BOXING

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 55

BOXING

By CROSS-COUNTER. PURDY’S DEFEAT OF JANSEN. Describing the match between Charlie Purdy and Raymond Jansen, the Frenchman, in Wellington, file Evening Post states: “It was a strenuous contest, and Purdy always looked the winner. The reported punch’ of the Frenchman did not arrive, and, although he was always ready to fight, and perhaps a little over-anxious at times, he failed to master the most versatile boxer seen in the local ring for years. He was not as fast as Purdy, and fought without variety. Thus the New Zealander picked every move. of his opponent early in the bout, and- his judgment was seldom at fault. Not only that, but Purdy punched just as hard as Jansen, and would dart in and score to both head and body. . “In the clinches it was soon seen that Jansen’s chief weapons were the left hook and the right uppercut, when in close, and Purdy’s chin would anticipate any move to drive these home—it was perhaps just as well. Purdy has never fought a more strenuous contest locally. Against M'Carthy he lived through a magnificent finish, but against Jansen' he was on his toes all the way, and, against a man that was tougher, ■ he was always sure of himself. He was never afraid to cross swords, and never lost an opportunity’ to thrust home. • ■”

' “Jansen’s chief fault is that he signals his punches. He starts his blows from the side' of the body, and -Purdy could always see them coming. If he were to fight more from the front, and, thus shorten his blows .by a foot, he would be as dangerous as any of his weight. He is, out to give the crowd a good show, but he wants ,to . increase in. efficiency as a' boxer. Until, he .improves his knowr ledge of the' scientific. side of boxing. Purdy will always be his master. Jansen : weighed in at 9st 111 b/ and Purdy at 9st lOilb.” -

’' ’ HERE AND THERE. Harry Collins, ex-middle-weight champion of Australia, reached England without any premfipainary announcement that he was . coming.'" He explained that his trip was. mainly:, for a health reasons. He chose, to take’a sea voyage in preference to spending the time _in '.’the Australian ’bush, and added: “I did so because—well, you know what the bush is like, you will known the reason.” Collins says that he feels very fit after four months’ experience of working his passage on a cargo boat. He is 211 b over his proper' fighting weight, but will commence -training ■■■ in London as soon as he has visited his relatives in England. •.-.Collins-will .fight at the Albert Hall on March 16 under the management ,of Charles. Lucas’. . ; Art Gbllins./tr well-performed light-weight from Australia, has issued in open challenge to box any other light-weight’in Ndw Zealand. Collins, who' is 20 years of age, has boxed mostly in Western Australia, and ; has secured --“several very creditable victories.

*/. Gene Tunney gave a boxing exhibition-; in New York in a building not licensed for boxing, as required by New York State law, and although warned. not to. do it again, he appeared: .on the stage a second time a few hours later to repeat his exhibition. This time he was arrested and taken to the police station, where an angry scene occurred between him and a member ,of the State Boxing. Commission, Tunney declaring loudly that he was the victim of personal spite, and that his arrest was “a persecution outrage.” He was admitted to bail. The title of feather-weight champion will be in dispute on the night of April 29. It is to be staged by the Hawke’s Bay Association. Duke Maddox and Lin Robinson will figure in this contest, which would have been put on earlier, it is said, but for Robinson’s failure to reply to correspondence. In order to ensure a reasonably big gate the committee of the association decided that, as a postponement was being made in connection with the date, the figbt might well be reserved for Cup night. The Hawke’s Bay Association, in common with other boxing organisations, has been feeling the pinch of late. A bumper house will help swell their shrinking finances. Since “Ted” Scott, the young New Zealand journalist who set out to see the world as a professional boxer, returned to the Dominion, he has been the subject of criticisrii in the correspondence columns of a Wellington paper. In a recent issue, a personal friend of Scott’s gives some idea of how the young New Zealander fared by quoting the accounts of his matches abroad. The proof of the impression Scott made is that he was offered further matches in Rome and Paris, and, only a few days ago, received a letter couched in quaint language from ErnestPeterson, of Allmanna, Stockholm, which, inter alia, stated:—“Now it soon is winter here in Sweden, and if you come to Europe I will certainly do my best to. let you have a fight here in Stockholm, as well as in Norway and Denmark.”

NEW BRITISH HEAVY-WEIGHT. Donald Shortland, the young Sheffield heavy-weight, in whom some people see the makings of a future champion of Great Britain, has quite a good idea of the boxing game, but it is really far . too early to form any real opinion as to his possibilities (states the Daily Mail). - Shortland only reached the age of 16 last July, and already he- ; stands nearly 6ft 3in and weighs 14st. It is quite likely, therefore, that he will grow considerably before reaching man’s estate, and should such be the case, he may become too unwieldly to be a successful fighting man. At tbe moment, however Shortland, who is nicely built and stands up”, straight when in action, must be regarded as a distinctly promising novice.

