IN THE RING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 80, 16 March 1934, Page 13

IN THE RING

FRANKLIN IN THE BOOM Easily Lifts Championship REPUTATION FOR K.O. (By “Ringsider.”) The big draw card in New Zeaboxing circles to-day is a hardhitting and tenacious Gisborne scrapper, Joe Franklin, who has fought his way to the pinnacle of the lightweight class in a manner that has Won him considerable favour with the public. Some ten days or so ago Franklin repeated his performance of Napier by again securing a decision over Ted Oxley per medium of the short route. On this occasion the lightweight title and belt were at stake and both honours changed hands. The Gisbornite’s victory was well merited, for he was easily the conqueror of the Pahiatua man, who, as was the case at Napier, did not appear to be in anything like the same condition as a few months back. The new champion is the type of fighter that is popular with boxing enthusiasts. His possesses a punch and, what is more important, he knows how to use it to the best advantage in the ring. Since turning professional he has won the majority of his encounters per medium of a k. 0., whilst in all hig bouts he has made himself popular by reason of his aggressiveness. As a hustler he has earned a great reputation and there can be no doubting that the public likes action, hence the reason for his popularity. joe's Unlucky Number, On Monday evening last Franklin met his hardest opposition to date and though he lost the decision on a foul in the sixth round, he apparently gave an excellent account of himself. The bout proved a most interesting one and from all accounts was one of the liveliest witnessed in the windy city for some time. One Wellington writer expressed the opinion that the bout could not have gone the full distance, so fast was the pace and also there was a likelihood at any stage of a k.o. being administered by either party. Fitzgerald again showed himself as a classy boxer, but he also introduced a new aspect in that he showed himself as being quite capable of mixing things in the style that was most effective and spectacuiar against Franklin. The pair are due to meet again at Westport soon and it will be interesting to learn how they will fair over a distance. The superstitious supporter of Franklin will be interested to know that Monday’s fight was his thirteenth as a professional—truly an unlucky one for Franklin. Title Holder’s Record. Franklin’s record to date as a professional is as follows:— 1933 —Drew J. McKay, lOrds. 1933— Beat Craig, lOrds. Lost Hawes, 12rds. Beat Robertson, k. 0., 2rds. Lost Hawes, 12rds. Beat Knuckey, t.k.0., 6rds. Lost Hawes, 15rds. Beat Rayner k. 0., 12rds. Lost Oxley, lOrds. 1934— Beat Jones, k. 0., 4rds. Beat Oxley, disq., lOrds. Beat Oxley, k. 0., 6rds. Lost Fitzgerald, disq., 6rds. Summary.—Won 7, lost 5. drew 1 Billy Sullivan Again! Hawke’s Bay enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that the Hastings heavyweight, Billy Sullivan, is to again enter the ring and will do so at Invercargill next Wednesday evening, his opponent being Prendergast. Sullivan is popular with the Southland fans, who have seen him in action on numerous occasions and he has always made a good impression. On this occasion he is to figure in the first of two cruiser-weight bouts, the other fixture being a clash between Harry Lister and Ray Nicol, the latter's lightheavyweight championship being at stake. Sullivan is already in the south and is leaving nothing to chance in the matter of being in trim for his encounter. It is reported that he will carry out his training operations in conjunction with the present title-holder, so that Bill should enter the ring next Wednesday in better shape than he has done for some time past. Donkin Seeks Title. Another local boxer, Henry Donkin, also left this week for an engagement in the South Island. He meets.Clarrie Rayner at Blenheim to-morrow night in a bout for the featherweight title. This pair are well acquainted with each other and they have the reputation of staging the brightest and most exciting match seen in Blenheim for years. Rayner in the past has proved himself slightly superior to the Villager, who, however, is of the type that is likely to win at any time, for he can take plenty of punishment. The local aspirant for championship honours has put in some hard and earnest training for to-morrow’s fight, realising, no doubt, that should he secure the title he will he in a good position to secure quite a few fights in

the very near future, under local management as well as outside the province. Three immediate contenders are Len Knuckey, Joe Franklin, who is confident that he can comfortably drop his weight to come within the nine stone 1 limit, and from Tom Carrig. of Masterton.