BOXING AND BOXERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 June 1936, Page 10

BOXING AND BOXERS

HAPPENINGS IN ENGLAND NOTES AND COMMENTS BY B. BENNISON LONDON, 21st May. Both Dick Corbett and Benny Caplan (writes B. Bennison) near neighbours and the keenest rivals, hoped that the winner of their fight would be selected as the best qualified featherweight to meet Nel Tarleton. The Board of Control, however, have chosen Johnny McGrory, the young Glasgow Scot, as the rightful contender for the championship, and I, for one, am not the least disposed to quibble. On the contrary, I consider McGrory has established the strongest claim to first title at Tarleton. He may not have the cold calculating mind of Corbett, or the experience of Caplan, and-Welsh folk will, perhaps, hold Ronnie James up as the most promising 9st fighter in the country; but. as Iwatched him against Benny Sharkey, as stout-hearted a little fellow as ever pulled on a glove, he has no superior among the commoners of his particular division. I even venture that, on his form at the beginning of the week, when at short notice he was called upon to deputise for James, who is nursing a damaged hand, he would extend Tarleton to the full. He was surprisingly good in that he had been in dock for many months with an injured shoulder. I feared that forced inactivity would have impaired his sense of distance, and made him shy to take chances against such a rugged, unyielding fighter as Sharkey. He sought no compromise, and promptly accepted an invitation to stand toe-to-toe, and leave the devil to take the hindmost. And in the fifth round he was the winner. For then Sharkey, having had his eye badly cut in the previous sessions, gave up. It was bad luck for the Tynesider, but I am convinced that, if the fight had gone the full distance, the Scot would have carried the day. so clearly was he of a better class, the more telling his punches, and the stronger his defence. In every way McGrory carried himself after the manner of a sure champion of the near future. If he had a fault it was that he was too intent upon finality, and opposed to such an experienced and subtle boxer as Tarleton he might pay dear fo? his impetuosity. But we shall see. For the moment it is enough that such a worthy opponent has been found for the champion. I take it that Liverpool will bid highest for the match. It is one that, given reasonable weather conditions, would draw a record crowd.

LOOKING FOR LAURELS Dick Corbett has by no means given up hope that before the year is out he will again be of the champions. As likely as not he will be favourite against Caplan, but the latter will none the less be generously supported. Caplan is inclined to be temperamental. He is no such sphinx as is his red-headed and better-known neighbour, but there have been occasions when he has risen to brilliant heights; when, indeed, he has been equal to the best of his division. He has a more powerful right hand than Corbett, but, because of brittleness. it is not wholly dependable; That is mainly the reason why Caplan has still to make a considerable' mark as a professional. He has had little - no luck since he broke away from the amateurs. Now is his big chance to reap the onulent harvest which has been denied him by a succession of mishaps. And on Monday, at the Albert Hall, Eddie Pierce, the South African cruiser, will have a further opportunity to win fame at the expense of Erich Seelig, the tearaway, never-stop-fighting German, who is in the same stable as Walter Neusel. Last time they fought, which was a few months ago. Pierce confounded the critics by holding the Teuton to a draw, and that despite a sorely damaged eye. If Pierce can improve upon that noteworthy performance, he will be in much request. My preference. however, is for the German, who at his weight comes splendidly near to being a world beater. I would much like to see him against McAvoy, who, I am sorry to hear, will be unable to fight again for some months.' Which means that various of his countrymen, who have challenged him, will have to engage in an eliminator as decided upon by the Board of Control.

AS YOU WERE In the matter of Swansea’s Jimmy Wilde and Tommy Farr, the position remains as it was. Their contest last Monday resulted in a draw. Which, to me and others, is to be regretted. I am intolerant of inconclusive fights. But there it is—Mr C. B. Thomas, who was referee, was unable to separate one from the other, and, if Wilde and Farr must settle the muchdebated question as to the better of the two, there is nothing left for them but to meet again. Farr is all for a second fight in the belief that, if he can dispose of Wilde, he will more or less automatically be matched with Petersen. From what mgy be gathered Petersen will be invited to fight Wilde in the open air at either Cardiff or Swansea in the late summer. If Farr is left out in the cold, he might well complain of his ill-luck. He may not be a better fighter than Wilde, but he has at least a more impressive record.

There was something of a rumpus at the end of a contest between Jackie Brown and the highly-spoken-of Cusick, at Manchester, when the verdict was given against the former world’s champion fly-weight. Into the soundness or otherwise of the decision it is not for me to inquire, but it is high time we were snared what is fast becoming an epidemic of scenes. In all my long experience I have seldom known referees to be so sharply criticised, and I am bound to say that wunh of the criticism has been justified.