A CHALLENGE.

NZ Truth, 7 June 1924, Page 14

A CHALLENGE.

That Has Been Overlookod.

Writes an Auckland correspondent: "Sailor Arthur Firth claims !to have challenged Eddie Parker to. fight for the championship (middleweight) of New Zealand, and that ho .cannot get anyone to match him. If. this is so, and Parker does not accept the challenge within six months, does he not forfeit his title to tho challenger?

"Firth states he Issued the challenge m November of last year, and up to the present he has had no reply to his challenge. He won the Hghtheavywelght amateur . championship last year and has since turned professional and aspires to the championship of New Zealand.

"Is Eddie Parker or anyone else game o meet Firth?"

Firth claims to have challenged Parker back m November, butMias he put his challenge m with the Council? Parker does not lose his title by refraining to accept Firth's challenge If he falls to accept a newspaper challenge within Hix months. It is ridiculous to think that all one has to do la to isauo a challenge and then »lt back and wait for the six months tc end to jump In and yell the title is mine. The pair have to be matched by some association, and to say It is Parker's fault that the match has not eventuated is Hilly. The last part, "Is Parker or anyone else game to meet Firth," is twaddle. The writer has no authority to speak for Parker, but he is sure that Eddie would be only too pleased to give the Navy man n crack at his crown providing the necessary purse is forthcoming.