BRITAIN’S BOXERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 December 1928, Page 12

BRITAIN’S BOXERS.

POPULAR IDOLS. STABS OF THE BING. Who are Britain’s most popular boxers 9 in, xny opinion, writes John Fearless in a Home exchange, the Scottish trio, Johnny Hill, Alex Ireland and. Tommy Milligan are stellar attractions north of Gretna Green. Hill is the brightest star because he is our only undefeated champion. . It is rather disappointing that the return match’ between Hill and News boy Brown is unlikely to materialise, because I am convinced that in a second battle Hill would show even more decided superiority. . Brown is a live wire. He is an allaetion fighter. Yet he does not understand real boxing science as Englishmen know it. .

Ireland may not carry unanimous conviction because he cannot unload a destructive punch. Yet he must be given full credit for his ability to frustrate the best laid schemes of opponents who are fancied to beat him. Ireland just notw is a big box-office attraction. If he and- Leu Harvey were to reach an agreement to box in Glasgow or Edinburgh, I am confident that 12,000 spectators would pay admission to see the contest.

Milligan is still an. interesting personality. His defeat at the hands of Frank Moody was a decided shock. At the same time he still has a large! following in the West of Scotland, and Milligan is eager to have another fight. He badly wants a match with Ireland. Sneh a contest would make a powerful appeal to Scottish fight fans because each represents a distinct school and a definite antagonist following. Ireland has- every opportunity of making a lot of money. His success has come rather late in his career. But his victories are a tribute to his ring generalship rather than any method of jaw-smashing blows. Teddy Baldock is one of the most fascinating figures in the South of England, and there is no shadow of doubt about the Poplar idol being Britain’s best bantam. England’s latest champion, Sam Steward, has created a lot of enthusiasm in South London His brilliant victory over the veteran, Ernie Bice, was achieved by brainy boxing. Steward is a peculiar type. He has good sense, works as a metal-worker for his living, and boxes for money more as a side line. FORMER CHAMPIONS’ REGRET. This is a dual livelihood that should be copied with advantage by other boxers. The greater majority concentrate upon boxing, and for the rest idle their time away. The result is that when their careers are finished they are left stranded on life’s thorny path.

Pat O’Keeffe, one otf the cleverest middle-weights that ever won a title, finds it difficult to make ends meet, and an old opponent of his, Jim Sullivan, has gone back to dockside work. Johnny Basham, a: brilliant welterweight champion, is one who cannot find a regular job. Johnny Summers has been buffeted about, and is now an instructor on a boat. These are really tragedies. Ring-heroes when in their zenith, more or less forgotten when their hands have lost their cunning.

A letter from New York conveys the news that Ted (“Kid”) , Lewis and Jack Britton are interested in a vaudeville turn. Neither of them has a bank balance worth talking about, yet Lewis and Britton must have each earned more than £IOO,OOO in the ring.

A close associate of Lewis in his fights in America assures me that the “Kid” must have collected £150,000 during his journeys iu the States. Lewis was a generous spender. I have seen him give away valuable gifts to friends who could never do him any good. He had extraordinary optimism about the future.

Few champions with the prefix of “ex” to itheir names have made provision for the rainy day. Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Jimmy Wilde, Luis Firpo and Phil Scott have realised that money hard-earned should not be expended foolishly. Wilde earned a fortune. Yet Jimmy was hard hit when a famous financier committed suicide.

Wilde is a shrewd man of the world, and I can never imagine him looking forward to a “complimentary” benefit.

Phil Scott is a great drawing card. Unfortunately for England’s heavyweight champion he is compelled to spend liis time in idleness because there are no opponents in Europe good enough to give him a rum for his money.

final for the ITbokies. Keno vowed vengeance on Blank, and the books, and at a subsequent meeting, also l at Ellerslie, we had our revenge. At this meeting Keno was scratch man in the half and mile, and on paper he looked a moral. Keno, worked in the city ,amd the day before the sports at Ellerslie he visited Vulcan. Lane corner, the: rendezvous of the bookies in those days. The visit was made during lunch hour, and Keno was button holed at the corner by two of the principals in Blank’s stunt. In reply to an enquiry as to his chances next day at Ellerslie, he, said: “I’m not starting.” The bo.oks were rather taken aback, and then asked for reasons. Iveno contended he was not fit to run. The 'bookies laughed at this, but he still held out that it was impossible for him to start and, after being hard pressed for reasons, he whispered to them that he had badly strained himself and could not keep his food down, so that it would be folly to further strain himself trying to win. On hearing this the bookies pointed out to him that, as his condition was not generally known, lie would start a hot favourite at Ellerslie next day, and they were prepared to share their takings with him if he would start, ana, of course, get all his friends to back him. After much persuasion, Keno consented to run for half the takings, but still reserved his right to withdraw from the agreement up till eleven o’clock on the morning of the sports. This was agreed to' in case Keno was too, ill to face the starter, but Keno had another reason, as the sequel shows.

They then suggested, taking him to a well-known chemist in Queen Street, who would -mix him some medicine to keep him together for the next day. His case was explained to the chemist, who mixed up the required dope, and Keno. consolidated his ease by taking a dose of the mixture in the shop. That lulled any lurking suspicions they may have entertained. That night Keno unfolded the whole business to; me. He

then set out to see his brother-in-law, ivho in those days was a prosperous horsd trainer at Ellerslie. Keno told his story and asked his brother-in-law to supply finance for next day. This was willingly done and we three in the swim gathered a, good wad. We backed Keno to win the double', half and mile, as well a’s backing him straight out for each race. Keno fished with good bait and we helped Dull in the haul.