AN AUSTRALIAN LIGHT-WEIGHT. A letter from Rex Norris, manager for Jimmy Allen, arrived last week (says the Auckland Star), and in it regrets are expressed that none of the New Zealand associations seem to be interested in securing the services of the young Sydney "light-weight. Allen is certainly a good draw in Australia, Mr. Norris points out, and his decisive defeat of Norky Fowler (a . good, hard, rugged fighter,. who trounced Trowern) was one of the best contests seen at the Leichardt Stadium for years. Allen is a hard hitter, and a particularly clever boxer, says Norris. Two years ago, when, first starting in the game and only' a novice, he fought a draw with Purdy, who was then only a little time back from the Olympic Games. Since then his improvement has been little short of phenomenal. 'All his contests have been “thrillers,” in his manager’s opinion. Norris writes: “I no'tice that Purdy is anxious to cross swords again with Allen, at any place. I might also mention that Reg. Trowern’s father has written to me that Reg. would be pleased to box him anywhere in New Zealand, If any. of the associations in the Dominion would care to match Allen with any light-weight we are willing to cut the purse any way they like.” A year ago an experiment was begun with the object of reaching and bringing under some sort of moral influence the thousands of lads running wild in the poorest and densest part of London. It was a scheme beginning right at the taproot of one of the greatest social problems of the world’s greatest city. Six of what are known as L.C.C. Men’s Institutes

(Junior) were opened in various parts of London, and though the instruction provided was on the usual educational lines to a certain extent,, the major part of it consisted of boxing and physical exercises. The scheme has achieved a success beyond all expectations. Boys who had hitherto kept aloof from all clubs and educational influences flocked to these new L.C.C. institutes, which are now being attended by about 5000 boys and youths, ranging in age from 14 to 18 years; Boxing has been the great lure — probably the greatest—and so much budding talent has been brought out that it has been arranged to hold a series of amateur competitions for'■ the institute lads alone.

PROBLEM OF PURSES. There is no doubt that at the -present time there are few associations .which are on a comfortable _ footing (a Wellington writer remarks). ’ Locally, the game has a tremendous following, and Wellington is now the centre of boxing in New Zealand, but, unhappily, there are several associations which ' are ’ passing through anxious times. This state of affairs has given the sponsors’ of the amateur move; inent a chance to awaken a few discontented spirits, and while the New Zealand Council is to be commended on its stand against the attempt to. divide the ranks of boxers, there is one suggestion that it might place before delegates at the next annual meeting. It is in regard to purses. Several associations through want of support, want of enthusiasm, or through the arranging of bad matches, have a debit balance. ,'They have fixed up a purse, and the house has not come up to expectations. A , loss is recorded, and the game under that. association wanes. The’ associations have not the money to put on contests as frequently as' they would like, and they.Uhave no money with which to encourage the amateur! This joss can be., guarded . against in the same way as Australia, guard against’ deficits. Tfiey give

the boxers a percentage of the house. In Australia, in ordinary circumstances, each gets' 25 per cent, of the gross takings, win, draw, or lose. Thus Stadiums (Ltd.) always gathers in something, and not only that, the boxer himself, realising-that the better draw-card he is the more money be will make, is spurred on to greater efforts.

LONSDALE BELT CHANGES HANDS. CAPETOWN, January 31. Willie Smith, the. Rand champion, outpointed Johnny Brown, the Lonsdale Belt holder, in a 12-round bout ofr the British European bantam championship. BERRY RETAINS HIS TITLE. LONDON, January 31. At Manchester Tom Berry retained the British light-heavyweight championship, defeating Dave MagilJ, the Irish champion, on points. CASEY v. MACDONALD. In connection with the professional boxing contest to be staged at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday, February 14, between Harry Casey, of Australia, and Laehie Macdonald, the box plan for reserves will be opened on Thursday next. SYDNEY, February 6. At the Stadium Ivan Laffineur beat Tiger Payne on a foul in the seventh round. Laffineur fought gamely all through. Payne lost his head on manyoccasions. MELFOUKNE, February 6. Pedro Camo knocked out_Bert M'Carthy in tbe eighteenth round. ROSENBERG DEFEATS GRAHAM. NEW YORK, February 5. At New York Charlie Phil -Rosenberg defeated Bushey Graham in 15 rounds, but officially forfeited the bantam-weight title, being 411 b over weight.—