THE SPORTING WORLD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 25 January 1939, Page 3

THE SPORTING WORLD

Variety of Pars from Here and There By "ERA”

“Natural Successor” to Ames Reviewing the first South African Test, English cricket writers concentrate on the success of P. A. Gibb, the “Daily Mail” expressing the opinion that the Yorkshireman is a first-class opener and the natural successor to L. E. G. Ames as wicketkeeper. “A proposal by the selectors that Gibb should be wicketkeeper against Australia was received with general horror, but the selectors have been proved right. “Gibb’s performance was not only a personal triumph, but another entry in Yorkshire’s book of records,” the paper adds.

: AVAV/.V-V.V.V.V.V.W ,W. World Heavy-Weight Bout Scene of many an historic battle for the world heavy-weight boxing crown, Madison Square Garden, New York, will to-night once again house the teeming fight fans of America, when two negroes will meet in a championship bout. Once again Madison Square will echo to the thud of glove on body, thous- | ands will pack themselves into the confined space of the stadium, the blue haze of tobacco smoke will roll lazily away, while the fighters fight and the crowd roars. Joe Louis, the “Brown Bomber,” who mercilessly hammered Max Schmeling to knock him out in ninety seconds and retain his title last June, will meet to-night the king of the light-heavy-weights, John Henry Lewis. Although negro versus negro fights have never been popular in the United States, this one is likely to be an exception. It is a “natural,” because both men are so far above all other fighters in their respective divisions. Lewis has been taunting Louis for two years now with running away from him. He has challenged the “Brown Bomber” on many occasions, but Louis has always drawn the colour line, which has been one of the big jokes of the boxing game.

It will be the first all-negro heavyweight title fight since 1913, when Jack Johnson fought battling Jim Johnson in Paris and outpointed him. After years of plugging away, John Henry Lewis has at last got a chance to win the heavy-weight championship of the world. Of course, when the day of the fight comes, John Henry will climb into the ring the outsider in the betting.

Louis will probably carry too many guns for Lewis. But at least John Henry will be in the same ring with the titleholder, and any time a challenger gets in with the champion he has some chance of winning. No great chance, certainly, but a chance —which is more than Lewis could have hoped for a little while ago. Lewis has been one of the underrated fighters because the light-weight division, which he has commanded since the night he won the title from Bob Olin in St. Louis, has been so sparsely settled by good fighters as to have passed always unnoticed in the fistic parade. Indeed, there hav been times when the light-heavy-weight division consisted of John Henry Lewis.

Turned Down. The proposal that the minimum senior subscription for all New Zealand swimming clubs should be 10s a year was rejected at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming 1 Association by eight votes to six. it was opposed by Auckland, South Auckland, 1 Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Wellington, ( Nelson, West Coast and Otago. The centres supporting it were Bay of Plenty, Wanganui, Taranaki, Canter-1 bury, Ashburton and Southland. Quist Again Although the South Australian Lawn Tennis Association had appointed special foot-fault umpires for the tournament, neither they nor the linesmen called Quist for foot-faulting by jumping at any stage of the singles final, says a Melbourne writer in commenting upon Quist’s defeat of L. Schwartz in, winning the South Australian championship last week. Quist was definitely foot-faulting, and with the Davis Cup at stake it is unfair to him and to Australian tennis to pass over this breach of the rule for which he was penalised in the United States of America. Quist’s foot-fault is a mechanical action in his swing. He is unconscious of it, and only by constant warning will he be able to break the habit. Davis Cup Players Selectors of the Australian team for the Davis Cup will have a difficulty in choosing the right men, says a Melbourne writer. The recovery of form of Adrian Quist means much to the side, but there is still the difficulty regarding his tendency to foot-fault. During the recent Victorian championships the play of Jack Crawford has convinced enthusiasts that he is by no means a back number. He may be slower than formerly, but he has lost none of his artistry. Len Schwartz, the South Australian, cannot be lightly discarded. He has benefited much by Ins trip abroad, and is a greatly improved player. Harry Hopman seems j to be the logical choice as playermanager. He is a capable player, either in singles or doubles, and moreover has the complete confidence of all connected with the game, both players and: officials here and overseas. McCready after Title Bout Interviewed in Johannesburg just before Christmas, Earl McCready announced that he intended to make every effort in 1939 to wrest the world wrestling title from Londos. McCready said it was nearly five years since he first met Jim Londos. The Greek won by one fall. Since then McCready had gained much experience and had perfected his octopus death lock.

“It is entirely different from the octopus clamp used by Lol'ty Blomfield,” he said. “Mine is applied with the leg around my opponent's neck and with the arms stretched across the back. When properly applied, a submission fall is inevitable,'.’

McCready said he would be making for the United States about April. “I will go first to Australia and then to New Zealand.” he said. “I hope to j

have matches in both countries. 1 will be happy to meet again Lofty Blomfield, for whom I have a great respect as a tough and often rough opponent. "Now that 1 have cleared the air in South Africa as to who is the British Empire champion, I will probably wrestle Blomfield for the title when I reach New Zealand. I hope to meet Ray Steele and Brother Jonathan in Australia.” There do not appear to be any opponents of good calibre in South Africa at the moment —certainly none capable of extending McCready. Spellman has got his walking ticket and McCready’s permit has also expired. He is trying to get it renewed.