THE SQUARE RING

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 3 January 1931, Page 11

T HE SQUARE RING

CLOVED GLADIATORS

CALL TO NEW ZEALAND,

AT'STRA LI A PERTURBED

The possibility ot a slump m * «■ Dalian boxing by reason ol tk tact that all the leading exponent* ot th fistic art are being attracted to - N ' t those who manage the spoit on t■ side of the Tasman ("ntes Th Post’s” Svdney correspondent). • possible a'brake will be put -on the operations! of the representatives < of various New Zealand Associations wno, it is said have had a, free run ill the mast. It is complained that Australia has been doing all the giving and has received nothing in return. The manager of Sydney Stadiums, Ltd. (Mr Griffiths) said recently that he' f'ullv realised that the time had arrived to curb the New Zealand agents in some way. “In the past,” he said “wo have permitted agents to entm the Kltadium. have the run of the dressing rooms to interview >■>, •ind we have treated tliern splendidly Our fighters have been engaged and sent awav at a time we did not wish to lose- them —often when they were at their prime. The publicity which thei Stadium receives m New Zealand 1 no use to us. The fetadium certiomlj receives publicity, 'hub all ot it m New “To my way ol thinking tins is the wroii" way to go about things. I am prepared to assist New Zealand associations, hut I tlunk I 'should have some say as far as the boxers under our banner arei concerned, as to the nature or the contracts. More than that, 1 think that commissions should be paid on all engagements into the coffers of my company.” . Mr IP. McHugh, manager of the Leichhardt Stadium, agreed that it was time the Australian authorities took a decided stand and prevent the poaching of the New Zealand associations. ‘‘l have my plans for matches,” lie said, “and L am not going to have them upset by any one. 1 won't have anyone hutting in and spoiling my matches by sending away the best fighters. Liven now 1 am working to prevent a certain move which ha's for its object, the departure for New Zealand of one of my star men.’

Of course it will be impossible for promoters here to prevent the agents from interviewing boxers and their managers, but it is, probable that the contracts will be so worded as to prevent the men from securing local fights without a guarantee that they will not leave for New Zealand without permission.

FAIRHALL MAY SETTLE.

There! fis every (possibility! of (the Australian welterweight champion, Tommy Fairhall. settling down in Wellington and starting a gymnasium there. Negotiations to this end are now in progress, and it is to be hoped that they will be successful, for Fairha'll would be an acquisition to the game here (states “Aeneas” in the Wellington “Post-”) JOHNSON STILL IN IT.

Jack Johnson, ex-heavyweight- champion. 52 years old. is still in the fight game. Ne trained Tuffy Griffiths at Chicago for a fight with Young Bill Stribling, a fight which the coloured man’s protege lost.

CHANGE FROM OUT-DOOR

The Wellington Boxing Association realising the great interest that the appearance of the American boxers within the next, few months will create, lias made arrangements to stage its bouts in the Winter Show Building, where there is much more accommodation than in the Town Hall. After one experience if is not considered likely that the association will again stage outdoor contests, the heavy amount of organising work being the bar.

BAN DI A S AN l> O’M A 1 .LE Y

The wisdom of the management in staging a return bout between Leo. Bamlias (12.8), of Melbourne, and Jack O’Malley <12.8), of Sydney, resulted in a record attendance and a heavyweight contest the like of which has not been seen in Melbourne for the past 20 years (says an exchange). The local lad ,who has in all his previous contests made good use of the arena, did not use thes» tactics so much on Saturday. with the result that there was more fighting than running. O’Malley took many risks so as to carry the fight to Bamlias, and during the last three rounds appeared to Ibe on top. The referee, however, decided that a “draw” would meet the occasion, a dee is kin which met. with all-round approval. I t was a stirring contest, with both fighters at times' standing toe to toe and swapping punches like bantams.

