About Summers

NZ Truth, Issue 1029, 15 August 1925, Page 14

About Summers

And also a "Hero"

From a Rotorua correspondent there reached us this week the following tit-bit, and it is a tit-bit. Here is what he pens: "I noticed m your columns last week an argument re Johnny Summers. I can endorse your statement regarding his bout with Hock Keys and also say that he" was m New Zealand for some period, as he honored this burg with his presence for a while, incidentally being the observed of all observers, especially among the youthful portion of the community who made no secret of their admiration for a great man. "I cannot remember the year of Tommy Burns's visit to Rotorua but it was some time before the war. "However, he was challenged by a local sport, who by the' way is still resident here, to a bout m the local gladiators hall (otherwise the picture show premises). "Great excitement reigned prior to Burns's arrival, the betting on the local aspirant being among the quick or the dead afterwards, being fast and furious. "In fact the proprietor of the hall exhibited a notice inviting' all hands to 'come and see 's funeral' on the appointed night, and unofficially meetings of local sports mooted the question of funeral arrangements. ."However, much to everybody's chagrin someone m authority stepped m and prohibited the match, and all we could do was to stand off and admire the famous Tommy without the opportunity of seeing him m action. The local hero (?) however, will always retain 'his reputation, i.e., he challenged the world's champion, Tommy Burns. Whether it is officially recorded, however, I know not. If it is I intend to make a reputation for myself by challenging Dempsey without delay. | My share of the purse is to be not less than a million dollars!"

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