BOXING

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 60

BOXING

MILITARY TOURNAMENT. CONTESTS AT GREEN ISLAND. A military boxing tournament in which cadets and territorials from Green Island and Mosgiel partiepatad was held at Green Island on Tuesday evening under the auspices of the Otago Boxing Association. Excellent organising work by Lieutenant A. E. Borley and Sergeant-major Baldock was responsible for the large number of contests being disposed of without delay, while the decisions of the judges (Messrs A. L. Brown, S. Brown, P. Young, and W. Wilson) jnvariably met with the approval of the large attendance. Mr V. Parker carried out his duties as referee with credit, while the announcer (Mr L. Burk) also filled his post creditably. At the conclusion of the tournament Lieu-tenant-colonel H. E. Barrowclough presented the trophies to the various winners. The results were as follow: — CADETS. Feather-weight.—E. Gordon (Bst 111 b) beat F. Sell (Bst Bantam-weight.—J. Tansley (Bst 61b) beat L. Wylie (Bst 11b). Tansley met D. M’Donald (Bst 41b) in the final, which was won by M’Donald after a rather tame contest. Fly-weight.—S. Osborne (7st 61b) beat W. Jordan (7st 41b). Paper-weight.—J. Craigie (6st 101 b) beat J. Mehalski (Gst 31b). Gnat-weight—C. Knox (6st 81b) drew with J. Sell (Gst 31b). TERRITORIALS. Middle-weight.—G. Stevens (list 21b) beat C. Sell (lOst 131 b). Light-weight.—G. Knox (9st 131 b) G. Brookes (9st 91b). The final of the light-weight between Knox and D. Ritchie (9st 41b) provided the hardest fight of the tournament. Both lads made it a willing bout from the first exchange, the fight finally developing into a slogging match. Ritchie gained the decision by a narrow margin. Feather-weight.—C. Wylie (Bst 111 b) beat W. Chandler (Bst sib), W. Berry (Bst 81b) beat L. Graham (9st). The final was won by Wylie, who did most of the leading, finally chasing Berry round the ring. Fly-weight.—G. Carr (7st 101 b) beat W. Thomson (7st 101 b).

PURDY AND CASEY DRAW. PALMERSTON N., September 19. Charlie Purdy 10.0 J, light-weight champion of Australia, and Harry Casey, 10.1}, middleweight champion of New Zealand, fought a 15 rounds draw, a decision which was not altogether favourably received, the majority believing that Purdy was the winner. The exhibition was marred by constant clinching and hardly any toe to toe work was seen. Amongst the spectators were Tom Heeney and his wife.

TOM HEENEY IN WELLINGTON. POLITICAL LEADERS PAY TRIBUTES. WELLINGTON, September 17. A stirring welcome wa s accorded Tom Heeney, the New Zealand contender fo the world's heavy-weight boxing title, 1 a crowded audience at the Town Hall to night, when a series of amatem contests was staged. On entering th e hall with Mrs Heeney the New Zealand champion was cheered to the echo and “ For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow ” was sung in a manner that showed the ciowd meant it. High tributes to the fame Tom Heeney had brought upon New Zealand by the splendid- fight he had put up for the world’s highest boxing honours were paid by the president of the Wellington Box ing Association (Mr T. M. Wilford), the Prime Minister (Mr J G. Coates), Mr H. E Holland' (Leadej of the Opposi tion). and Sir Joseph Ward (leader of the United Political Party). The Prime Minister declared that Heeney had not only proved himself a great fighter, but also a splendid loser Mr Holland drew attention to the fact that the film of the great fight disclosed that throughout the 11 rounds the New Zealander did not give way one yard. S ch a display of lighting spirit against a man of Tunney’s ability prompted the hope that Heeney would yet attain to the heavy-weight championship of the world In responding, Heeney said that he wished to remove a misapprehension tba* existed as to the Americans not being good sportsmen. “ When I fought Tun ney,” lie said, “90 per cent of the Americans were with me.” Mr and Mrs H'eney were subsequently entertained at a social gathering in the concert chamber of the Town Hall lithe Wellington Boxing Association, at which the speeches were repeated and the famous borer was acclaimed by the large number of guests present ' TWO CHAMPIONSHIP BOUTS. LONDON, September 17. At Edinburgh, in the British middleweight championship. Alexander Ireland outpointed Frank Moody. At London, in the British light-weight championship. Sam Steard, of Lewisham, knocked out Ernie Rice in the twelfth round. BILLY GRIME’S MANAGER. NEW YORK, September''lB. The official investigation has begun at Eddyville into the death of Walk Miller. Billy Grime’s manager, following an an nouncement by the physicians that there were two bullets in his head, either one of which was sufficient to cause death before the other shot was fired. Friends of Miller are unable to advance a reason for the-presumed-mvi-fler. Thej declare that he was well known and popular.

A previous message stated: At Eddyville the body of Walk Miller, manager for Billy Grime, ihe Australian boxer, was found at “ Walk Mill,” the manager’s training camp, with bullets in the heart and head. The police state that the cause of death was suicide, due to worry cause,. by recent financial reverses. Miller was known for years as the manager of successful fighters, and seemed recently to meet a streak of the pooresi luck, suffering many defeats. NEW YORK, September 22. Billy Grime, when interviewed by the Australian Press Association, expressed regret that he was unable to engage in a greater number of desirab e fights. He pointed out that “ it is hard for a' foreign boxe: to get ahead in the United States, because he is forced to fight many fights, few of which help him to reach the top, although once he makes his mark his situation is a pleasant one. lam naturally discouraged at the result, but I feel sure that the fights for which I am scheduled in Australia will enable me to return to the United States better known and able to get the matches I want.” • While he admitted that the load to boxing fame in the United States was a hard one to travel, he expressed the opinion that the United States was the most likely country in which to gain recognition. He declared that he had been unable to engage in a sufficient number of fights wh le h”re to enable him to reach the peak of h> form. That was the reason for his numerous defeats.—