PUG PARS.

NZ Truth, Issue 881, 14 October 1922, Page 8

PUG PARS.

Some of^the trophies offered by country associations for amateur fights are not worthy of the name, and it would be as well if the value of these "rewards" was notified at the time of calling for engagements. Three of Tom'Souter's boys won bouts at the Peilding Mardi Gras and their medals were sent along without even being engraved. Em Young is among the proud possessors of one of these nonengraved silver medals, which a jeweller values at about 10s. A correspondent -wants to know the record of the Hock Keys — Billy Shannon fight m Hastings some years ago. The two have never met. Keys fought once m Auckland and twice m Wellington. A. E. Robertson, of Gisborne, is open to meet any fly or bantamweight tin the country — fly preferred. He would like to hear from Stewart, Rathner, McArthur or Griffiths (Dunedin). The Taranaki Boxing Association dropped about £100 over the Cann — bout and are now contemplating staging an open air tournament m the New Plymouth Recreation Ground. Fans m the Cow Country town are, to say the least, none too pleased at the way things are being run there. The matching or the amateurs at the last fight caused much disgust. Out of six bouts five ended in' the first round, "fhe other one lasting the interminable age of a round and a half. Stfme contests all right. The wrestling match between Sunni and Noel Naughton, for a purse of £50 a-side, is temporarily off. Sunni is not disposed to travel south for so small a stake and Naughton is similarly disposed about going north.' How about the Wellington, or some other society, hanging up a decent purse for these two at its next big tournament? Ted Whittle and Tom Smith, who were instrumental m starting the Taranaki Association, have both now dropped out of the game! Under Ted's presidency the Association flourished, but since he dropped ,it his absence is badly felt and the game is going back. Murmurings are loud throughout the land over the present state of things. Both men are good sports, with the. interest of the game at heart, and an effort should be made to get, them to once again take an active part m the management. The' Christ church Sports Club have decided to put over another big night on Saturday, October 21, but nothing definite so far as "scraps" are concerned has been fixed. It was hoped to match McCleary with a challenger for the heavyweight title, but as the Otago Association's squabble with the N.Z. Council still hangs fire it is doubtful if the club can make a championship match. In any case McQleary is a doubtful starter, and it looks hard to find a suitable opponent. Even for him anything m the heayy ' or cruiserweight events looks like a washout. Les Gleeson has offered to meet anyone at catch weights, but it is hardly likely the Christchurch Sports Club will make this veteran a "star." Boxing is booming m dreary Southland, owing to Fritz Holland's activity m forming schools m various parts of the district, and it is reported that Fritz has dug up some useful novices. Holland came a nasty thud at Riverton at the beginning of last week. After forming a class m Nightcaps, where the good coal comes from, he journeyed to Riverton, the town of many pubs and wowsers, arriving there at 11 o'clock, when a football "smoko" was m full swing. Fritz, after being introduced t.o/ the assembly by that good sport' of the Globe • Hotel, "Ted" Boroman, called for enrolments and between fifteen, and sixteen handed over their "monakers" to him, with devout promises from several more, after, which one or two. football heroes .-.pleased the company with some exhibition sparring with' a pair of Fritz's pupils. Before he departed Holland informed them,, all that he would open the class on the Saturday night, and he then puffed off m his "auto" for, headquarters at Inver-keg-g-iil quite -satisfied. The great night duly arrived for the opening of the "stoush" school. Fritz arrived, opened the hall, waited a, considerable time, but . aid's ! the fizz must have been talking the other night or the brave Riverton fighting men must have been all bluff, for only two lads turned up. Fritz puffed off once again m his auto with something like . this m his mind: "The first place m Southland that's turned me down. Good-bye! I might come back." Never mind, Fritz, it's the first and, we - hope, the last time it will happen. "Jamito," the Philippino boxer, who has had forty-one Saturday night fights for Stadiums, Ltd. Australia, m thirtyfour months and earneci something m the vicinity of £10,000, was for the first time m an Australian ring K.O'd. Stanley M 'Bride, an American, did the trick recently m Melbourne. One Saturday night long before the war, Pat Gleeson, who was m knickerbockers at the. time, was asked to fill a breach as one of the preliminary fighters had failed to appear for his contest at the Sydney Stadium. Gleeson was "raw" to the game then, and quite unconcernedly wandered to the "stars' ". dressing room to get stripped for action. This was a saerilegre according to Stadiums, Ltd., code so the ..manager came and was bundling Pat out clothes and all when he was interrupted by a pleasant Yankee draw], "Say, leave that little 'guy' m here, IT. look after him." That was Pat Gleeson's first introduction to Jimmy Clabby, who was fighting Holland m

