BOXING

Northern Advocate, 13 October 1928, Page 12

BOXING

GOSSIP FROM EVERYWHERE

The boxing gloves of the TunneyHeeney fight ■wore made in San Francisco by Sol Levison, who has made gloves for every heavy-weight championship dght i ll America for more than a generation.

.Before an attendance of fifty thousand people at Clapton, England, the flyweight championship of the world was contested. Johnny Hill, of Scotland, took the championship from the American holder, “ Newsboy' ’ Brown.

The contest, which was over fifteen lounds, was won by Hill on points. In another battle, Teddy Baldoek beat .Johnny Brown on a t.k.o. in the second lonnd, the towel being thrown in, Johnny Curley, fighting his first contest since returning from Australia, defeated an American, Sammy Shack, who was disqualified in the seventh round.

The big purses have put everything out of proportion in the fight game (writes Snowy Baker in the “Sydney Referee”). Tunney and his predecessor, Dempsey, will not listen to anything unless it hits around the halfmillion mark. I think the big purses have spoiled them. Imagine the oldtime heavy-weights refusing to fight more than once a year! Can you imagine it? Jeffries, Sharkey and old Bob Fitz—those boys looked for fight. Yes, wo can put Jim Corbett, the first white American heavy-weight boxer of real note, among that group too. It pains me when I listen to the talk of this very poor crop of fighters today. They want this, and they want that, before they will climb into the ring. 1 believe that Fitz would only need a shave and a haircut to lick Tunney the best day Gene ever saw. Here we have Tunney training for three months for a fight. Shades of old John L. Sullivan, who could fight at the drop

of a hat, and even before, the hat was dropped! The fight game may be improved, as some of the uplifters claim, but I doubt whether the fighters have improved.

Xo match in recent years has shown Australians to what a level boxing has fallen in Australia so much as the meeting of Charlie Von Eoedon (America) and Billy McAllister (Australia), at the West Melbourne Stadium (says a writer in the Sydney “Referee”). Results seemed to indicate that McAllister Avas the more likely to bring a championship to Australia since the groat Les Darcy. Before his form against overseas boxers was exposed, there Avas backing for him to almost any extent against any bantam in the world. But he Avent dOAvn badly. Confidence was rudely shattered when it was seen just how hard a job he had made of disposing of “Kid” Socks, whereat) Charlie Von Reedon had disposed of Bocks quite easily. The offer of a side-stake was then Avithdrawn very quickly, for it certainly seemed that Von Reedon would be far better than an even-money chance against McAllister. A

Johnny Risko, one of the contenders for the heavy-weight championship of the world, has refused a contest with Jack Sharkey, whom he previously defeated.

A welterweight who is commanding attention in America is Fields, of California, who is said to be a highly skilcd boxer and a most convincing fighter. He has impresed critics as likely to achieve the Avorld’s championship in his class.

A Now York cabin message reports that Johnny Bisko lost on a foul to Boberto Boberti, , the big Italian, in the sixth round of a ten round bout. This was Bisko ; s second venture in succession against the biggest men in the profession, his previous opponent being Godfrey, the huge negro, who is about the same weight as Boberti, namely I7st.

In spite of the definite assertions which have been made that Gone Tunhey will not re-enter the ring, and that his encounter with Tom Heeney has been his last, speculation continues to be rife as to the future of the heavy-weight boxing championship of the world which is, of course, still held by Tunney. In an article, Tommy Loughran, who is already the light heavy-weight champion of the world, writes entertainingly on his desire to try for heavy-weight championship honours. Gone Tunney will probably not fight again until next summer. Between now and then half a dozen men, including myself, will be pointing for the match with him. Johnny Bisko, Knute Hansen, Jack Sharkey and myself are to be introduced in the ring at the Yankee Stadium. We arc part of that half dozen. Without any bragging, I think I shall bo in there against Gene next, summer.

Mr Dcasc, well known in Perth boxing circles, is about to float a £IO,OOO company to conduct boxing. The new resort wall hold 5000, and Mr Dense thinks that when the fight warrants it, the house will be well filled. The company will promote boxing, wrestling, skating, and other indoor exercises.