BOXING AND BOXERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 20 June 1932, Page 2

BOXING AND BOXERS

HARVEV BEATS JOHNSON ON POINTS

A SPIRITED BOUT LONDON, 12th May. Whatever the future may have in store for Len Harvey, (writes Eugene Corri), he will probably never- box or light better than he did at the Albert Hall last Wednesday night to beat Len Johnson on points over lf> rounds and under strict championship conditions. And it will be agreed by all those who were at the ringside that Johnson could scarcely have improved his display whether as a boxer or fighter. The contest exceeded all the expectations of those familiar with the ways of the men. It was feared that both would concentrate upon defence, and wait one for the other to table his cards. In the majority of his previous fights in London, Johnson spread the notion that .he preferred that t\e other fellow should do the work, while he, himself, gave a demonstration of how difficult he was to hit. And not unfairly have we said of Harvey that he lacked lire to an almost fatal degree. But, as if the result of some conspiracy, Johnson and Harvey set out to prove that they had been misunderstood entirely.

I have never known Harvey fight with such spirit as he did on this occasion, and, as for Johnson, I am sure he has never been so intent upon victory. If there is such a thing as a needle match this was. Harvey positively bristled with life, and from start to finish he refused to wait to see what the coloured man was about to do. Johnson looked as if he had had not a little difficulty to get down to list Gibs and taken along at the high rate at which he was, there seemed a likelihood that lie would crack; he did no such thing. If anything, he was stronger than Harvey at the finish.

Johnson, at a generous estimate,, did not win more than four rounds, and in the last of all he so punched Harvey to the body as to really hurt and distress the champion. Some of Johnson’s punches in that session were thought to be dangerously low, but the referee Mr 0. C. D. Thomas did not think so, and it is proper that we should stand by his judgment. A sharply discerning referee is Mr Thom s, and under his direction the contest, despite all the keenness of the two men, had no ugly features.

SCIENCE OF FIGHTING

There was, perhaps, more holding than there should have been, but, considering all things, the ,fight was all that could have been desired, except to those who take themselves to the ringside to be thrilled. It is possible that to many onlookers the contest made no special appeal. To those who understand and appreciate the science of fighting, it could hardly have been better. If the title had been at stake (Johnson, as you know, because of his colour is not allowed, to fight for a British championship) no two men could have drawn more upon themselves. Both were out to do or die. Harvey, like the Vest of us, knew that if lie were beaten, his stock would suffer such a slump that his title would have the smallest significance. He fought as a man who realised that he could not afford to lose, and Johnson, for his part, appreciated that, if he got the better of Harvey, he could command bigger purses. I Perhaps Johnson would have done better if he had made more use of . what I know to be an exceptionally ■'good left hand, rather than put most i store upon short right arm blows to the body. It is true that he severely shook Harvey several times with I punches to the stomach, but as I have ! suggested, he was. for at least ten rounds dropping points, and it became necessary, if he were to win, to knock 1 his man out. For a certainty Johnson, jin the concluding stages, would have I won by a knock-out had he been (opposed to a man less fit than Harvey. | The condition of Harvey, physically | and mentally, was magnificent. How ■ conscientiously must he have trained. I How surely did he silence his doubters. |lt is agreed that, had Harvey always | fought in a way so aggressive, he ! would now be on the top of his world, for a fighter who can heat a man of such high quality as Johnson, must be considered to be as near to a world beater as makes little matter. How Harvey came to lose to such a moderate boxer as Vince Dundee I cannot for the life of me understand. HIS NEXT OPPONENT? However, he has made generous j amends for having disappointed us since he came back from America, and he. will surely now go all out for the biggest prizes. Who his next opponent will be may only be conjectured, but I have a shrewd suspicion that Mr Jeff Dickson will invite him to fight Marcel Tliil on the understanding that, if he I beats the Frenchman, he will use every endeavour to get him matched for the world’s middle weight title. In any event, Harvey went far on Wednesday to recapture any popularity he ever j lost. He could not, and Ido not think lie ever will, fight better. Johnson did more than enough to be assured of some of the ripest plums ! of the profession in the way of profitable matches. I would not be surprised •is he sought a return fight with Harvey, though, if I were that young man, I should concentrate upon a meeting with Tliil for the European title. I do not think that Harvey will now decide that he would, perhaps, be better off if he moved up among the cruisers. If, as I believe, he can do list. Gibs., without serious trouble, he would be’ badly advised if he did not remain in the middle division lam as certain as can be that, if Harvey will henceforth fight with all the aggression ■ at his command, he has it in him to beat the world. He should not trouble his head about the light heavy-weights.