Boxing

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 285, 17 November 1923, Page 11

Boxing

Hughie Dwyer, lightweight boxing champion of. Australia, has arrived in London, having cancelled his American engagements owing to a damaged left hand. Dwyer states that when better he will commence graining at ShoeBurness

Filipino Macario Villon is a fighter. In the ring he crouches before his opponent like a tiger ready to spring. His black hair bristles, and his dark eyes are like twin slits of flame. Little wonder that opponents who have faced him have become nervous, a state which has changed to flurry when a hail of vicious blows descended upon them. But Billy Grime bore the “thou shalt not pass” sign on his glove when he met the dark-skinned wild man at Melbourne, and by brilliant boxing and superior ringcraft he kept the Filipino at bay and won victory at the end of 20 rounds. It was a great battle—the hardest. Grime declares, in all his career—and both men were exhausted at the finish. Grime fought half the battle with a damaged paw, and then it was that he had to make great use of his feet, for Villon, tough and vimful, camo at him like a Nemesis, scornful of the whaling he was receiving. Grime, whether pressing or retreating, scored heavily, but at the finish Villon was the stronger of the two. Grime’s points victory was clear cut, however Villon’s defeat was the first he had received in Australia.

As Jack Dempsey toddled back to his corner after that cyclonic first round with Luis of the Argentine, Jack Kearns, his manager, whirled upon Jerry Luvadis, the trainer, and emitted a roar above the tumult of the hysterical crowd; “Smelling salts!—smelling salts!” “Me no got!—no got!” howled Luvadis. otherwise known as Jerry the Greek. Kearns, maddened through the seeming carelessness of Jerry in not having smelling salts handy swung a mighty punch which caught the trainer on the cheek and nearlv knocked him into the left field bleachers. Arter the second round began, Kearns discovered that the bottle had been in his own shirt pocket all the time

Though deploring the intrusion of the female prize-fighter, a well-known writer is of the opinion that woman, lovely woman, would make an ideal second in the ring. “She has the nursing instinct more highly developed and an infinitely lighter touch than the male of. the species.” Just so? But can you imagine the agony of a defeated pugilist who had failed to carry out his wife’s instructions w a ring. ‘ Hell could have no fury like a female “second” scorned.

The bantam-weight boxing championship of Australia was not at stake when at Adelaide Jimmy Semmens mot Johnny Gray, of Sydney, for Gray was unable to make the weight. So the spectators were rather disappointed, and further cause for regret was that the bout lasted for only a round and a-half. Semmens winding his rival, and then connecting with his right on the jaw. a procedure which caused the Sydneysider to lose anv further interest in the fray. However, in the brief period for which the fight was on some idea was pained of the fast and clever work of the champion. who was against an opponent who would never be nick-named Quicksilver.

The bantam-weight boxing championship of Australia was not at stake when at Adelaide Jimmy Semmens met' Johnny Gray, of Sydney, for Gray was unable to ade the weight. So the spectators were rather disappointed, and further cause for regret was that the bout lasted for only a round and a-half, Semmens winding his rival, and then connecting with his right on the jaw, a procedure which caused the Sydneysider to lose any further interest in the fray. However, in the brief period for which the fight was on some idea was gained of the fast and clever work of the champion, who was against an opponent who would never be nicknamed Quicksilver.

Billy Wells, of Bermondsey, last week saw his chances of annexing the world’s welter-weight title from Mickey Walker fade into the distance. Dave Shade was his rival as an accepted challenger to Walker, and the news comes that Shade, at Madison Square Garden, New York, on Friday, got a judge’s verdict over Wells after fifteen rounds.

Billy Wells, of Bermondsey, last week saw his chances of annexing .the world’s welter-weight title from Mickey Walker fade into the distance. Dave Shade was liis rival as an accepted challenger to Walker, and the news comes that Shade, at Madison Square Garden, New York, on Friday, got a judge’s verdict over Wells after fifteen rounds.

Tommy Fairhall Jas gone back to Australia- He will not fight again for two months. During the four months that he was in New Zealand Fairhall tied up seven opponents, but the pace told on him, and in his second fight with Eugene Volaire he received an injury to the jaw. Fairhall’s record in New Zealand could not have been much better. He decisively defeated faul Hannah, knocked out Freddy Smith in. three rounds, gained a decision over Jack Finney after four rounds, and over Clarrie Blackburn after 12 rounds, and won on points in 15 rounds from Les Murray, and Eugene Volaire (twice). Four of his fights were in the North Island, and of the three that took place in the South Island, two were at Greymouth, and one was at Timaru. That shows where the live associations are.

Three weeks ago. Jack Dunstan, who in the war served on H.M.A.S. Australia, and who was boxing champion of the Grand Fleet, received one of the most remarkable ovations ever given at the Melbourne Stadium to a successful boxer. This was when he punched Jim Roland Dwyer, ex-Austra-lian heavy-weight champion, to defeat, although Dwyer was the heavier by nearly three stone. Last week, Dunstan was carried from the ring at the end of 18 rounds, boxed with Max Gornik. a hard-hitting European, and he died in hospital after an operation for concussion. Dunstan took a great deal of punishment from Gornik, who, besides being a boxer, is a wrestler of note and; a professional strong man. and early in the fatal round he was very groggy- When Gornik delivered the knock-out blow on the point Dunstan fell heavily, his head striking the floor with considerable force. The contest was fair and clean, and fought in a sportsmanlike spirit.