ARTIE HAY’S FEAT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 234, 15 September 1934, Page 9

ARTIE HAY’S FEAT

Secured Three N.Z. Titles

HASTINGS’ GREAT CHAMPION

Now the Bay’s Official Trainer

In the history of Hawke's Bay boxing there is a figure which looms large; one who brougut to the province a New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championship; who developed into a professional fitted to match with the best of three divisions, and who retired un defeated champion of the welter, mid die and light-heavyweight classes—a feat unique in the history of the sport in this country. That figure is Artie Hay, tho present official trainer of the Hawke’s Bay and Napier Boxing Associations’ representatives to the New Zealand championships. Commencing his career in 1923, under tho tutorship of the late Mr. Dempstci Thompson, Hay boxed his way through a number of tournaments to win bis first title—that of the Hawke’s Bar amateur welterweight championship. He carried on, and finished up the year by annexing the North Island championship in the same class. Repeating the feat the following year ho added to his laurels by securing, at Welling ton, tho New Zealand amateur welterweight championship. In those two seasons Hay had crowded 14 fights into his record and in every fray he had come out a winner.

The following season, 1925, Hay joined the ranks of the professional, and his first fight, on a cash basis was arranged under the auspices of the Taumaranui Association. His opponent was to have been Nelson McNight, but owing to indisposition the latter was

substituted by Gus Venn, who was out classed to such an extent that his seconds skied the towel in the twelfth round. This was Hay’s only outing of the vear.

Tho next season saw him in keen demand, for associations realised that here was a boxer fit to test the top flight At Napier he lost against that wonderfully well-balanced Taranaki boxer, Dick Loveridge, but the verdict was by no means satisfactory and later in the return, Hay came out the victor, collecting at the same time the welterweight championship crown that Loveridge had taken from Clarrie Blackburn.

Auckland offered a purse of £2OO for a meeting of Charlie Purdy and the new champion and this was accepted, the Aucklander getting the big end of the purse, though Hay gave a fine display. Next Hay met the Fhilipino, Salvino Jamito, whom he had well beaten when the visitor was disqualified for a foul, having indulged in his famous “rabbitkiller.” Thon followed his first defence of the title, with the “Truth” belt added by way of good measure, and in one of the finest fights ever witnessed in Napier Hay defeated Purdy. Tn 192 S Hay accounted for Fred Smitheran. Dick Loveridge, Nelson kfcKnight, Harry Casev and Ilog Trowern in turn, then for the opening of his 1929 programme lie scored a decisive victory nt Dunedin over Roy O'Brien, who came from Australia especially to meet him. A string of ten successive victories brought with it at the end

the middleweight championship title, Day administering a knock-out to l.achio McDonald in the twelfth road round. The year terminated with the Welshman, Billy Thomas, putting an end to Hay’s remarkable run of suc.esses by taking the decision on a fool after being well behind on points. Fate reversed the procedure for the opening of Hastings’ dual champion’s 1930 campaign. He was pitted against the only New Zealander who has ever non an Olympic title, Ted Morgan, who as streets ahead on points but “lost uis head’’ and committed a foolish iou! that gave Hay a somewhat fortunate victory. A few weeks later Hay administered a terrific battering upon that tough old battler Lachie McDonald at Palmerston North; then at Hastings he reached the summit of his career by defeating Jim Broadfoot for the light-heavyweight championehip, so becoming triple champion and e.-eating an event unprecedented in the history of boxing in the Dominion. To finish off the year Hay was persuaded to go to Australia to meet Jack Haines, who was reputed to be the outstanding middleweight unearthed h. the Commonwealth for many years. The New Zealander was defeated early in tho bout, the referee awarding Haines tho decision on a t.k.o.

As it happened this proved to be Hay’s last flutter in tho ring, for whilst preparing to meet another local bexei, Cyril Thompson, the next season ho found that, ho could not make the grade, owing to ill-health, aud acting on medical advice he retired, handing back his titles to the New Zealand Council, to be once again held, each by a separate identity. While it must be admitted that, nt times Hay was erratic there can be no question tbnt he was a clover boxer and a hard fighter. More than thi though, he was one who lived up to rhhighest traditions of t* ng, and it is pleasing to know that while he will no longer delight fans with his good footwork, else er dueling, neatly de-

livered half-arm jabs, and patient waiting to connect cleanly and surely, ht is still serving in a useful place as mentor of the province’s present day amateurs.

Artie Hay has but one regret these days and that is that he has nothing tangible to show that he held such a prominent place in the fistic world of

the Dominion. True he has his “scrap’’ book, wherein his most prized item is a letter received from the secretary of the New Zealand Boxing Council, who wrote: “Ou behalf of the New Zealand Boxing Association, I desire to place on record appreciation 01 your good services to boxing during the time yon were an active participant in the sport. It is not often letters of this sort arc handed to professional boxers, but your conduct has always been of the quality that warrants recognition.’’ It does seem a pity that lie cannot show sometbinj more tangible.