BOXING AND BOXERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 4 May 1934, Page 7

BOXING AND BOXERS

AMONG THE CHAMPIONS THE USE OF BOTH HANDS (From Our Oivn Correspondent) LONDON, 29th March. Concerning Jimmy Walsh, of Chester (writes B. Bemiison) who defeated Harry Mizler at Liverpool, 1 have no firsthand knowledge. 1 am prepared, however to accept the assurance of various of my North Country friends that he is equal to any lightweight intent upon winning the title in the keeping of tlie London Hebrew. * And it may be assumed that the Board of Control are of that- way of thinking. That, of course, does not mean that Walsh will be allowed first claim to fight for the championship. Such as Norman Snow, though he was knocked out by Mizler and Norman Dale, enter seriously into the reckoning, especially since both of them, at the Blackfriars Ring last Sunday, won convincingly against George OdwelL and Jack Garland respectively. Snow, indeed, knocked Garland out in the first- round, again to prove that, at his weight, lie lias a punch second to none. Of tlie immediate intentions of Mizler I do not know, but, if I might suggest it, lie would do well to take the earliest opportunity to engage in a return match with Walsh. Pride of profession demands that he should do so. It is enough that his title was not involved at Liverpool. I have found Mizler a. particularly sensible boy, deep-thinking, serious, with an ambition not likely to o’erlcap itself. One who, with all his undoubted cleverness, is not in the least disposed to take anything for granted.

STILL SOMETHING TO LEARN If I am not too prodigal in my compliments, lie will realise that, though a champion, lie has a deal to learn before, lie may pass as a complete fighter. As a boxer he is one of the cleverest produced by London for many years, but Walsh has made it plain that as yot ho is apt to find himself at sea in strange surroundings and agaist a relentless opponent.

I do not agree that) Mizler would be better if lie made less of an obsession of his left hand, but he would the more surely stamp himself as a champion of champions if lie were to make freer use of his right. Maybe, because he found it possible to win the title from Johnny Cuthbert by the almost exclusive use of his left, ho is decided there is small need for him to give generous employment to his right-, though it is a fact that, as lie used it against Norman Snow on his first appearance at the Albert Hall, it is all that a right hand was intended to and should he.

I am often amazed at) tho number of seconds who, after the way of so many parrots, are for ever warning tlieir man of the danger of chancing even a single right-handed punch. “Do you know,” Carpentier, then at the height of his fame, remarked as we fell to comparing notes, “what is wrong with your boxers? It is that they make a fetish of llie straight left. Of course, a left hand given tlie straightness of a gun barrel, and delivered with the full weight of tho body behind it, is a tremendous weapon. But a fighter should ever remember that lie has two hands, that by means of the right finality is the more readily reached. It is only had when you lead with the right; then you invite, and must expect trouble, but to keep tlie right padlocked, as so many of your boys do, is to plead ignorance of the secret of ' lighting success. Prettiness, or what is called ‘style,’ is all too often counted enough. A real, a considerable champion, must necessarily bo an expert boxer and a fighter, intolerant of any sort of compromise. Mere boxing skiff without a punch will never take you to the top of the ladder.”

A SOUND GOSPEL And if Harry Mizler has reflected, since his return, upon his experience at Liverpool, he will agree with the sound gospel of the famous Frenchman who, so it is said, proposes to be present at the Albert Hall in the role of the successor of Francois Descamps at the next Jeff Dickson promotion, which will be on the 12th of next month, when, rather surprisingly, Lon Harvey is to fight Jimmy Tarante, the coloured American, who recently defeated Teddy Phillips, of Canada. We had been led to suppose that Harvey’s next appearance would be against Jack Petersen in June at the White City, or, alternately, if he resumed activities before then, that he would not try himself too highly. He has, perhaps, not a great deal to fear from Tarante, but it may be doubted whether he has even been matched against such an expert in-fighter. It is to tlie immense credit' of our heavyweight champion that, what time he is waiting for Petersen, he is prepared to accept any job. There was a time when Harvey was shy to adventure. Had he not been so self-centred, ho would probably have won a place among the world’s champions. At least he would have made haste to fight Marcel Thil in Paris after his defeat by the Frenchman at the White City, and sought to turn the tables upon him.

REAL ADVENTURE A new, and more enterprising Harvey is to be cordially welcomed. For the contest with Taranto ho is to do his training at Windsor. Hitherto, be lias favoured Whetstone. I expect there will be a rare gatliing of the clans on the 12th—Petersen, Gains, McCorkindale, Jack Doyle, and all the rest of the big fellows, for not only will Harvey be on view, but Ben Foord will be at war with Vincent llower, the German champion. As to Petersen, it is improbable that ho will bo seen in action before lie meets Harvey. His physical condition gives no cause for alarm, but he holds to his determination to have his injured eye mended completely. He is wise. Petersen put in an appearance at the Grey Friars Hall, Cardiff, at the beginning of the week to see the cruiser eliminator between his countryman, Tommy Farr, and Jim Winters, tlie Glasgow Scot. He is in high spirits, and, so far as could be judged, as lighting-fit as ever. Farr was the winner oil points, and although a section of the audience did not see eye to eye with the referee, the verdict was a good and sound one. About Doyle. It was given out that, if he disposed of Frank Borrington, he would be matched against Ben Foord. By now it is ancient history that, for the moment at any rate, the South African is not included in his scliemo of tilings. Why, it is not for me to inquire. Dovle must bo loft to be master of his own destiny. But, if there is any foundation for tlie stories spread during tlie week, ft is not a- little surprising that his advisors deem it prudent to link up with either Charlie Smith, Reggie Meen, or Norman Baines.

FOORD’S CHANCE Tt is surprising, because, together with Doyle, they have not the least doubt | that lie need not unduly fear any lieavy- ; weight. No disparagement of Smith, Mein, or Baines is intended when I insist that, if lie beats one after tlie oilier, his stock would not be appreciably higher than it .is to-day. But what, from the point of view of Doyle, is most | important, is the danger of his losing

some of his thunder to Foord, who in experience stands in much the same relationship to championship honours. Both are on the threshold of their career. The young and handsome South African may be greatly daring in consenting to fight Ilower, but, if he beats the German, popular rating will have it that he has proved himself more formidable than Doyle, and as likely as not lie wiii command a larger public. Foord, by his enormous courage against Petersen, has already won tremendous favour. If lie accounts for the Teuton, Doyle need well bestir himself. There are

signs and tokens that there is a decreasing number of people ready to pay for the privilege of seeing lights which, m the absence of accidents, can only have one end. That Larry Gains has not taken to heart his surrender of the Empire title to Harvey was shown at Leicester last Monday, when he knocked out Harry Crossley. If anything Gains is better than when he was reduced to a ranker. It is required of him to keep busy, so that, when the desirable nrize that was once his is on offer, he will be up to concert pitch. It is said that Walter Neusel has decided to return to Europe

i to make good his challenge to the winner “ :of the Ilarvey-Petersen bout. But what" | about Gains, to say nothing of McCord j kindale, who, I suspect, would give his I ears for a fight with either Harvey or 2 • the Welshman? ‘ - ■ —