IN THE RING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 105, 15 April 1933, Page 2

IN THE RING

PROFESSIONAL BOXING TITLES TWO AT STAKE THIS MONTH. OXLEY TO MEET HUGHES. (By “Bingsider.”) Witbin the next few weeks two New Zealand title holders, Alan Campbell and Archie Hughes, will be called upon to defend their holdings. Both bouts are likely to attract much interest and should give relief to the long spell of idleness which is attributed to the lack of suitable boxers.

The Campbell-Nicol fight for the former’s heavyweight titlo has been “in the air” for a long time past, but the latest official news is that they will meet under the auspices of the Southland B.A. on May Day. The aspirant for Hughes’s lightweight crown is Ted Oxley, of Pahiatua, who will como under the care of the Wellington body. The pair have met twice already and although Oxley has taken the small cud of the purse on both occasions, there has been very little between them so far as ring work went. The second bout at Palmerston North towards the close of last year aroused a storm of protest over the decision in favour of Hughes. At the present time Oxley is the logical contender for the crown. Left in the Lurch. A fight that had been boomed for some weeks in the south, that between Ray Nicol and Billy Sullivan, “flopped” badly on Friday night, states tho “Referee.” It was not because the two contestants failed in any way; no, it was owing to the sad fact that the fistic .fans of Ohai, in Southland, forgot all about the proceedings, and when the gladiators turned up they found the proverbial man and a dog assembled. There was no alternative but to call tho proceedings off. According to the announcement made it was decided to postpone the fight until a later date, but that is taking an optimistic view of the prospects. A General Mix-Up. , As a result of a misunderstanding between the promoters, boxers, and managers, four boxers turned up atBelle Vue, Manchester, recently, for the contest between Douglas Parker and Dorn Volante. Parker had an attack of “flu” a day or two before, and it seemed that he would have to cancel his fight, and the Belle Vue management wired for Johnny McMillan to act as deputy. Meanwhile, Volante’s manager had been unable to get in touch with his man, and took a substitute to Belle Vue—Phineas John, the Welshman. Parker, however, found himself fit enough to box, and Volante also turned up. The original pair thus took the ring.

Among the Wrestlers. The prospects for the 1933 wrestling season are very bright just at present as far as the quality of the wrestlers is concerned and if the plans and hopes of the Union materialise the sport will be in a much stronger position than it was last year. , . This season New Zealanders will have the opportunity of seeing matmen from the Atlantic coast schools of U.S.A, and the overseas promoter has guaranteed a team of real “crowdpleasers.” In addition to the team mentioned last week as arriving on the Maunganui on May 2, others to arrive later include Hardy Kruskamp, Nich Laditze and Dan Koloff. There is also a possibility of obtaining the services of Gus Sonnenberg or Henri de Clane who with “Strangler” Lewis and Jim Londos claim the world’s championship title. The Hawke’s Bay Wrestling Association gets into trim for the coming season next Thursday when the annual general meeting of members will be held. The “big noise” in wrestling across the Tasman is Tom Lurich, “the Russian Lion,” as he was billed when he appeared in Hastings three i years ago. A series of elimination i bouts arc being staged to decide the i logical challenger to Lurich and last • Saturday there was “a rough house” when Walter Browning and Bonnie • Muir met. The former proceeded to 1 jump on Muir when the latter was out ■ of the ring. The referee gave the de- ’ cision to Muir, and then was obliged ! to administer a “K. 0. to Browning I for disputing the decision. This evening George Pencheff, who appeared in Hastings a couple of sea- ’ sons ago, meets King Elliott, another 5 familiar inatman to local enthusiasts, , in a further elimination njatch at the > Leichardt Stadium. | The failure of Pat McHugh at West r Melbourne Stadium is credited by ono i Sydney scribe to the very lavish guarantees with which McHugh ob- , tained his fighters, and lack of adver- ■ tising. Diek Lean, who is a big wrest- > ling enthusiast, may reopen the stad- " ium and import a team of grapplers from America to cross lances with Lurich, Muir, Elliott and Browning.