun. BELOW THE BELT. In a boxing contest in London on March 25, a'" competitor who was getting a good pasting deliberately stepped back from his opponent and kicked him with great force in the lower part of the body. The ring was immediately rushed by infuriated spectators, and the culprit was only havecl from a severe mauling by the intervention of other spectators. RECENT AUSSIE BOUTS. Leiehardt, Tuesday, May 10. —Tommy Kelly beat Jimmy Kelly, 12 rounds. Sydney. Wednesday, May 11.—-Nor-man Radford outpointed Jack Roberts 15 rounds; Jack Emmerton kxi.’d Ted Woods, 5 rounds. . Leiehardt, Friday, May 13.—Archie Cowan outpointed Stan Thurbon, 15 rounds. Sydnev, Saturday, May 14 —“Tiger Payne k.o.’d Charlie Cong, 3 rounds. Brisbane, Saturday, 'Alay 34* Bddic Butcher outpointed Billy Richards, 15 rounsd. Melbourne, Saturday, May 14. Billy Edwards beat Mike Yokel, two fals to one Newcastle, Saturday, May 14. vie White outpointed Rov Baker, 20 rounds. FIFTEEN SUCCESSIVE WINS.

In defeating the Newcastle hoxor Jack Roberts at Sydney on May 11, the English featherweight Norman Radford notched his fifteenth successive win in Australia. Commenting upon the encounter, the “Sydney I’eferee” says that Roberts, knoun in Newcastle as the K.O. .King, was jnakinc his first appearance in Sydney. He was specially selected hv M John Munro as the one lad to stay the winning march of the all-conquering |'' n g _ lish featherweight. But, alas. Roberts, like all other local men, feU to the superior speed andqseience of Radford,'' who ran out the winner m n wide margin. , ~, In the early rounds tile Newcastle boxer landed good and hard with the richt, reputedly a killer, but its eficet on” Radford merely made that youngster spurt, ancl piv both hands freely to the head and body of Roberts. Though beating bis mail at ever) turn, it was a comparatively sluggish Radford the audience saw. Radford’s first light, in Australia was ao-ainst Pat Boy ton, to whom he lost on points in 15 rounds oil October -o. It will he seen that 01) May U he had not been lighting in Australia seven months. Yet he had figured m 16 fights for 15 wins. He must be leeliiirr the strain. , It is likely that Radtord will return to England for a spe\\ and endeavour to win the featherweight title of Great Britain. But he lilies Australia so well that he may return, possibly at the head of an English troupe.

BILLY GRIME’S DEFEAT.

Billy Grime was beaten on points in Los Angeles on May 11 by Doe Snell, a, Tacoma chemist, who mixes in pugilism. Snell is a lightweight, and caught Grime a little below his best in condition and form.

It is described as one of the greatest and most interesting contests witnessed at the Olympic Auditorium at Los Angeles (says the Sydney “Referee”. Snell won' with a terrific twohanded attack. He had Grime on the canvas four times during the first three rounds. But Grime made such a splendid recovery that it was open to question whether he did not actually deserve to win the decision. i Grime won many followers in his effort. Snell rushed from the bell, in his usual dynamic manner, and dropped him with -a right to the. chin. Grime bounced to his feet without taking the count. In the second round Snell again twice knocked Grime down, the report stating that he was saved by the bell. The fourth knock down was in the third round. After that Grime’s work was sensational. In the fourth round honours were even. Grime gave more than he received during the next three rounds stli, 6th, and 7th—which he won by a narrow margin. The eighth was even, but the American, who had been missing much, finished strongly, taking _ the ninth and tenth by a slight margin.

WON THE LAST SIX. In an interview with the A.P.A., Billy Grime said in Snell he met a rugged Iglitweight on his first American appearance. While he had lost on the referee’s decision, Grime maintained that every ringside critic agreed that a draw would have been a fair verdict. “I took every session,” said Grime, “after the fourth. I am ready to meet any featherweight to defend my claim as world’s champion. . • “While I have several bouts as immediate prospects, 1 desire in the meantime to become thoroughly acclimatised before the next contest. It was condition that hampered me in the Snell bout.” Grime is no boaster, and his stater ment that lie won the last six rounds may be accepted as sound. It must be remembered that Grime is a featherweight, and this Snell gentleman is a lightweight. In a strange country, with conditions, especially climatic, so different, and. without time to get used to the change (certainly not long enough to work up to concert pitch), Grime did; remarkably well. Grime arrived at Los Angeles on April 15, and, as his contest took place on IMlay 11, one caiv easily imagine that he lacked condition. It might- be argued that, as lie fought strongly after being knocked down, he might have been in good shape- after -all. But those who are. aware of his wondei-ful pluck will know that it was determination that.enabled him to fight so hard and well. It was on all fours with his first fight with Bert Sprago, when, taking on the bout at short notice, and out of condition, he was stopped. Bat Spargo always occupied second place WHIRLWIND PETROLLE. Pet-rolle, the American whirlwind boxer, who- knocked out Les Murray some time back, -ha.s been matched to meet the present champion, Sammy Man dell, for the world’s- title, and is picked it© win by the knock-out route. Mandell won the- title front Rocky Kansas last July, and in spite- of a vast knowledge of ring-craft is reported to be 'the world’s Worst-puncher. Compared with past world’s; champions, Mandell is considered the poorest fighter lor a title-holder ever seen since Goodrich stepped into- the title. STAGE’S COME BACK. George Stace, who went under on points to Loveridge at- New Plymouth, -about- .two years back, and later went into retirement in Australia, lias laigain -sought the limelight of the ring, and since his “come-back’.’ has defeated three opponents in great style. FAULTS DELIVERY OF PUNCHES.

