A MIXED BAG.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19527, 9 July 1925, Page 5

A MIXED BAG.

By The Gleanee. Mr F. Dominoy, who accompanied T. Hoeney to England, has returned to New Zealand. In the course of an interview in Sydney he said that he would not advise any boxer to go to England The days of big money prizes have long since departed there. . On May 7, at the Cirque do Pans, Roland Todd (middleweight champion of Groat Britain) and Frances Charles (the French titleholder) fought a ISround draw of “the worst boxing ever witnessed between champions,” according to one authority. For nine rounds they boxed like ana the spectators joined in the chorus of “Let s have it out in a little game of cards. The Englishman had the best of every round, and was not altogether responsible for the poor quality of the fight, so the decision, a draw, met with a hostile reception. If there is one thing to admire more than a good, game winner, it is a good, game loser. • . German athletes, by invitation, took part in a recent international sports meeting held in Paris. , . .. , Harry Collins, bolder ,ot tho welter and middle-weight championships ot Australia, is only 22 years of age, but (says the Referee) ho has already built up a very fine record, one that not only tho sportsmen of Newcastle, but those of every part of Australia, but take pride in. Two years ago, when 20 years of age, Collins was twice beaten by George Eagel, the American, but he has been unbeaten since, Bradley, Godfrey, Darton, and Godfrew in turn being vanquished.' , , , Whatever objections may bo lodged against imported boxers, one must admit (says an English writer) tnat they bring fitness and determination with them into the ring, and that thev rarely indeed do put up a bad fight, even when they are beaten. Small wonder that they keep their hold on English boxing followers—as exemplified bv the popularity of such boxers as Van Dyk. Ernest Tyncko Edouardl Verret, Simon Ilosman, Van t Hof, Nol Steenhorst, Charles Desmot, and a few others who have become almost better known Juere than among their own countrymen they have won and they hold their place among us largely because of their conscientious regard for training. Almost always they are thoroughly fit when they box, and so able to battle on even when apparently well beaten and heavily punished. One is inclined to believe, indeed,, that courage is largely a matter ot physical condition and not altogether an inherent quality of Californian boxer George Eagel, who beat Hairy Colljns and T. Uren when in Australia, is now in England. No sooner had Dempsey got to vans, where upon arrival ho was dined by Garpentier, than wo ware regaled bv all manner of stories of offers to tho champion to fight (writes Mr Eugene Corn, London boxing correspondent of the star). There is not enough money to induce Dempsey to get into a European ring, and, besides, bis present condition js such that it would take him three months at tie least to get fighting fit. Moreover, the situation as regards himself in America is such that, if his next fight is not in the atatos—and that before very long—lie will bo suspended. That is, he will bo barred in ever so many States. Ido not envy Dempsey. Ho' has so tied himself up with work outside tho ring that ho could not take on an opponent until late in the year, oven if he wanted to. That explains why, what time Dempsev is “doing Europe, his manager. Jack Kearns, .baa taken Mickey Walker, the welter-weight champion, under his wing. . Although ho lost his fight with Gene Timney in New York, Tom Gibbons was well rewarded financially, as ho was guafgntoed £20,000 -by the promoter. The amount paid to Tunnoy ia not mentioned. Gabbons, who is S 8 yours of age, has been 12 years in the ring, and this was tho first time he had been knocked out. Science delivered a knock-out punch which ended tho ring career of Jack Dempsey, the heavy-weight champion of the world, when ho underwent an operation for tho remodelling of bis nose, according to Dr George Warren Pierce, San Francisco surgeon, speaking before the annual convention of tho California State Homeopathic Medical Society at Sacramento on May 8. “I was fully convinced that Dempsey would never fight again when tho news was published that ho had undergone an operation for the reshaping of hia nose,” asserted Dr Pierce. “One stiff blow would completely shatter Dempsey’s shapely nose, and ho was undoubtedly told so before the operation.” “Onother All Blank Shock.”—Under that heading, the Westminster Gazette of April 29 hoe tho following;—“For tho first time a New Zealand eight has crossed tho Tasman and measured oars with an Australian crow. The debut—made on tho Parramatta River last month—was a most impressive one, tho All Blacks walking away with the N.S.W. Eight-oar Championhsip over a course of three miles. After tho race the Now Zealand stroke was asked how it was they were able to boat a crow with mioh fine combination. His answer was that during the 12 days tho crow were in training in Now Zealand they rowed 1-1 miles a day—wot, hail, or shine. Just .imagine one of our ’varsity crews rowing 168 miles in less than a fortnight! Their coach would have a fit at the idea.”

Tom Toth ill, who has just secured victories over Reece and Young Davis in London, is on his way out, and will accompany Clark M’Conachy throughout the South Island. Matches and exhibition games will be played in tho principal centres.

