HOME AGAIN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6954, 6 July 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

HOME AGAIN

N.Z. BOXER RELATES BREEZY STORY OF EXPERIENCES IN AMERICAN BOXING RING

BERT BROWN'S RECORD

With a string of victories against some of the best men at his weight in Canada and the United States to his credit, Bert Brown, ex-feather-weight champion of New Zealand, is back in his home country on holiday. He intends staying here about three months and is keen to engage in a few fights to defray his expenses and show New Zealand fans that he is deserving of the good reports that have reached these shores concerning his ability as a gloveman.

Four years in distant lands have not changed the New Zealander. He is still the quiet, unassuming fellow who left his home to try his luck abroad and it is with difficulty that he is induced to speak of his exploits. During his sojourn he has fought his way from an unknown performer into the limelight and has made a niche for himself in the hearts of the sportsloving American public. TO FIGHT NEXT MONTH

Brown will signalise his return to his home shores by taking the ring on July 18 at Palmerston North. Efforts were made to bring Norman Gillespie to New Zealand as an opponent, but the Australian was not available, and Bob Dela.ney, a promising featherweight, will make the trip. Hamilton is also considering matching Brown, and he may make an appearance in the Auckland ring. While in America ferown engaged in 30 contests, winning 25, drawing one and losing four. Surely a good record for a beginner in the land of the dollar. When he goes back to the States, he hopes to get a shot at the junior lightweight title held by Tod Morgan, of Seattle. Many are the reminiscences that Brown has, including the ever-green ones about the ignorance of American

people as far as New Zealand is concerned. One American told him he “must be a clever guy to pick up English so quick.” How boxing matches in States limiting the duration of a bout are carried over twice the journey, shows how easy it is to get outside the American law. In the State of Maine, six rounds only are allowed but that does not stop the promoters, and the bouts go _ fpr 12 rounds, Brown told the writer. The boxers are announced, fight six rounds, and then go to the dressing-rooms for three minutes. They then enter the ring again, are announced in full as in the first instance, and fight again, thus making 12 rounds in all. If one knocks out his opponent in the first six rounds, of course, the other session does not take place. While fighting on one programme in that State, Brown had gone five rounds and was in the sixth when his opponent had an argument with the referee which finished with boxer and the adjudicator exchanging blows. Brown retired to his corner and watched. “I never laughed so much in all my life,” he says. The police intervened and the milling pair were separated. Brown and his opponent finished the round, retired to -the dressing rooms, and a few minutes later were commencing another six. Another bout in which he was engaged took place in an old skating rink in Halifax. “There were cracks in the walls through which a dog could crawl, and the temperature was below zero. We fought 10 rounds without getting warm while the spectators, clothed in fur coats, stamped their feet to keep warm. You can tell how we felt as we were stripped to the waist and clad in silk trunks.”

Finding himself in San Francisco and half-way to New Zealand as far as money is concerned, Brown decided to journey home as, had he gone East again, he would not have seen this country for another four years.

When he returns to America he will do his fighting on the Atlantic Coast whei'e there is more work for fighting men and more money. He advises any boys going over after the dollars to get across the continent to the Atlantic: seaboard where there is much more money to be made than on the Western Coast Brown is enthusiastic about the American people. "They are good sports and give the boxers a fair run.” he says. The referees are on the whole as fair as in any other country. Brown has started light training in anticipation of his contest at Palmerston North and next week he will be getting down to solid work. He is working out at the city fire station gymnasium under Eugene Donovan.