PROPOSED KEYS-TRACY MATCH.

NZ Truth, Issue 68, 6 October 1906, Page 8

PROPOSED KEYS-TRACY MATCH.

■TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— ln the ..columns of '! Truth "of 22nd inst., I notice- a paragraph to the effect that it is being, endeavored to arrange another match between Hock Keys and Tim Tracy, to , take place about the 19th ' prox. Now, Sir, I would like to point out to you that after the sound thrashing which Hock administered .' to Tim on the last occasion upon which these two boxers met,; it would be more pleas- . ing to the New Zealand public if efforts, were made by those m charge of affairs to find someone more worthy of Hock Keys' steel than his present proposed opponent. I do not wish to infer anything against Mr Tracy, whose character as a private citizen is, so far as I am aw^re, beyond reproach, \ and he is admitted on all sides to be a good fellow. As a boxer he is also a good man and game as a pebble. What he knows he performs well, but, unfortunately, his knowledge is limited to that of the old school, and he has not an earthly chance with an up-to-date, scientific boxer of Hock Keys' calibre. Naturally we would like to, see someb»e produced who is capable of giving Hock a run for his money. The someone is probably hard to find among local talent, but I have one exponent of the fis,tic art m my mind whom I consider would give a much better account of himself against Keys than Tim Tracy could be expected to do. I allude to Tommy 'McGregor, a boxer of no mean order m cleverness, knowledge and ability. In the professional ring he holds the enviable record of never having been beaten, and for some years was the acknowledged bantam-weight champion of Australasia. (Was he, now. Never heard of the gentleman.— Ed. "Truth.") Though not so young as he used to be, Tommy has lost none of his old cleverness, speed or grit, and at the present moment is anxious for a, match. Now, Sir, a true lover of sport will recognise, /the claim McGregor has to consideration m this matter, and m the interests of the sport I trust you will exert your influence to have the best man procurable pitted against Hock Keys. If negotiations have already gone too far, perhaps another . match could be arranged between McGregor and the s winner of this bout.— Yours, etc, SPORT. , (As McGregor is unknown to anyone on the, staff of this paper, even by name, no opinion can be given as to his claims, but he certainly was never "acknowledged 'amateur bantam champion of Australasia." Otherwise our correspondent is right, it certainly would be wise to find a better opponent for Keys than Tracy, whom Hock could have easily beaten m three rounds that night, if he had not wanted to give the sports a run for their money. "Has-beens" will be no use, however, and it would be far better to get some other (pre~ ferably a fresh) lad from Australia to meet Keys, if he agrees to come here.— Ed. "Truth.")