BOXING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 7 January 1928, Page 11

BOXING

THE SCOTT FIASCO

BLOW TO BRITISH PIUJDE

LONDON, Nov. 11

i Intense humiliation is being experienceU in British sporting circles owing to tn© sniasiiing defeat in jNew YorJi oi : Lnil Scott, tlio English heavy-weight ciuunpion, who was beaten in one rounu by Knute Hansen, the Dane, described as. a “second-rater.”

Scott was floored six times in two minutes, and the crowd of Id,(XM) jeered and booed his performance, which was one of the worst fiasooes in British boxing annals. It is claimed that the blow which put Scott horizontal for the full count was low. From all accounts it was, but Scott had been floored three times before that, and had shaped so much like a bemused novice that it is not probable he would have lasted the round even if he had not been floored a fifth and sixth time.

It seems incredible (says “Sporting Life”) that Scott should 1 make such a pitiably feeble show —and' that against a man of no particular account, judged by any standard—though the brief story of it reminds one of the contest at Holland Park between Scott . and Harry Persson, the Swedish giant. In that bout Scott, when having liis man to all appearances well beaten, curled up in his shell after receiving a punch in return, and was ultimately knocked out.

Without going so far as to accuse Scott of want of courage, on© must say that lie does not like being hurt. He becomes cautious in the extreme, and as his defence is none of the best, he becomes a prey to the strong puncher with a stout heart. TOM HEENEY.

Form works out curiously. At Home Scott twice beat Tom Heeney, the New Zealand champion, and would! probably * have kept on beating him had 1 the two remained hero —simply because Heeney, though he bad the stout heart, had not the strong punch. Thei same remark applies to George Cook, whom Scott also beat in each of their contests here; yet Cook gave two boxing lessons to Paolino, who gave Scott the unhappiest day of his young life at Bilbao two years ago. Now Heeney and- Paolino are two of. the “noises'"’' iii Tex Rickard’s series of heavy-weight elimination contests to bring out the best man for Gene 'Punney to tackle in the next world’s championship fight. George Cook is said to have been nominated- by bis American manager for inclusion in the scheme, and if he does take- part he will at least give customers a show for their money. It is quite certain now that no British heavy-weigth can hope for a chance in America, for a long time to come., and that there need' be no more talk of a world’s championsilip in London next year, with Scott- as one- of the principals. At the best, it was only a dream. BRAINS ESSENTIAL. . “The result ot the Scott-Hansen fio-ht will have a very bad effect, on British boxing,” said Mr. Eugene Corri, the. famous referee, in an interview. , “With the exception of Dan Shortlands, of Sheffield, who is only 17, we have nobody who shapes like a worlds champion heavy-weight. And if he is not .handled carefully ho will be spoiled through our system of boxing 20 three-minute rounds. “Contests should be. of six or ten rounds at most. That is the basis on which boxing in America is conducted. It makes for speed, and the Americans go all out from, the start, whereas- our men are in the habit- of reserving themselves. _ “Of course, brains are essential to the successful boxer, and the Americans have an advantage- over us in that respect, for their men scorn to I)C' better educated —Tunney, for example, is very well educated. Then again, they get much more fighting than our box“We have some, very good amateur heavy-weights, and I am inclined to think Lieutenant Capper is the best m the country to-day. I still believe we posisess the* right material if only it could he found and' encouraged to take up boxing. As it is. they play Rugby football.”