Boxing

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7111, 8 January 1930, Page 10

Boxing

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Has Leckie Slipped? The Manawatu Boxing Association can afford to regard tho Crovvle-Leckia fight on Boxing night with considerable satisfaction, whatever may be Johunio Leckie’s feelings about the matter. The gross takings were somewhere in the vicinity of £320, and tho association should show a profit round about £4O. This profit may appear small wheu set against the gross takings, but it must bo remembered that the boxers took away £l7O betweeu them, and that expenses amounted, to over £IOO. The outstanding feature of the fight to regular boxing fans was tho surprisingly disappointing showing of Leckie. Wheu Johnnie was beatcu by Grime the critics reasonably enough ascribed Ins fall from grace to tho long and enforced spell he had experienced. This reason could not be advanced to explain his defeat by Growle, however, while tho scales aro further weighted against him by his defeat at the hands of Sarron. There was some little doubt about his defeat by Grime, and another small margin against Growle, but apparently “no shadow of doubt, no possible doubt whatever” against Barron. This can be gauged from the general tone of the following comment from the pen of “Straight Left” in the Hawke’s Bay Herald:— Money’s Worth

“The fans who came from far and near to the Leckie-Sarron bout have every reason to be pleased with themselves; they had their money’s worth and a bit over. To say it was a good bout is putting it mildly. It was tho best bout ever seen for many a long day. Quite a number, if not the majority, of the fans expected Sarrou to win on a 1C.0., and they were agreeabl surprised to find themselves mistaken. If Leckie ever showed to better advantage against a good man, then he must have been good. Leckie can thank Bill Walters for the assistance given in his corner, and he does. He admits Walters showed him a few things he knew nothing about, and he is very keen to continue to learn some of the variety of blows lacking in his boxing kit to-day. “This is the first time we have seen Leckie exploit the hook to the head and a body rip. Sarron is a past master at this style of boxing and is a most awkward customer to hit. However, hit he was, and some hard oues at that. Had Sarron been less able to stand hard punches he would have felt, the effects of some he took. Pete is as strong as an ox and used his strength to get Leckie on the ropes, where ho stung Leckie most. “Were the fans surprised? ‘Bure thing,’ as tho Yankees say. If ever a cleaner boxer entered a ring the writer for one has not seen him. Pete pleased everyone, and the way tho bout was fought right through reflects great credit on both boys. Nothing in the way of ‘dirt’; in fact, nothing to take exception to, was apparent at any time, and the blows exchanged would have brought out any faults of that kind if they were there. Those who can afford the time and expense will be off to Wellington on the 21 st. to see the next meeting.” Fallen Away Remembering Leckie’s showing against Growle, one painful conclusion forces itself forward. Johnnie Leckie, one of the cleverest boys which New Zealand has ever produced, has slipped. “There is a tide in the affairs of man,” etc., and Johnnie at present appears to have missed the crest and to be struggling in the trough.

The old Johnnio Lcckie, the hero of the Homeric battles of Dunedin’s Drill hall, would have danced rings around Crowlo and won that fight on an easy margin. As it was, ho did nearly everything ho should not have done, and only very occasionally showed flashes of the form which brought him fame. Crowlo fought a good, clean, dour fight, but for an Australian champion he was not impressive. His attack lacked variety and his footwork on occasions was very sluggish. He was handicapped by a short reach, but even here -Leckic could not recognise, or would not. exploit, a natural advantage. His persistence in coming to close quarters when Crowlo was plainly piling up points every time ho ventured in was a distressing mistake in a, boxer of Lcckie's experience. Likewise, hxs utter lack of variety in an attack, which was limited almost entirely to the use of the left. If Leckie had stood off and boxed his man, as he well knows how, Crowlc would never have collected the thick end of an £1.50 purse. The question then is: If Leckie has slipped, how far has he slipped? Knowing the natural lighting aptitude of the man and his will to win, one is inclined to allow the wish to father the thought and argue that he will corao back, as many another man has done. The retuim bout will be at Napier on February 1, while he will be given another chance against Grime at Wanganui on February 13. “Jab” is one of those who confidently expects that more scalps will shortly dangle from thx Leckie totem pole.