THE SQUARE RING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 June 1928, Page 13

THE SQUARE RING

BOXERS IN THE LIMELIGHT.

TOPICS OF THE DAY. DUTCHMAN SEEKING MATCHES. Ted Zegwaard, a Dutch light-heavy-weight, who is at present visiting Dunedin, is eager for contests in New Zealand’ and specially names Jim Broadtoot and Harry Casey. Zegwaard has a good opinion of Purdy, but reckons he would be well advised to go to England, where his style of boxing would be bound to please the crowd. Zegwaard says that boxing was banned' by t-he police in Amsterdam, and he understood that boxing at the Olympic Games would not be open to the general .public, but only to those connected with the Olympic movement. I PARTNER. TO SIKI.

According to his record-book, the Dutch light-heavyweight who is seening mate-lies in New Zealand, has • two decisions over Louis Clemens, of Switzerland, who,. at the time Zegwaard defeated him, was light-heavy-weight champion of Europe. For a while Zegwaard was sparring partner to Battling Siki, and. in America fought a draw with Soldier .Tones, the Canadian light-heavyweight champion. He is 24 years of age, and in 1920 was third in the Olympic flyweight championship series, which was won by Franke Genaro, the present flyweight champion of the world. Zegwaard held the middleweight championship of Holland for three or four years, and during the past couple of years has- engaged in contests in various parts of Australia with a fair amount of success. OPPONENT FOR. GRIFFITHS.

Tommy Barber, the Australian featherweight, is expected to reach Dunedin next week, and it is -likely that his first opponent will 'be Toinmy Griifiths, who last week deieated Hector Lecivie on points over 15 rounds. Later he will meet Johnny Leclde, and there is some talk of a return bout between Leckie and Barber at V\ ellington. „ JOHNNIE LEOKIE WANTED.

“They are ail talking about Johnnie Decide and they want -to see him in Australia,” was the comment of Jimmie McEwen, the feather-weight boxer, who returned front Sydney recently, says tiie “Auckland Star.” The latter belonged to Wellington, and two and a hah years ago he set out to try his fortune among the fraternity in Australia. At first he had to be content with four-round engagements in Sydney, and then he gradually worked up through the endurance test until lie was considered worth while at 15 rounds. McEwen’s best triumph came when he was matched against Harry Drury for a first-rank engagement at the Sydney Stadium. It- was on a Friday night, the time for the best fights over there. The New Zealander got the verdict in the eleventh round on a. foul. The pair afterwards met at Broken Hill on two occasions, the first going to McEwen on points and the second being in favour of Drury on points. Alter a month or two of the quiet life in New Zealand McEwen hopes to figure as one of the principals in a contest over here.

CLIMATIC DIFFERENCES. To ensure that boxers who are to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games should not have weight reducing difficulties, the novel plan of holding trials in which the weights were lowered by two pounds from the standards ,w ; as adopted. The trials were to have been held on April 21, at Johannesbury, and the winners were to form the Olympic team. It is a proved fact that a boxer who can “make” say 8 (stone, in South Africa has difficulty m doing so in Europe. So the difference iu climates liad to he allowed for.

WAITING FOR SOMETHING GOOD

Both the Hawke’s Bay and Napier Associations have decided to make their next outings only when something good tarns up, states an exchange. Quite a number of the public admit the decision is the right one, and although there may ho some delay in staging a bout, the result will recompense everyone. Too many hard knocks are likely to kill the game lor good, and these two associations have had more than their &haie MURTON AND RADFORD.

llughie Dwyer, who is acting for Napier, writes that Wellington's Sydney agent informed him that Murton was under engagement to Wellington, writes “Straight Left’’ in the “Hawke’s Bay Herald.” Now,we hear that Radtoril is expected. It may interest readers to know that when the Murton information was tendered, the Napier Association then had in its possession a cable .from Murton saying he was under engagement to Sydney Stadium. In the case of Radford. Napier previously held correspondence from Radford" stating his intention to come to Napier if suitable arrangements could, be made. Dwyer was asked to interview Radford "just after be arrived, and before lie mot Barber, reminding him of his promise to Napier, and offering him a contract. It seems at least strange that such information should be tendered; more so when there seems to have been no foundation for it. It looks like bluff, with the idea of .freezing Napier out. SIMILARITY IN NAMES.

A few days ago a group of boxing enthusiasts in Wellington came to the conclusion that there were a singularly large number of boxers with names ending in “ey,” “ie,” and “ee,” and a list was compiled. Among tljp names mentioned were Gene Tunney, Tom Heeney, George Godfrey, Jack Sharkey, jack Delaney. Jimmy Slattery, George Manley, George Courtney, Joe Dundee, Jackie Bradey, Charlie 1 urdev, Joluinv Reekie, Johnny Guriev, Ce'n Harvey.' Ail are prominent boxers.