READY TO MEET FARR

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 184, 6 August 1938, Page 12

READY TO MEET FARR

MAURICE STRICKLAND NEW ZEALANDER WHO IS MAKING JHE GRADE BOUT WITH ROSCOE TOLES FIRST. Carrying scars from his ring battles in America and England, Maurice Strickland, the young New Zealand heavyweight, with his wife and son recently returned from a brief holiday to his homeland. Since he left the Dominion, practically an unknown fighter, he has made the grade into “big time” overseas.

When Strickland left New Zealand he was a tough, strong, young fighter;

Stronger and Tougher. In England during 1935 the pair linked up again and trained together for their fights. Strickland was booked to fight the former lightheavyweight champion of the world, Tommy Loughran, and Palmer was having his first fight in England against Eddie Wenstob, the Canadian cowboy. Those who saw them in action had no doubts that Palmer was superior to the young New Zealander, but the New Zealander was stronger, tougher, and more ambitious than Palmer. He had married before leaving New Zealand, and his wife loyally supported him in his fight for recognition overseas. He was not downhearted when he went under to Loughran, but apparently his manager, Billy Crawford, who had journeyed from New Zealand with him, was, for soon after that fight he sold Strickland’s contract to Dick Hughes, an Australian. Later Strickland transferred to Daley, an American.

Daley took Strickland to America and obtained some lucrative matches for him in the States. The pair later returned to England where Strickland fought a great battle against the German heavyweight, Walter Neusel. Neusel was given a points decision, but the crowd howled down the referee’s verdict. Unfortunately for Strickland’s overseas campaign, he has not been consistent in his fighting. Back to U.S.A. After fighting a rattling good battle against a first rate fighter he often turned in a poor performance against a mediocre fighter. However, on his return to New Zealand, Strick-

land announced that he would return to the US.A. to fight Roscoe Toles, a coloured contender for the heavyweight crown. Toles stands about six feet one, is 22 yeai's old, and has a reputation in the States of being a puncher, and, though he lost in jig time to Joe Louis, if Strickland can beat him he will be a step higher towards his ambition of getting a shot at the world title.

Strickland apparently realises he has yet a long way to go before he gets in sight of the world’s heavyweight throne, for he said he hoped to get a shot at the title some time next year.

Strickland also will fight Tommy Farr, the British heavyweight champion, at Toronto, Canada, in August.

If Strickland does climb into the ring with the world’s champion he will be the second New Zealand-born fighter to do so. Tom Heeney was the other. Bob Fitzsimmons, one of the greatest fighters of all time, though born in Cornwall (England) was reared in New Zealand—W. J. Ahearne in the Sydney Referee.

Strickland meets Farr at Toronto on August 22.