the main event. It was the keystone of a lasting friendship as some time after Clabb3 r took Gleeson into his camp as a light sparring partner, which post Pat filled for four years, and claims that he owes all his ringcraft to the 'master boxer," Jimmy Clabby. Jim Turfus, a pupil of Tim Tracy, won the middleweight bout at the Wellington' College tourney last week, and also walked off with the special prize for the most scientific boxer. Clarie Taylor has started training again under Tim Tracv. He will have to box as a featherweight now. Tim Tracy has a promising lightweight m Jim Williams. Tim says of him: "He is' a quick, same an d very brainy fighter, and knows what you mean the first time you tell him." The pupils under Bert Drake have plenty of engagements to fill m. the coming month. Three centres m the South Island will be supplied with amateurs from . the busy Herbert Street establishment. Alex. Watson, a good flyweight, boxes like a ' more experienced boy when up against the good stuff at the Herbert Street school, and Bert Drake has surely got a real ■ topnotcher m this fast fighter. A good night's sport will be put on at the Herbert Street school next Tuesday night (October ; 7). Billy Smith's Petone school will come to town and spar exhibitions against the Herbert Street boys. . ■ '■-. Shorty Woodward was stated .m Pug Pars to make lOst 81b.- Joe Hansen says he is onfy 9st 121 b and made lOst to meet McDonald. Another Herbert Street boy, Jimmy My.Arthur, had to make lOst 81b for, Han&en: • The Herbert " Street . Boxing School . wasj very disappointed when N. : Young could not fight Meale. Young's work prevented him . from training, which was. the cause of his having to cancel the fight with Meale. " "' " ' The schoolboys' class at Bert Drake's gym. is -very popular. Every Saturday morning a great many young aspirants to. fistic honours turn up, and as the fee is very small "they get full value- Ber.t Drake v says there are a few • champions m the making amongst his juvenile class. Young Rathner, the Wellington flyweight champion, is row m training' under Bert Drake for future fights. Rathner, who has never been m real training before, shows 'that with proper attention he will develop into a real good one. : The Christchurch Sports Club has decided to call, together its members at a , special general meeting', on the 20th jnst. to consider "the future policy of the club." Until tlie present season the membership was strictly limited to some thirty enthusiasts, but the ranks were opened, and to-day the list carries nearly 100 new members, -v. . The Christchurch Spt rts Club have suffered so many, disappointments over professional fixtures they, attempted to promote that the Competitions Committee reported \o a meeting this week that they had no further recommendations to make for the season. Brian' McClaary has intimated that he will not be available fdr any further engagements until the new 3 r ear. Apart from suitable candidates offering for professional matches, the Christchurch Club is 'under ' the disadvantage of having no suitable pla '.•? available for contests for some months, ahead, as the King Edward Barracks will be engaged, from the, beginning of next month with a motor exhibition, to be", followed by an industrial exhibition, while the Theatre Royal is fully booked up by theatrical companies until after the Christmas holidays. . At the Timaru tourney W. McPhail (lO.st 131 b), of Ashburton, registered a knock-out against W. Stewart (lOst 121 b)," of Wellington, m the third 1 of a 'six-round bout. Up to the time McPhail landed a stirring \ right to the .iaw the contest was and fast. Both boys went into the scrap with vim, and gave quite a scientific display of varied boxing. An interesting match for a cup donated by President A. S. Elworthy was fought at Timaru between A. Worthington fßst 51b), South Island bantam champion, and W. Western (7st 101b j. The latter showed .surprisingly clever work, and led^ well for. two rounds, but Worthington, who stood up gamely to some hard hitting, showed to better, advantage later, and was awarded the match on points. The most promising; amateur seen out at the recent Timaru contests was J- Eaton, a midget of 4st 71b, who showed to exceptional .advantage m his footwork, and snappy punching, .which gave him a well-earned win against W.. L. Ball (5sL 31b), who was no muggins at the fistic game, and showed a lot of pluck. Andy Greaves is open to take on Jock Graham for the ehampionsliip{ of the Dominion. . Failing Grahanv the off er .holds good for any bther welterweight; Andy has the courage of his convictions, and adds: "I believe that Bill Scott is not satisfied with the decision at Eltham last week. Well, I' am prepared to fight him again, the winner to take the lot." Come on, B ;i l, "bring m the barrer."