There is a possibility that the crack billinrdist Walter Lindrum will tour New Zealand next season. The Earl of Balfour aud Mr Leo Maxse at the London Sclrool of Economics recently debated for the benefit of the volutunary hospitals the question whether golf docs more harm than good to the community. Mr Maxse described golf ns a game for the middle-aged, and the way it had been taken up by young people was destroying our supremacy in serious athletics. Lord Balfour denied this, and incidentally appealed to Public School authorities to popularise lawn tennis, which was now easily becoming the international game of mankind. Expenses and the amateur athlete will be one of the chief subjects of discussion at tho forthcoming meeting of the International Olympic. Committee at Prague. In an interview on his departure from Now York for the meeting, Mr Murray Hulbert said that while there is no reason to believe that Amsterdam would be unable to stage the 1928 Games, in the event of Holland withdrawing, the American delegates would vote against the suggested change in the amateur rule to permit an athlete to draw compensation daily from the revenue while competing. It is good to know (says Sporting Life) that America has, as wa? confidently expected, ranged herself alongside Great Britain on tho expenses question, as there is likely to be a stiff fight on the subject. At the same time, it is difficult to see, if the next Games are staged in Los Angeles, which is the next venue on the schedule, how the poorer nations will be able to send teams.

Following appears, in a recent Field: “An opportunity of seeing the eight-balls an-over in action occurred during the Oxford Seniors' match when do Silva bowled two wides. The over seemed insufferably long, and was in itself sufficient to prove (hat the Innovation would not bo popular in England. It was a curious over, for every ball was \ T ory wide of the off stump, and at least two balls were as nearly as possibly wide. The bowlers then changed ends, and do Silva at once became much more accurate.”

The English writer, Mr Beunison, tells of the gallant , struggle between Bllcy Clarke, the Scot, who succeeded Jimmy Wilde to the flyweight championship, and young Jimmy Brown, one of two fighting brothers of Aidgatc. For real fighting intermixed with speed and science it was the best contest seen in London since Jimmy Wilde was beaten by the American bantam, Pete Herman. Brown continued to make it an even light until the last few rounds. Through sheer exhaustion in (ho 20th, ho dropped his guard, and then his opponent clipped him on the chin, putting him down and out. Mr Bcnnison finishes his fine description of the fight; “A more gallant loser than young Jimmy Brown there never was; but if I had been one of his corner I should have surrendered in the 17th round. Tie should not have been permitted to fight until he had dropped.” Forty-seven Test matches have been played in England, England having won 17, and Australians 11, while 19 wore left drawn. Sixty-two Tests have boon played in Australia, England having won 24, and Australia 56, two having bean drawn. J. B. Hobbs has already made six centuries this season in England. At the dose of last season ho had made 110 centuries in first-class oricket. He adder! three in Australia, and now has made 119, so that he has to make only seven more to equal VV. G. draco's record. 'there is a possibility of his doing so, and even surpassing W.G.’s 126, for his form is extraordinarily good, and the season has three months yet to run. Georges Carpcntior gives (no strongest denial to a report which has frequently appeared in the Continental Press lately that ha ia definitely giving up bating in order

to go on the stage as professonal dancing partner to Milo Christine Guy, the beautiful French star. There is not an atom ot truth in the report, said C’arpentior. Wxio cares?” said Echo. Jack Dempsey declares that he will box anyone, providing that a sufficiently tempting proposal comes along- Rumour declares that Jack is so much afraid of getting his synthetic nose busted that he will never risk another fight. Again wo leave I'jcfao to put a fitting query. Joe Beckett, states rumour, will bo seen in the ring again next month. Echo uj this case would not be considered nice, and so we suppress it. . In the personnel of 'the American Fleet, which is to visit New Zealand in August next, there are some good sluggers (says an exchange), who may be prevailed upon to have a go with some of our New Zealand boxers. Ritchie King holds the feather-weight championship of the United States Navy, and is a fighting-machmo, packing a wallop in either hand. Ho has had several fights outside navy circles, and has yet to bo beaten. Alki Akol is the fly-weight champion of the fleet, and is a countryman of Pancbo Villa, world’s flyweight crown-wearer. He should prove one of the toughest propositions who have visited the dominions for some lima A. Gadena holds the welter-weight title, and is reckoned the most promising boxer in the fleet. Of course, all are professionals, •and the amateurs could not meet them. It is hoped that they will figure in some bouia in the dominion.

Tommy Gibbons and Gene Tunney are peculiar in that neither has ever smoked or taken a drink—except gallons of water daily, something the average “pro.” boxer knows nothing about; they oat simple foods in training or out of it, giving precedence to fruit and lots of vegetables with only a duo proportion of meat; neither is nervous or worrisome; both believe in steady, wholesome exercise; .but both have worked more along defensive lines than offensive. Both —and anyone aspiring to championship—must build up a keener offensive spirit to go along with their undoubted cleverness.