HANCOCK (LIMBS UP AND WINS

Wally Hancock .(10. of) won ;i points victory over “Young” Sam Langford (10.9), of America, after 15 more or less good, rounds at Leichhardt Stadium (N.S.W.) on December I!).

Langford is a. young negro with a weighty punch. without science or direction, and an inclination to imitate Ithc antics of a playful kitten (writes Jack Elliott in the Sydney “Referee”). He glared at Hancock when the fight opened, and gave the impression that lie could finish the battle just when lie wanted. He tipped Hancock over with a. long left hook in the second round, and then gave a, demonstration. gf how a. cat plays with a mouse. But he played too. long, and the mouse was a, better fighter than the cat.

Hancock is cursed with one of the finest inferiority complexes in the world. The punch that floored him the second round had less to do with the knock-down than his own nervousness. However. lie climbed up and fought on. and at the end. was away ahead in front. Had Langford fought instead of playing to the “gallory” the fight might- have ended in the first ; and if Hancock had taken himself in hand, lie would have laboured the negro with enough left hooks to win inside six rounds.

Rats CViteller is matched with Wallv Hancock oarlv in Januarv at Leichhardt Stadium. 'Winner meets Jack Carroll for Australian welter title, now if is reported that Tommy Fairhall is staying in New Zealand.

GILL ES'PIF-’ 8 PROGRAM [ME

Norman Gillespie. back from New Zealand, will light- Kid Lee. of U.S.A.. at Leichhardt Stadium (N.S.W.), on January 9. and then accept challenges from logical contenders for his lightweight title.

ULTIMATUM TO SCUM FLING

The New York State Foxing Commission recently cabled the w<U heavyweight champion. Max Schnielm a warning that his six months’ period of grace lias expired and he must accept Jack Sharkey’s challenge lor a title tight within Jo days. Nobody is sure wliat Schmehiig will do about Sharkey’s challenge. \V hat- 1 ever he does, Sharkey is down to meet “You ii<>'” Bill Striblmg at Chicago i early ni. 1931. Strihling has been 1 offered £ 100,000 for Ins end ot the purse by a gambler.

BATTLES IN EUROPE.

Lilly Frv. 04-years-uld, retained his title of welter champion of Wales at Pontvpridd (Wales) last month. Joimuv Cuthibert- again forced a draw in defence of his British featherweight championship and “Lord Lonsdale'” Belt at Liverpool in November Ncl Tarleton was the challenger. Al. Brown, bantam champion of the world, is a coloured lad just over bit. in height, and he makes Sst. bib "with ease And. he can punch, and take it. He whipped the French featherweight champion last month in Paris.

WHY SHOULD HE FIGHT?

It seems that till Jack Dempsey reaches the age of grey hair, discussions will be carried on whether he u ill make the promoters’ hearts glad amt stage a come-back. Jack still retains that tremendous driving energy that makes him a, restless creature. He weighs, about lost. Sib. isn’t fat, is bursting with rude health and condition, and enjoys: his life more than lie ever did when he was training. . dust now he is busy with Ins hotel at Ensenada, California, and this is wliat Jus says ol Jit©: “I like it down there below the ALcx•oan line. No formality—wear your old clothes if you want to. Fine ocean fishing and unlimited! hunting. Any time you can’t find me at mv home at Hollywood, you’ll find me down here. Say, I’ve got the finest pack of hunting dogs, and I can roll out any morning and shoot ducks, quail, deer or mountain lions—or gather my rod and go after tuna. “Fight! Why should 1. want to fight again P”

DEMPSEY CURED LEWIS

A few vears ago “Strangler Lewis thought that he‘would enter the boxing racket, as lie figured that lie could make more money in that game than fie could in the wrestling business He could box fairly well and lie had some big ideas until one day he put mi the gloves with Jack Dempsey in the gymnasium. That cured Lewis. Dempsey just slapped him a couple of punches and came near breaking Lewis’, neck. Lewis then decided on wrestling.