BOXING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19902, 23 September 1926, Page 5

BOXING

By Cboss-Cousteb. DUNEDIN AMATEURS. Although there is not much doing hero in a professional line, amateur boxing is in a more nourishing condition in Dunedin just now than it has ever been, and what is more. Dunedin can justly bo regarded as the centre of amateur boxing in New Zealand—a proud claim indeed, and one that certainly cannot be disputed. ( Broadly speaking the words “sport” and “amateur should be synonymous, tor once the commercial element enters into the realm of play and athletics true sport is lacking—the game becomes a business, a profession, although to suggest that the spirit of sport

is entirely absent would be grossly unfair. Some of the best sports I know are what we term “professionals,” in that they fight for a purse. There is no doubt, either, that the professional boxer is invaluable to the amateur who wishes to improve his style. But the elimination of amateur boxing would be a far greater loss than the elimination of the professional, with the big purses an I the crowded houses. There is another aspect of it, too. The professional must, to a certain extent, cater to the public, the followers, many of whom have never been in a ring in their lives, whereas i'-ie bov who is learning the game clones ( .ie gloves for the sheer love of it and nearly always to acquire some knowledge of “the noble art of self defence” as well. In Dunedin there are between 1500 to 1500 members of various boxing clubs; surely a record. Many of these amateurs, are given a chance to display their prowess at the Dunedin Combined Sports Club’s meetings which are held at various intervals in Tom Harris’s gymnasium, and the popularity of these bouts is demonstrated by the attendances, which generally number between 250 to 300. Between nine and 12 bouts are staged each night, and no decisions are given. _ And it will be surprising if these periodic' tournaments are not productive of first-class boxers. Already there are many outstanding amateurs, some of whom are well known from their performances in championship and other meetings. W, S. Allen, a pupil of Archie Leckie, shows great improvement and will be heard of later, and another rising star in this fistic constellation is J. Harris, a pupil of Tom Harris. I saw him go three rounds with Hector Leckie the other night, and his work was singularly bright. Hector, by the way, is willing to meet any man in New Zealand up ter 9st 61b. Bert Davis (D. Boreham’s pupil) is also improving, and with a little more experience he should be hard to beat. These, of course, are only a few of the new-comers. UNIVERSITY BOXING. Tho University Inter-faculty tournament will be held in the Manama Hall to-night. An interesting bout is expected between L. Getter and Foley in the light-weight division. In addition to other bouts Hector Leckie, H. Kindly, and J. Harris will stage exhibition spars. PAUL DEMSKY. Paul Demsky, of Queensland, has lost for the first time in America. It happened at Hollywood Stadium, Los Angeles, recently, when Paul went down to a close points defeat at the hands of Australia s old friend, Tommy O’Brien. The decision met with a very mixed reception. Tommy got up to his old Australian tricks, and Paul's shield after the fight was bady dented. Demsky’s hand, injured in a training bout, and further jarred in a con test, stood up to the strain fairly well. But Paul could not use it as of old--fearing to take a risk. He boxed well wiln his left hand, however, and the contest had the crowd greatly excited. O’Bnon connected with five low blows during the light, and excited the ire of the cnpwd. When the referee announced the decision foi O’Brien the crowd roundly hooted it. After the light an inspection revealed that some of the blows ha<l landed low. Paul made a host of friends by his showing, and should be in line for some remunerative bouts now. WHAT HAPPENED. Fistic critics are still trying to figure out when the last mail left what happened to Young Stribling in New York in his battle with Paul Berlenbach, the then world’s light heavy-weight champion. Stribiing gave a missrabln exhibition, and Bcrlenbach, had no trouble in winning. Picked to lose, the world’s light heavy-weight king simply battered Stribling how, when, and where he pleased. it was the most disappointing exhibition of Stribling s briliant career, and likewise a most convincing exhibition of Berlenbach s courage and punch. Paul Berlenbach’s left hook won the fight for him. In the first round he moved inside of a left hook and diiK his left into Stribling’s wind. Stribling backed away. Possibly for the first time in his carrer, Stribling felt that he had met more than his match, and that frightened him. Also for the first time in his young life he had really been- hurt by a punch, and that was a new sensation. He had been carefully nurtured by a wise father, who fattened his batting average against a lot of second-rate battlers. Pa Stribling thought his boy was ripe for a championship and freely predicted a win, but he failed to reckon on what might occur if his precocious son were ever socked by somebody who really knew how to hit Stribling die! some surprising things after that punch which are rather hard to explain to-dav. For one, a real fighter would at least flare it; but he didn t. In fact, he all but turned tail and fled.