BOXING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20316, 26 January 1928, Page 4

BOXING.

By Ceoss Countee. ” TOM KEENEY. Disappointment is expressed at the result of the meeting of Tom Keeney and Jack Sharkey in Tex Rickard’s elimination contests for the world’s heavy-weight title. The cabled report that it was a slow and uninteresting fight is hard to understand, as both men are considered to be hardhitting boxers ai»d fighters. Tom Keeney’s recent success against Maloney, whom he knocked out, and his defeat of Johnny Risko—both boxers of Sharkey’s class—gave the impression that he would out-fight Sharkey. Sharkey was certainly a worthy opponent,_ but ho docs not seem to have the stamina of the New Zealander, and has a habit, when fighting, of dropping Ills defence and leaving his stomach unprotected. This weak point has been found by other opponents, principal of them Dempsey, but, although he gave this opening, Keeney was not able to take advantage of it. The analysis of the rounds gives Keeney a win on points, and it was thought in many quarters in New York that he won, especially as ho was the better fighter, the usual deciding factor in American contests. KEENEY’S RECORD. New Zealand and, Australia.—Beat Bill Barlett (knock-out). . nine rounds; beat George Modrich (points), 15 rounds; boat. Albert Pooley, New Zealand champion, 15 rounds; beat Albert Pooley (points), 15 rounds; beat Jack Cole (points), 15 rounds; drew with Colin Bell, 15 rounds; beat Max Gomik (knock-out), 15 rounds; lost to Colin Bell, Australia (points), 20 rounds; beat J. Flett, Australia (points), 15 rounds; lost to Colin Efell, Australia (points), 20 rounds; beat J. Leahy, Australia (points), 20 rounds;' beat Tom Batho, Australia (knock-out), 14 rounds; beat C. Taylor, Australia (points), 20 rounds; drew with Ern. Waddy, Australja, 20 rounds; beat C. Complin, Australia (knock-out), nine rounds; beat C. Whittaker (knock-out), 15 rounds; beat J. Flett (knock-out), eight rounds; beat B. M‘Cleary (knock-out), 14 rounds; lost to J. Sullivan (points), 15 rounds; beat J. Savage (knock-out), one round; beat J. Sullivan (disqualified), five rounds; boat J. Sullivan (knock-out), nine rounds; beat Ern. Young (knock-out), four rounds.

Great Britain.—Lost to Phil Scott (points), 20 rounds; boat Trooper Young (knock-out), six rounds; lost to G. Cook (points), 15 rounds; beat Smith (knock-out), four rounds; beat Tom Berry (points), 15 rounds; lost to Phil Scott (points), 20 rounds; beat Bartley Madden (points), 20 rounds; beat Jack Stanley (points), 15 rounds.

South Africa.—Beat Johnny Squires (points), 20 rounds; beat Johnny Squires (technical knock-out), 19 rounds; beat Blackie Miller (foul), six rounds; lost to Blackie Miller (disqualified), five rounds. United States.—Beat Charlie Anderson (technical knock-out), nine rounds; beat Jack Do Mavc (points), 10 rounds; lost to Uzcudum (points), 10 rounds; drew with Uzcudum (points), 15 rounds; boat “Bud” Gorman (foul), three rounds; beat Jim Maloney (knock-out), one round; boat Johnny Risko (points), 10 rounds; drew with jack Sharkey. 12 rounds. PURDY’S FIRST KNOCK-OUT. Writing of Charlie Purdy’s victory by a knock-out over Young Cowboy, a Filipino, at Sydney, recently, “ Solar.Plexus’’ states: In the fifth round of a one-sided contest, Charlie Purdy, without being unduly severe, knocked out the Filipino, Young Cowboy, by a splendidly executed right to tho ’chin in the fifth round. Thereby Purdy appeared in quite a new role, as in all previous battles in Australia, he showed no great power of punch. Discarding his custom of landing with the butt of his hand, the New Zealander displayed hitting ability, which, combined with his elusiveness, makes him a near approach to his countrymen’s high estimate of big prowess as a boxer. When the Auck landers see their champion again (provided ho carries on the good work' of hitting properly), his improvement will surprise them. ... Striking in Purdy’s ordinary way, with the unpaddod part of the glove, his well set coloured opponent would have lasted much longer, perhaps the full journey, to be beaten by a wide margin of points, and badly marked. But with every punch landing correctly, and telling its own tale, the knock-out was merciful. , ~ At 7 30 policemen comprised almost nan the number present, thus showing that the Purdy-” Cowboy ” contest did not appeal to tho public. This atmosphere of gloom continued so long that a good house was despaired of. Nevertheless, when the lads entered tho ring, a fairly good attendance materialised, so that Purdy and the Fill pino had a fairly decent share. But even so the receipts were not so substantial as to convince one that Friday nigh s suitable for fights at the Stadium. For a while “ Cowboy ” showed some idea of evasion. But this did not compare with tho manner in which P J l >' d >’ r " a '? C miss. Purdy then took on the attack,, and landed many stiff lefts with an occasiona ri-ht, all well and truly placed. Until “Cowboy” scored with two rights to the side of the head in the second round, Purdy was lenient, but these stung Purdy into action, and he peppered Owinir to Purdy s back-moving. Uvc 1 m tripped and fell, and was assisted P 0 r ; S e by his opponent. Purdy immedi SclHot >1 to OOP the closed man by short blows to the head, iwice sisr*o f °3oi t n h i ho had carried hi s man far cnoußffi Pnrd.y full count.

HERE AND THERE. to a fetter fr”m Ben Tracy, his manager, he had three fights in seven days. Be won one by a knock-out, lost another on neGts and fought a draw for the third. He was booked up to meet a foul q tl \ oP t P ° a nent 10 days later. Tracy states that cood “draw” can get matches every two or three nights. “Doc’ S’nell, the conqueror of Billy Grime, had just boxed nme times in a month. Negotiations for a contest under the Gisborne Association between Leokie, New Zealand boxing champion in the featherweight class, and Lin Robinson, ex-cham-pion, have fallen through. It was intended to stage the light m race week during February. Perhaps it is just as well for Robinson, who is now long past The decision of Elky Clark to quit the boxing game makes the ovitlook pretty black for Johnny Hill, the British flyweight champion, so far as boxing tor his Lonsdale Belt is concerned. _ Like all boxers, Hill is keen on making the belt bis own property by winning it three times. He has but one notch on the trophy, and now that Clark is out of the way there seems no one left who could with justification be selected to act the role of challenger. In these circumstances Hill might well consider undertaking an American trip, with the idea of getting in line for a shot at the world’s title.