BOXING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 5

BOXING.

By Cbom-Ooohtb*.

Many local boxers are looking forward with keen interest to the engagement between Les Murray and Jamito, the Filipino, to be fought at Invercargill on Monday next. Jamito was one of the leading lights of the Australian boxing world about three or four years ago, but it is doubtful if he can claim a place in the front ranks now. His defeats by Purdy and Trowern seem to show that his chance against Les Murray is not a particularly bright one, though possibly he might not have struck form then. Be that as it may, there can be no doubt that the New Zealand light-weight champion will extend him to the full in every round. The contest should give the Invercargill Association a lift along, as there has not been a good fight there for a long time. Quite a number of local enthusiasts intend to travel south to see the tight. I saw Murray sparring with Tommy Harris last night, and it is clear that he has lost nothing of the form he showed when he defeated Trowern. Harris, by the way, was also going' well, and his rejection by the medical officer at Oamaru on Saturday night is, on the face of it, very surprising, especially when one takes into consideration the fact that Harris was Les Murray's sparring partner all the time he was preparing to meet Trowern, and has been sparring) 10 or 12 rounds with him every night since in view of Murray's coming engagement. And a man who can do that is surely fit. Financially,, the tournament at Oamaru can hardly be called a success, as there was a very poor house. The abandonment of the fight between Harris and Paul was also a keen disappointment, though it was taken in good part by the attendance. Lloyd, the Oamaru boy, acquitted himself with great credit against the redoubtable Johnnie Leckie, who generally knocks his man. Leckie's victory was not thrown at him. The fight between Campbell and Jim Leckie, heavyweights, was also evenly contested. As a matter of fact, Leckie had to go hard to win.

Bobby Fulcher and 1 ) Johnnie Leckie have gone to Christchurch to take part in contests there.

Denny Boreham has opened a school in Ravensbourne, and, from all reports, he is doing well. I understand he has struck some promising material. Good luck to him!

In view of the sporting spirit in which Ryan took the decision given against him on the Coast, in his fight with Jamito, and of the creditable performance he put up. West Coast enthusiasts have come to the conclusion that they like him. Consequently,, they have promised him a return match with Jamito in July, providing nothing unforeseen occurs in the meantime.

Charlie Purdy will meet Artie Hay at Auckland on June 14. The welter title will not be involved. Purdy will not be satisfied till he has met Les Murray for the light-weight title. Dick Elmour, French boxer, who came over to New Zealand from Australia in August of last year, evidently finds the Dominion a good place to settle in. Although an injury to a thumb has put him out of the ring temporarily, Elmour has secured the left full-back position in the Wellington Brooklyn Club’s Soccer team, and has shown that lie is a very useiul sort of pjayer. Eddie Ross, who is reputed to be a rather brilliant fly-weight, or bantam, from Australia, will arrive in Dunedin in a day or two. He should be able to provide a great fight with Tommy Griffiths, the local bantam, who on his showing at Oamaru, will take a power of beating. Tommy is without doubt one of the finest bantams in New Zealand at the present time, and if he could remedy his most outstanding fault—that of punching incorrectly and so robbing his blows of most of their sting—he should have a bright future. There are many boys in New Zealand who have this same fault, probably the most notable being Purdy, who, like Griffiths, is remarkably fast but lacks that vital asset, a good punch. When Tommy Walker master the art of throwing his body behind his punches he will keep busy the best of our amateur light-weights. He is a fast, game boy, and always puts up a good fight. _ In the feather-weight division Johnnie Leckie is probably the best boy in Dunedin, while Fulcher probably holds the lightweight premiership. Fulcher’s punching powers have developed a good deal lately, though he still has a tendency to use the inside of his glove. On his last form he must be given a great chance in the New Zealand amateur championships. Jack Batchelor is probably the best middleweight. He has a good punch in each hand, but still has something to learn about evasion.