THE SQUARE RING

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 10

THE SQUARE RING

GLOVED GLADIATORS

AUSTRALIAN MIDDLE TITLE,

HOW PALMER TOOK IT. -

Victorian Ambrose Palmer (11.52) won the Australian middleweight chainoionship by a 12'-rou,nd knock-out of Jack Haines (11.4) at Sydney Stadium, on the night of Saturday, December So ended a splendid’ battle, fought in an atmosphere that on'iv 13,000 enthusiasts glaring through the gloom at the two fighters in, a brilliantly-lit ring can give (writes Jack Elliott in the Svdney “Referee.”) It- was a fight. And 13,000 people will prove that statement. The new champion, with his limited variety, matched- his youth, superb condition, and natural pugnacity against the whip-cracking skill and speed of the seasoned Haines, and the hoy won. Haines was a. strong favourite before the contest. In my he had lost the two previous encounters; but before the contest on Saturday night he seemed a different man in the gymnasium, working as a well-oiled machine against the forced efforts of his training grind of the other bouts. He was first in the ring by several minutes, acknowledging the applauds of the crowd with a carefree air, as if lie had the fight already won. A marked difference from his previous entrance ! Palmer grinned his - way into the ring, and the welcome roared as for a victorious army returning home. Haines gathered the points of the first two sessions without drawing a deep breath. He had slugged a hit bnt mostly he had boxed —and Haines is really smart when he is loft to play his own game. But in the third round the boy from Victoria left his corner finished with the finer points of the game, and let loose with his leather. He is a problem. He looks slow, and from outside the ring the speed of his punches would shame a class man should he take them anywhere but on his gloves. But they deceive. They’re faster than they look. A silly winding left swing commences to crash against Haines’s head, and a wandering right cross rested on Haines’s jaw—and it happened again and again. These incidents frayed Haines’s temper. He went in to trade, and was caught napping again, and that sent him back to normal, and his patient plan. Palmer trudged forward with the spirit of a pioneer turning a barren field into wheat.

Dour and bitter were the exchanges. Haines holding himself in check, his gloves snatching points with the venom and speed of a matador “pinking” a bull. A punch or two — and then, a clinch. No work, at least not tiring labour. Palmer fought every round as if it were the last. Everything lie had went into three minutes—but, he had his wits about- him. His defence at times had Haines very puzzled. Up to the sixth Haines kept his lead, and at that not a wide one. Palmer had isomehow got rn-er his over-anxious moments, and was plugging away cool and collected. In the ‘seventh Palmer came .straightout with a one-two left hook to the head and then down to the body, and Bedlam reigned as Haines missed his step, and, flurried, gained a- clinch. Palmer paid dearly. Haines swept in with his eyes blazing, smashing home left hooks, ripping right uppercuts, taking a right or two in his stride, and putting everything he had for the kill. Palmer Avithdrew behind elbows, arms, and gloves, and, like a sensible lad, remained there till the hell. Claret in the eighth. Palmer came out of a collision of heads until a red stream floAving doAvn his face from liis ( left eyebrow, and if ever Haines had golden opportunities to finish, he had them in that round. Palmer seemed half-blind. He groped his Avay hi, to be side-stepped, clipped on the jaiv with a right, and dropped on his knees. The stadium rocked Avith the cheers. The crowd sensed the knock-out. Palmer found the vertical within three seconds, rammed his way into an embrace as a droAvning man clings to a Spar, and for the rest of the round Avas sick with punishment dealt- out by a man snarling Avith eagerness to finish the fight. The Victorian Avas tired. The reason Avas a right to the body Haines had been lashing him Avith since the sixth round. About seven or so blows had landed —but they had found their home'in the most destroying spot—just beneath the heart. Palmer flashed for a few seconds in the ninth, and then Haines took the fight to him. Running before the fire, Palmer countered Avith tAVO left hooks and a right, clean as a ivhistle, to the jaw, but Haines was galloping Avith his pace. In the eleventh, Haines romped away in front and, ivliile not a long way ahead on points, seemed _to be safe in position as “top clog” and champion. Then came a series of incidents. There Avas an anxious murmur in the Haines corner. Haines came out with a curious uncertain step. A left found his body, and he wilted as a rose before a blizzard, and crowded his way into close quarters. The croAvd greiv frantic. Palmer Avith a puzzled look on his face, punched and .punched, and then threw Haines off, and Haines collapsed to the caiwas. He rocked in a sitting position as a drunken man trying to regain liis equilibrium, and rose to his feet at “six.” His legs had gone. Why? That question was on the face of every soul in the Stadium, and Palmer was not an exception. A flurry of punches —none Avith terrific weight behind them —tippled Haines again, and a cannon would not have been audible above the screams of the fans. Palmer still had an uncertain look as if he suspected a trap. Haines climbed up an imaginary ladder halfway through the count, and the Victorian crashed in beleliing punches. He had a baby to- beat, Haines’s legs refused duty, and he fell again more because they buckled beneath him than the sAvings Palmer hit him Avith. It was the end.

The arm of portly Joe Wallis descended ten times with the seconds ticking from the timekeeper’s clock before he crowned the new middleweght cliamipion of Australia.

ll Al NES-PALMF.It FI NAN OF

Twelve thousand and seventeen fans paid £I7OO Os 8d to see the championship battle between Palmer and Haines at the Sydney Stadium. After expenses had been deducted the men drew £419 15s 2d each, for their performance.

CONCERN FOR HAINES

From midnight following the Palm-er-Haines fight telephone inquiries de-

luged the telephone operator at St. Vincent’s .Hospital (Sydney) as to the condition of Jack Haines (reports the “Referee”.) Shoals of reply paid telegrams from all parts of Australia poured into “The Referee” imploring news of the injured boxer. Haines has gained thousands of neivlj-found friends bv his sad mishap—a nation ot sportsmen sympathise with him. Ambrose Palmer and his father ivere among the visitors to Haines in hospital. Jack Haines and Palmer became inseparable pals.

FIGHT EARNINGS

Jack Dempsey is credited Avith haying earned in the ring actually fighting about 2,776,500 dollars; Gene Tunney 1,800,000 dollars, and Bob Fitzsimmons about- 100,600 dollars with all his great battles oi’er about 30 years Figures do not include exhibitions.

SCHMELING WILLING

Interviewed, in Paris last month, world’s heavyweight champion, Max Schmeling, said he was Avilling to fight Mickey Walker, and that the title could be at stake. But. he also mentioned that he would require £82,000 deposited in the bank in the name of Max Schmeling before lie started training.

PEDLAR PALMER’S MISFORTUNE

Formerly a well-knoivn boxer Thomas (“Pedlar”) Palmer, - .55, appeared on remand at Brighton (Eng.), charged with attempting to commit suicide, and ivas bound over to be of good behaviour for six months, .- aimer ivas described on the charge sheet as a commission agent. Palmer arrived jhoine very drunk, and .when his daughter went to the scullery she found him crouching on the floor with his head in the gas oven and the gas turned on. ______