BOXING RING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 16

BOXING RING.

TAYLOR AND GRIFFITHS DRAW OLYMPIC GAMES NOMINEES. AUSTRALIAN BOXER'S VISIT. The third meeting of Johnny Taylor and Tommy Griffiths did not prove such a sparkling display as was expected. It is possible that the boxers were matched at too close an interval, as they have fought three liiines in two months. Allowing that the first encounter gave a disputed decision io Griffiths, the second encounter was in order, as both would be extremely keen and the drawn decision was popular to all. Both boys entered the ring in Wellington very | fit, but undoubtedly the tactics of the one j were keenly in the mind of the other, ; and the psychological effect must have of necessity make them over co.utious, result- | ing in a dull display. Taylor hopes to meet Leckie and contest the New Zealand title before long. Should he be successful against Hatton he ought to have no difficulty in being matched. Taylor proved the more aggressive in the bout at Wellington and his searching left caused his opponent worry. In the clinches the Aucklander was the stronger hitter and this was in bis favour as Griffiths kept continually clinching throughout the bout. Griffiths still continues to hit with the open glove and those who journeyed from Auckland to see the fight state that it was a wonder Tay- j lor did not appeal. A. Cleverley did not show up well against Gardiner, cf Christchurch, whom he beat. Gardiner is an awkward boxer to oppose and rarely got inside Cleverley's defence. He lost points with his wild swings. "Cleverley," who is an Olympic Games nominee, "did not show himself up to representative standard," is the opinion expressed by Mr. Eugene Donovan who witnessed the fight. Waihi Tournament. " O'Sullivan, the Auckland Olympic Games nominee, was feeling the effects of the journey down and did not show up to his usual standard. He met defeat at the hands of H. Larsen, of Wellington. He will be tried out again, however, before an opinion is definitely expressed as to his abilities to represent New Zealand at the Amsterdam games. The tournament conducted by the Waihi j Boxing Association was arranged principally to allow for bouts for the Tanner Challenge Shield to be contested. In =sJl there were eleven bouts scheduled, including a special demonstration bout between the professional, Jim Broadfoot, and VV. W. McLean, well-known as an amateur in the Northern Boxing Association's ring, and also in the annual military tournaments. _ Waihi was challenged by Te Aroha, and the following teams were selected -.—Waihi: Len Gee, Tom Moralee, Hugh Broadfoot, Artie Ryall, Cliff Broadfoot. Te Aroha: J. Tierney, H. Prenter' J. Smith, L. Stewart, J. Harman. Huntly and Auckland were also represented in the bantam weight by E. Davies and V. Hall. The Broadfoot family were well represented. Beside Jim . Broadfoot, who is a Waihi boy, his brothers Hugh and Cliff were representatives in the Waihi team for the Tanner Shield, while Norman Broadfoot met J. Humbleton, of Huntly, in the feather-weight division. Harry Casey, who recently fought Broadfoot, is conducting gymnasium and physiculture classes in Christchurch.. Jim Musson, the proprietor of the gymnasium, recently broke his leg. The ex-boxer is the trainer of Gardiner, who challenged Cleverley for his place as Dominion representative to the Olympic Games, but vvas unsuccessful. Dick Loveridge, who met Broadfoot four months ago on the West Coast, has not been matched since, but the pair are scheduled to meet at Wairoa this month. From current reports from the Sou ill he seems to be confident of gaining the decision and thus avenging nis defeat. Te Aroha has also been negotiating with the same pair to engage at a later date. A Champion Flyweight. The Napier Boxing Association is seeking to bring Teddy Green, the flyweight , champion of Australia over to New Zealand. They have made him an offer of two matches with good purses. Local opinion is that he will be matched against Taylor and Griffiths. Mr. Eugene Donovan, "Taylor's trainer, says that he would have no difficulty as regards the weight and that Taylor would accept a match with Green providing the purse was large enough. The Te Arohi Association had arranged for Phil Coombes, the Auckland provincial middle-weight champion, to meet Dick Loveridge at an early date. This would have been Coombes' first professional fight, but he left for Sydney a short while ago and has cabled that he is unable to return to New Zealand to keep his engagement. The association then decided to try to bring Jim Broadfoot «>nd Loveridge together and have arranged for them to meet for a substantial purse for "ten three-minute round?. The New Plymouth Boxing Association was endeavouring to match Broadfoot and Loveridge, but negotiations have fallen through as the purse offered was not acceptable to the Aucklander. Dave Palmer has returned from Sydney. He has been in Australia for the last nine months. Palmer has expressed his willingness to accept a small purse in order to get back in the game, and is willing to meet any of the welter-weights of tb« Dominion. Both the newly-formed Hutt Valley Association and the Tokomaru Association are already in touch with Palmer in order to arrange bouts. Duke Maddox has again stated that he is retiring. It will be remembered that I he decided to retire, then he attempted to regain the feather-weight title, but was not- successful when he met Johnnie Leckie toward the end of last year. The well-known Auckland featherweight, Matt Hatton, has been matched against Taylor. Hatton has not been prominent in the ring since taking up teaching and coaching boxing. He has, however, kept himself well up to standard and only needs a bout or two to show him at his old form. His fight against Purdv before the latter left for the Olympic Games a few years ago will be "remembered by ma<iy. Hatton has received offers from Dunedin to meet Johnnie Leckie, but he has declined acceptance. He is ready to accept any offers he may receive from boxing centres nearer his home town. Hatton is to be married at Easter and will have the good wishes of all boxing enthusiasts. RARE CRICKET INCIDENT. ROLLING OF THE WIOKET. An unusual incident occurred during the progress of the Sydenham-West Christchurch cricket match, played in Christchurch recently, says a Southern exchange. Sydenham's wickets were falling like ninepins and by the time the afternoon tea adjournment came round eight men were out for 122 runs. The groundsman, who had not been foolowing the game, concluded that the innings was over and promptly took out the roller. He had gone up and down' the pitch a few times before it was realised that the rolling was contrary to the rules. After the tea adjournment Sydenham added another 33 runs, chiefly from the bat of the New Zealand representative, C. Oliver. The rule reads as follows" The ground shall not be roiled, watered, covered, mown or beaten during a match, except before the commencement of each j day's play. ..."