BOXING

Northern Advocate, 15 August 1931, Page 12

BOXING

THE AUCKLAND TOURNEY,

Mr E. Trowcrn, secretary of the Whangarei Boxing Association, comments as follows:

“Your report re boxing at the Auckland championships may have given the impression that La clue MacDonald substituted for Mr Jim Tracey while Howie was contesting. This is not so, for Mr Tracey acted as chief second to all Whangarei representatives, and Mr MacDonald only assisted.

“1 take this opportunity of adding to my comments by saying that our boys were well looked after by Mr Tracey, who carried out hie duties thoroughly. My only regret is' that his efforts to obtain victory were not bettor rewarded.”

THE BOXING SLUMP.

WHAT ARE ITS CAUSES?

POSITION IN AMERICA

STAR FIGHTERS LACKING,

What is basically wrong with boxing? Why have the public been conspicuous by their absence at important matches, dating virtually from the moment James Joseph Tunney retired undefeated in 1928, asks the San Francisco Chronicle. Is it because of the world-wide depression in business swelling the ranks of unemployed in every country, causing parsimony where formerly there was free spending? Is it because of a plague of foulirig descended upon the sport to fan the blaze of rumours that racketeers dominate the game, causing dissatisfied patrons to find other interests?

None of these is the baste reason for the lack of public support, according- to Georges Carpentier, retired heavy-weight, who nine years ago gave the then champion Jack Dempsey one of the busiest quarter-hours in his spectacular ring career. ,‘ 1 Boxing interest has declined, ’’ says the one-time French champion, now a musical show' and cinema star, “because an era has arrived marked by a deficiency in. first-rate fighting, men. I refer especially to the heavyweight division, for it dominates the whole boxing structure. But the dearth of stars extends virtually to all weight classes. There are no Corbetts and Dempseys niyund at the moment. Neither there any Dillons, Sikis, Walcoots, Nelsons, Leonards, McGoverns, Kilbanes, Dixons and Wilds,"

Business? “Hasn’t the universal business depression something to do with the decline in gates?" Carpentier w r as asked, “Business in general is under a cloud," Georges admitted. Then with a smile he continued: “But people in general have learned considerably more about boxing and boxers than promoters give them credit for. The public can tell whether a champion deserves to be so called. The public of today' insists on having value for its money. It does nop wish merely to see two strong men contending in the ring; it demands a couple of boxing artists, who pit their knowledge pf the game against each other." “Isn’t it a popular belief that the slugging type of fighter is best liked?" “Yes, but boxing skill must also must be a part of his Repertory. The enthusiast does not want to see his favourite win merely by muscular strength alone. He wants him to outdo the other fellow in tactics, to display skill—technique, perhaps, is the word—the qualities by which a great violinist captivates an audience of music lovers.

“Dempsey was the most popular bf modern ringmen. He was a skilful boxer. Many 'forget that in the light of his punching power. During his short reign, Gene Tunuey was far more popular than is Jack Sharkey, yet Sharkey is the; more muscular. Max Schmeling carries a punch, but lacks ring skill, which probably explains, as much as the fact that he won the title on a foul, why even in Germany he isn*t the popular iigur# his present honours should make him.

The Best Man

“I do not wish to imply that Schmeling does not deserve to be called world champion. He is the best heavy-weight boxer at present before the public, but, as I said, this in a period of inferior heavy-weights. Ho is the type that knows his business, but makes no pretensions to artistry. "Do you see any potential king among the rising generation of heavyweights was the next query. "I cannot discover any really firstclass men in the crop, ’’ said the Frenchman, whose unmarred features

belie Ins 111 professional bouts,-,a in which he has the excellent record of 4S knock-outs and 39 decision victories. ‘‘There are several young boxers who have the necessary techniqiie, but lack punch and are not sufficiently aggressive. Others have been endowed by Nature with herculean strength, but have only the most elementary notions about boxing. ” “You think, then, the day of the million-dollar championship light gate has passed?” Carpentier smiled. “Not gone, perhaps, for ever, but for some time to come, yes. The tremendous gates of the six-year period from 1921 to 1927 seem unlikely to be approached for a long time. The able, colourful boxers of those days have gone, and there arc, as I have said, none to take their places on the horizon.”

Camera.

"What heavy-weight would you say offers the best possibilities at the present time?" was the query. A lot of boxing patrons may be surprised by the former star’s answer.

"Prime Camera, that phenomenally big, phenomenally strong Italian boy, may some day become the world’s champion,’’ said Carpentier, and a faraway look crept into his Gallic eyeo. Perhaps lie was thinking of his own dream of the afternoon of July 2, 1921, the day he faced Dempsey in the ring of Boyle’s Thirty Acres at Jersey City.

A vision of that fight swam before the mind’s eye of the interviewer. Second round: Carpentier had landed a beautiful right to Dempsey’s chin. 1 Dempsey cut Georges’ cheekbone with a sharp right-hand swing. The Frenchman lowered his hands, inviting his opponent to an -opening. Dempsey could not resist the temptation. His hunched shoulder fell. He sprang in. Bang! Carpentier’s right glove crashed to Jack’s jaw. Dempsey sagged away. A vast throng of more than 90,000 sensed the devastating effect of that blow. It roared an appeal to finish what had been so spectacularly started. Carpentier sprang in, his gloves smacking to Dempsey’s face like machine-gun fire. But Dempsey weathered the storm.