BOXING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 13, 29 December 1930, Page 3

BOXING

(By

“Art Noble.)

DOINGS IN SQUARED CIRCLE. MANY NEW YEAR FIXTURES. (By “Art Noble.”) Jan. s—Johnny Leckie v. Tommy Donovan, at Auckland. Jan. 12.—Bobby Blay (Aust.) v. —Johnny Leckie, at Wellington. Jan, 21—Tommy Donovan v. Bobby Blay, at Wellington. New Venue for Captal City. Advice from Wellington is to the effect that the Blay series of bouts will be staged in the Winter Show building, a contract for the erection of a stadium having been let. Just a Line or Two. Alf. Cleverley, N.Z. light-heavy-weight who hiked off to U.S.A, a few weeks ago, has settled down to training under his manager at Long Beach, California. Alf may have had his first contest by the time these lines appear in print. Ted Morgan will leave Westport immediately after his return with Tommy Fairhall. On Tuesday Morgan will step on to a Pacific mailer for the States, where he hopes to make good in the squared circle, and if he places himself in good hands no doubt more will be heard of him. The exGamesman’s displays against N.Z. and Australian welters have suggested he lias the makings. Fans will extend to Morgan wishes for the best. Blay at Last. The Wellington Association has bad its persistency rewarded, and Bobby Blay, who was to have come to New Zealand a couple of months ago, but changed his mind, has at last stated that he definitely will trip this way in the New Year. Blay in the past twelve months has caused a stir in Australian featherweight ranks. Like Edwards ho comes from Melbourne, is a fast snappy puncher, and has been likened to Bert Spargo, the great Melbourne featherweight who, a few years back, had Frenchman Criqui well beaten on points when ho ran into a sleep potion in the 16th round at Sydney Stadium. Crowle, Tommmy Doble, Young Gildo, Bobby Fraser, Young Halliday,' Billy Tyson, in fact every featherweight of note in the Commonwealth with the exception of young Flew Edwards who inct and defeated Blay twice a year ago before Blay had attained his present form, has been outpunched by the youngster who is coming over to the Capital City Association. On paper Blay appears likely to cause more than a little trouble to Leckie and Donovan, but that he will beat them is quite another matter. Blay is reputed to have an almost impenetrable defence of arm and glove. From behind his defences Blay awaits opportunities for sending homo shots that are not lacking in power, and when, after a few rounds the opposition commences to weaken, ho brings into play a vicious attack that in most cases overwhelms. But that these tactics will prevail against two such seasoned campaigners as Leckie and Donovan few will admit. Looking over most of Blay’s opponents one finds they are cither of the up-and-coming class or are slipping. Blay’s best credential is not the men ho has beaten by the complete manner in which ho has accomplished his object. His first contest in New Zealand will be with Johnny Leckie on January 12 and the visitor will know ho has been in a fight. Ten days or a fortnight later he will engage Tommy Done win. Llew Edwards at Auckland. The Northern Boxing Association has snapped up the Edwards Donovan

return, which is expected to take place at the end of January. Llew Las been cabled an offer of £2OO and £4O exes to re-swat the Fireman. Edwards will also fight Leckie at Napier some time in the New Year, a bout that promises far great things than the Edwards-Donovan affair. Gisborne Too! Fights aplenty are in store for Donovan and Leckie. Early in the New Year they meet at Auckland, and now Gisborne is in the field with a proposal to stage the pair in early February. Gisborne has made several efforts to get class men in the ring to revive interest in the East Coasters, but with little success. » • » Rain Spoils a Venture. A bout of which not much was heard was to have been staged in the open air at Waimate (South Island) last Saturday week, but Old Sol was in sulky mood hiding behind a deep veil of moisture’ that reached soakingly to Mother Earth. The project was an ambitious one, tho racecourse being requisitioned and arranged as a stadium. The principals, however, were not of the calibre one would expect to be associated with an open air venture, “Tiger” Thompson, whoever he is, having been matched with Fred Parker, little brother of Ed., one-time of Hastings. The bout was called off. * « * Doble Thrashes Crowle. Staging a return' to his best form, which enabled him to hold Tommy Donovan to two close decisions 12 months ago, Tommy Doble completely outclassed Australian Feather Champion Tom Crowle, a week or two ago. The return to form was as surprising as it was complete, for Doble has been beaten in almost every contest in the past six months. The victory will give much satisfaction to those who came in contact in New Zealand with a very fine little sportsman and a clean fighter. LECKIE AND DONOVAN DRAW A FIGHT FULL OF INTEREST Pelmerston N., Dec. 28. After 15 three-minute rounds the featherweight contest at catch weights between Tommy Donovan (Waitara), featherweight champion and Johnnie Leckie (Napier) resulted in a draw, a decision which met with the approval of a great majority of the spectators. The fight was staged in the Palmerston North Opera House before a large attendance, and although it was full of interest, there was little clean hitting, Donovan being an awkward target and taking every chance of getting in close, where he did best. Leckie outfought his man in the tenth, eleventh and twelfth rounds to lead on points, but Donovan finished aggressively to make up the leeway. Mr. F. O’Neill capably refereed. HAINES COLLAPSES CONDITION VERY LOW lUuiteu Press Association—By CableCopyright.) Sydney, Dec. 28.. At the Sydney Stadium the middleweight championship of Australia changed hands last night when Jack Haines (11.4) collapsed in the twelfth round after a terrific battering by Ambrose Palmer (Victoria) ii.sj. Haines was later admitted to St. Vincent’s Hospital in a dying condition due to the rupture of a blood vessel beneath the skull. An operation was performed early this morning, but his condition is very low; 1 The contest was most sensational. Fourteen thousand persons were present. Palmer was master of the situation throughout. His terrific rips to the body and staggering hooks to Haines’ jaw had the champion hanging on almost every round. Palmer forced the fight from beginning to end, Haines several times unsuccessfully appealing for a foul. , The climax came in the twelfth round, when Haines was down three

times and finally fell on the canvas with a sickening thud. This is the first time he has ever been knocked out. DRAWN FLYWEIGHT BOUT (United Press Association—By C'aole— Copyright.l New Yora, Dec. 27 Midget Wolgast and Frankie Genas i, rival claimants for the flyweight title, fought fifteen rounds, resulting in a draw.