NEW ZEALAND'S BEST BOXER

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 144, 20 June 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S BEST BOXER

A CHAT WITH DAVE SMITH.

HONEYMOONING AT ROTORUA.

While New Zealand figures prominently in every class of sport (says the Auckland Star) it has but one championship representative in the boxing arena.

That one boxer is Dave Smith, and he is probably the best light heavyweight in the world. Those who decry boxing as a desirable branch of athletics would perhaps change their opinion if they could make the acquaintance of men like Smith, and others in the forefront as fighters. No form of athletics makes such exacting demands for rigorous conformity to the rules of clean living* and Dave Smith, as he stepped off the gangway of R.M.S. Marama on Friday morning, was truly a picture of healthy manhood worth gazing upon. The light heavyweight champion was married last week, and is en route to Rotorua on a honeymoon trip.

HIS RECORD

Seen by a Star representative, Smith explained that while honeymooning he is also taking a compulsory rest, for his right hand was badly broken in his recent fight with Jerome in Sydney. In the fourth round of the contest he sustained the injury mentioned, but fought on with that extraordinary pluck which has characterised all his ring work, until, in the 14th round,, Jerome cried enough. Only twice in a brilliant oarrer has Smith been beaten—once by McGoorty and once by Papke. With Papke honors are even/ for Smith had on a previous occasion defeated the American. When he returns to Sydney Smith has an extensive programme of engagements, the first being* with Les O'Donnell, and the next with Bill Lang. Negotiations are also under way for a match with Sullivan, now in Sydney. Smith is very anxious to meet Sullivan, who held .the middleweight championship of TEngland and the Lonsdale belt. Sullivan has defeated Rieg. Midwood; so has Smith, and with the fighting weight of the two men only allowing lib. in. Smith's favor, there should be something doing if the pair is matched. Another fight on the cards for Smith, when he gots back, is an engagement with Harry Mansfield. the AmericanEnglish fighter. . ' "So- that I will have engagements to fill at the rate of about one per month as soon as I get back," lai]ghingly declared the New Zealand light heavyweight.

A BOOM IN BOXING

Things are booming in the boxing line just now in Sydney, Smith says. Another stadium, with boxing accommodation for 8000 people, is to be erected. Amongst the heavyweights there is nothing doing; Langford and McVea are pretty hard up. There is not a white man in Australia, or anywhere in the world, Smith says, who can extend them. The result is that the two black boxers can find no engagements. Among the middleweights and lightweights, however, there is no end of competition. , "There is really good) money for good men in Sydney? ' asked the interviewer. "I guess there is," was the reply. "The-posi-tion is, perhaps, not quite so good as when H. D. Mclntosh had direct control, but nevertheless there is more activity in Sydney under better management than anywhere else in the world. Since January of thisyear I have cleared £1800, and in four fights last year—Papke, Clabby (twice) and Cyclone Thompson—l won £4000." ; BEWARE SWELLED HEAD.

Talking of the position of affairsgenerally in the boxing world, Smith said it "was a woeful admission to have to make, but he did not see a white hope in sight among theworld's heavyweights. "As for myself," he added, "I hold the light heavyweight of Australia, having: defeated Lester, the last holder. What the future holds for me I can-, not, of course, venture to .talk about, but one thing I am certainly going. to. endevor not to do—and that is to mar my career—whatever it may be, by getting swelled head' now. I have always lived quietly and worked hard, and I inentd to proceed all the while on those lines." - : ~ Mr and Mrs Smith left by the1 express for Rotorua.