Fistic Fiascos

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6867, 23 March 1929, Page 15 (Supplement)

Fistic Fiascos

GRIME AND PURDY LOSE DECISIONS ''IN DREARY BATTLES IN AUSTRALIA SCATHING SYDNEY COMMENT The two big fights in Australia last Saturday week in which New Zealanders were most interested, that between La Barba and Grime at Melbourne, and the Jones-Purdy contest at Newcastle, proved to be complete wash-outs, according to recent files from Australia. Billed as the light-weight championship of Australia, the fight between Purdy and Jones at Newcastle was a fiasco from the time it was announced that both men were over the limit, despite the fact that they were each under a £SO forfeit to 'rake 9.9. Purdy weighed in at 10.0 and Jones at 9.9 J. “Newcastle fight patrons nearly pulled down the structure,’’ says the "Referee,” “when they were quietly informed without any explanation that both men were over-weight.” PURDY LOSES ON FOUL Purdy showed complete mastery over his man until the eleventh round when he 'accidentally butted Jones, and the dreary business stopped with the referee’s decision in favour of Jones on a foul. The Grime-Le Barba contest, at Melbourne, is described by the Sydney "Sportsmen” as a “Miserable washout." In a scathing indictment of the fight, it comments as follows: After all the tales that were told of the reformation in style of Billy Grime since his trip to the States, what a shock was in store for the 9.000 enthusiasts who rolled up to Melbourne’s Stadium on Saturday night to see the Australian up to all his old unattractive tricks in opposition to terrier-like little Fidel La Barba. AMERICAN ALWAYS AHEAD Not at any stage of the dull proceedings did La Barba appear to have a chance of emerging from the dust-up with the worse end of the stick, and it was only the colour loaned to the fight by his unceasing attempt to make it look like & real scrap that saved the night from being one of the most disastrous in Melbourne’s history. As it was, the £2,081 that was paid for admission is likely to stand as a modern record for some considerable tinde, for it will have to be something big and bright to gull fight followers into falling like they did on Saturday night. The fight set a standard only as a house-filling catch; as a spectacular attraction it was a wash-out, with the great Grime the culprit all the time. Hoots for Grime were loud and long as he steered his way to the dressing rooms after the fight that should have been, but the crowd recognised the merit in La ‘ Barba’s effort and he deserved the pat on the back he got at the finish.