BOXING AND BOXERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 23 May 1936, Page 4

BOXING AND BOXERS

JACK PETERSEN STILL CHAMPION

(By Air Mail—From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON 30th April. Jack Petersen, the young Welsh heavyweight champion, continues to seize'liis opportunities with more good fortune than most boxers enjoy, (writes B. Bennison). He has set out to earn £20,000 this year, and of thus sum he lias already obtained nearly half. In beating • Len Harvey he received £5,000, and now, for a match with Jock McAvoy, lie was paid £4,500. In all probability he will have another fight in the early summer, and, provided all goes well with him rn this, he can be sure of landing his £-O,OJ. In the circumstances it is not surprising that he does not contemplate going to America. He could not expect to 1 receive tlie saipe generous fees in New. if lie is to retain his public favour the champion must avoid matches similar to that with McAvqy. It was a terrible disappointment to the 10,000 spectators, who had paid big prices for admission. In fact, so great was the physical handicap of McAvoy that the contest should never have been arranged. Not only was McAvoy one of the smallest men who lias ever challenged for the heavyweight championship—lie stands only oft 9m—but lie was one of the lightest. Petersen, i?. fact, had an advantage of four inches, in height, and as much as seven inches in reach, while lie was more a stone the heavier. \ Under these conditions McAvoy da.ro not attempt’to fight his way to victory. Indeed, while lie has a damaging punch, lie could only hope to land it by the art of deception, and his one object was to keep out of trouble. In these circumstances he boxed almost entirely on tlie defensive, side-stepping, ducking, and. by the rcmarkabel speed of Ms footwork, evading the blows which Petersen delivered. Jt was, in fact, a chase rather than a light, and, as round followed round in tiiis style, the crowd strongly expressed their disapproval. But if. McAvoy had adopted other tactics, hewould have gone to swift defeat, and while lie could not expect to win, he might at least last out the fifteen rounds. He contrived to do. this, though lie had a desperate escape in the last round, when a stiff right-handed punch by the champion sent him down for a count of eight. Petersen tried hard and persistently to win by a knockout, but ho was baffled bv his opponent's defensive tricks. Still, he had so many opportunities that he ought to have done a deal better, and I am afraid that he did not enhance his reputation. He has gained in .steadiness, but not in resource, and, as compared with other boxers, lie is an exceedingly lucky fellow’ to earn his money so easily.