Heavy-weight Boxing Hopes

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26906, 19 October 1948, Page 9

Heavy-weight Boxing Hopes

Bruce Woodcock, English heavyweight boxing champion, had an easy win over the American, Lee Oma, in his first “ come-back ” fight, but his win gave no indication of how he would fare against the top-liners such as Walcott. Woodcock’s next opponent is to be the Swede, Olle Tandberg, who is not rated in the top class, so whether Woodcock will finally attain to a world title bout is, at the moment, a matter of conjecture. Britain has never held the world heavy-weight title, although her champions have often endeavoured to win it. In 1882 Charlie Mitchell challenged John L- Sullivan, but was beaten after a hectic 39 rounds of bare fist fighting. Bombardier Billy Wells, who held the British title for 'eight years, was early knocked out of world class when he was twice beaten by the Frenchman, Georges Carpentier. Joe Beckett was the next British “ hope ” to be decisively defeated by Carpentier. The British champion Frank Goddard was also soon out of world title running when he was stopped by Jack Sharkey. Then came Tommy Farr, who put up a great performance against Joe Louis in 1937, and, though he was beaten on points, he was not disgraced; in fact, he came closer to winning the world title than any other Englishman. Centennial Aquacade

With the annual meeting of the Otago Centre over, swimmers and clubs in the province are now settling down to the business of preparing for another busy season. First on the list of engagements is the Kiwi Club’s centennial aquacade, which has been in production for nearly two months, and will be presented for a season of five nights commencing on November 4. The stars are Islav Russell, Jean Stewart, Hazel Forsytn, and Shirley Simonsen. Mrs Russell, as Islay Purdie, is the holder of a 220 Yards Women’s Freestyle record which has stood since 1937, and she is still recognised as one of the most stylish and graceful swimmers in the country. Miss Stewart is the present holder of the New Zealand 220 Yards Intermediate Girls’ Backstroke record and an outstanding exponent of the stroke. Miss Forsyth, while still an intermediate swimmer, won three national women’s breaststroke titles last year, and her shadow-swimming act with Miss Stewart was one of the outstanding items of the 1947 aquacade. Miss Simonsen has an excellent record as a surf swimmer, and is expert as an exponent of fancy swimming. The Olympic representative, Ngaire Lane, will be featured in a special act.

Aquacade will contain many new items, with water ballets, figure floating and formation swimming as the main motifs, and one feature of the show will be a personal appearance of Father Neptune, who will demand to know what his ‘‘servants’’ have been doing to fulfil their functions in Otago’s centennial year. Mr David Forsyth is the producer, and Mrs Winnie Lawrence and Mr Arthur Thomas are the directors.