Boxing style has changed greatly since the introduction of so-called infighting (writes Frank Brown in the “Sporting Globe,” Melbourne).. Today you will find many boxers edging in, swinging with both hands, instead of standing up and punching straight. The old stvle of footwork is rarely seen, while ’the correct left jab is conspicuous by its absence. Judging by the styles displayed by many contenders in the Melbourne tourneys, anil by the type of contests put up by many preliminary fighters; as well as some top-liners, it seems to me that some of the fundaental principles of boxing are in danger of being forgotten. A boxer should be well balanced on his feet, carrying the elbows close to the sides. He should keep his gloves up. In this position he can defend or punch, retreat or advance. At the same time there should be no tenseness in his muscles, for tense muscles mean reduced speed, quick fatigue, and less punching power. The power of a blow depends on rhythm, speed, and timing. For instance, a right hand punch is in some degree like a golf swing. The weight is transferred from the right to the left foot at precisely the proper moment. Although the punch mgy be a short one. there must be a co-ordination from the toes upwards. In a left hook the weight should he on the opposite foot, the right, at the moment of impact. The biggest faults I find among modern boxers is bad body balance and incorrect stance. • Occasionallv one finds a genius get away with it, and 1 name Billy Grime as an example. Grime’s legs are too far apart for speedy movement forward or backward, but ho can get rhere just the same when he needs to. Fie depends a great deal on a flexible, swaying body, which lie can carry far back and out of reach of a punch. The extraordinary tiling about min is that he can get himself into an awkward position, and yet punch fast and hard from, that position. But not one man in a hundred can do this, therefore it is better for the average man to stick to the orthodox methods Another big fault I find is in the manlier in which the hand is held when a punch is delivered. Time after time you will see boys landing with the thumb, the palm or the first knuc-lile. No wonder hands are broken and jarred, and no wonder there are not more knockouts.. T have asked George White, a former pupil of .Tack Murray’s school, to illustrate one or two points. t have always approved of the Murray methods of training, possibly because they have the same basis as the methods approved by my old instructor of 20 odd years ago, the late Jack M‘Go-wan.

Tn one picture White illustrates the proper position of the right hand when an uppercut is delivered. The palm is in, and the knuckles are turned outward?, #o that tba? can take the

impact squarely. In another picture r. left hook is illustrated. The weight is on the right leg; the knuckles have been, turned over so that they will meet the chin.

There are two pic.iuiua ui tuv. stance, the right and the wrong way. In wrong way the toes are turned in and the weight is on the front leg. Imagine how a boxer would be thrown off balance if he led with the left and missed while in this position. Try it for yourself and see. Yet there arc more boxers adopting this stance to-day than there are who adopt the stance where the left toe points alwhys to the opponent. Perhaps these faults are developed by looking at pictures of Jack Dempsey, who, like Grime, is another boxingfreak.

“TIME WORKS WONDERS.” The. social background of pugilism has advanced in the last decade (says the “New York Tribune.”). It is a long way from the Mississippi ground, where Sullivan and Kilirain fought their grim Ibalttle, to the brigbtilylightcd stage of the new Madison Square Garden, in New York City, u'heire polite- young men deli eatery box ten rounds'. In the ancient days men went surreptitiously to see giants rush upon each other. Now they boast of getting seats for twenty-two dollars each. So recently as 1867. when ‘‘Pompadour Jim” (W . W . Corbett) yielded bis crown to “Ruby Robert (R. Fitzsimmons) there was a great to-do when a- woman appeared 'among the spectators at Carson City. Now the sex that once was given to salts and swooning watches with cold eyes as the “Oanarsic Kid” drives Iris straight left juto the. battered face of the “Bayonne Bull.” She sits beside her Nero and turns down her thumb as the gladiator reels to the ropes. Manners have changed in the ring, where the. well-disciplined; 'antagonists obey the lightest word of uniformed referee. But all is not so well in the audience. There still remain, we regret to sav, vestiges of old barbarism. The i-o In lid “sporting man” is as- boisterous over bis favourite as ho was attire tumultuous encounters of old. He shouts enoonrageinent, hurls # cpithet», showers information upon bis neighbours, and too often exhibits -signs ot having spent earlier hours in his cups. He is a character out- of place in. the new atmosphere of tile prize ring. What is to he done about him? Educate him. of course; that is the cure prescribed nowadays for every sort of pest. Mr Rickard, might -start a correspondence .school for old-fashioned ■spectators who still live, under the delusion that, pugilism is a. rough .spectacle for still rougher men. Unless reform comes a contender . for heavyweight honours will faint in the ring -some night, overcome by his surrounding^,.