BOXING

Otago Witness, Issue 3957, 14 January 1930, Page 56

BOXING

By

Cross Counter.

Johnny Leckie and Billy Grime have agreed to a return match, which will be staged in Wanganui on February 13. Leckie will have to give away weight again, and the best Grime can do is to make it 9.3 without a forfeit. It is seven years this month since Billy Grime first succeeded to the feather weight championship bj’ outpointing Bert Spargq. This is a long spell for a boxer to be in championship class. Grime has now been boxing for over 10 years. It is stated that the Taranaki Association intends to stage a return contest between Tommy Donovan and Tommy C'rowle this month. When they last met the Australian won on points, and has since then beaten Johnny Leckie. A return contest with Leckie would also be< well worth staging by any association “ Tuffy ” Griffith, who came into notice as a terrific hitter in the light-heavy-weight class, and has grown into a fullfledged heavy-weight, has accounted for two tough opponents within the last few weeks. The first was Paolino, and the second Johnny Risko, whom he defeated on December 28 at New York. The cable says Griffith is likely to be considered when an opponent is selected to meet Sharkey at Miami next month. A London paper reports that Tom Heeney will be plaintiff in an action involving a very considerable sum of money, the action being in connection with his share of the moving picture rights of his fight with Tunney. It is further stated that Heeney will make one more appearance in the ring, in a contest at a tournament that is being organised in America for the benefit of his manager, Mr Charles Harvey, who is disabled for life as the result of a motor accident. And finally Heeney will not return to New Zealand, but will settle down in South Africa.

It is reported that Jerry Sullivan, the ex-bantam-weight champion of Australia., is in training again, and intends to attempt a “comeback” (says Aeneas). It is also reported from Australia that he intends to have a contest in New Zealand before re-entering the ring in Australia. New Zealand associations should be very careful about signing up a boxer who is attempting to break into fie game again In recent years there have been notable fiascos through boxers of yesterday meeting youngsters of to-day. The eases of Jimmy Hill and Jackie Green are examples. Leon S.ee, manager for the giant Italian, Primo Camera, has received offers for a Sharkey match from Atlantic City and from Boston. Negotiations are progressing favourably, and in the meantime M. See has accepted a guarantee of £6OOO for a match between Camera and K. O. Christner, at Madison Square Garden, New York. Christner is a second rater, and it is apparently the intention of the promoters to nurse Camera for box office purposes. Eugene Huat, the French fly-weight, who defeated his fellow countryman. Emile Pladner after the latter had whipped Izzy Schwartz. Frankie Genaro and Johnny Hill (the British champion), gave Izzy Schwartz a rare hiding in New York. The little Frenchman punished Schwartz so severely over the 16 rounds of the encounter that Schwartz announced his permanent retirement from the ring. Readers of this column will recall that Schwartz was recognised by the New York Commission as the fly-weight champion, while Genaro was the one favoured by the American National Association. Genaro went to England to meet Hill for the world’s title, but the match did not eventuate owing to the sudden death of Hill. Jarvis met Genaro and was defeated, and English papers now regard Genaro as the rightful holder of the championship. Pete Sarron (America) defeated Johnnie Leckie (New Zealand) after a contest, the equal of which has not been seen in the Napier Municipal Theatre for many a long day, had gone the full distance (states the Hawke’s Bay Herald). Quite unlike the Leckie-Grime affair, it was full of clean, open boxing, full of movement, and up to the last three rounds, when Sarron made the pace, with little between the two. The attendance, which was estimated at 1200, was slightly’ less than the other big contest of a few weeks ago. The weights of Sarron and Leckie were given both at Ost. Leckie being slightly the taller and with a corresponding advantage in reach, while Sarron was a ball of strength and energy, and the personification of physical fitness. As has been said, the fight was full of vigour, with little in-fighting, and both boxers trading full arm exchanges. Leckie m the early stages showing pleasing aggressiveness, but he did not posseess the sa'me variety of punches as his nuggety opponent, Sarron. although his right-was most dangerous, dealt in rights and lefts from all quarters with considerably more sting behind them than Leckie had, but nevertheless he had an elusive mark to find and he was frequently made to miss badly. Up to the twelfth round the margin of points had fluctuated, first between one and then

the other, with the grand total in favour of neither. Then the American went for his man for all he was worth, with the intention of either knocking him out or of putting the issue beyond doubt in his favour. Leckie was very steady and his ducking and countering kept him out of serious trouble, but he was down for a moment on two occasions, more through being rushed off his feet than as the result of the punishment he received. It was a rattling contest fought in tip; very best spirit, the only incident to mar it being that Sarron was warned on one occasion for employing the forbidden “ rabbit ” punch, but that could well be put down to inadvertence. Prior to the contest each had a win over the other—Sarron's a knock-out and Leckie’s on points. A drawn fight at Paris on Novembei 12. between Benny Valger, American light-weight. and Johnny’- Cuthbert, feather-weight champion of England, is referred to as “one of the most scientific exhibitions of boxing ever seen in a Paris ring.” Recently the British Board of Control suspended 11. Lcvene, Matt Wells, and Ernie Jarvis for taking part in a boxing contest with Genaro, who, it was alleged was under suspension by the New York Commission, with, which the British Board of Control had an agreement with respect to the endorsement of suspensions. Files to hand report that on behalf of the

three persons mentioned writs have been issued against the Board of Control to 1 test the legality of its action in suspend-' them. Both London and New York papers state that Max Sehmeling, who lias been back in Germany for several weeks, while waiting for his managerial and other' troubles in America to be smoothed out, had accepted the offer of two Philadelphian promoters to fight there some time in March, the inducement being a ! guarantee of 250,000 dollars and the privi- 1 of 30 per cent, of the gate receipts. It is reported in the press that Schme--’ mgs manager announced that the off»r‘ would be accepted in spite of the purchase’ of Fugazys contracts by the Madison’ Square Garden Corporation. 1 The Madison Square Garden Corporation now hoicks all the trumps in* the' heavy-weight boxing situation (states a‘ New York paper). This was made pos-'-sible through the purchase by the cor-' poration of contracts from Humbert J." hugazy that the latter had with Max' Sehmeling, of Germany, Phil Scott, British 1 champion, and the huge Argentinian, Vie- 1 torio Campolo. These contracts were for" bouts to be fought, as well as other proprietary rights in the case of Campolo." r ugazv is said to have received something like 60,000 dollars for transferring the’ papers. Considering the fact that Fugazy’ has never been able to obtain a suitable site in New York for the promotion offights in the winter months, this deal lifts quite a burden from his shoulders and’ makes up some of the losses he has suffered in trying to compete with the 1 force at the Garden When “ Tex Rickard passed away Fugazy softened, considerably in his attitude towards those left in control at the Garden. The Brook-’ lyn promoter and “ Tex ” waged a bitter rivalry, but Fugazy’ had no personal grudge against Carey’, the new manager 1 of the Madison Square Garden Corporation. and readily came to terms with’ him when the opportunity- offered. ‘

BRITISH BOARD OF CONTROL. . LONDON. January 6. Ihe British Boxing Board of Control, which six times previously’ refused, his' now granted a license to Mr Jeff Dickson, 1 an American, permitting him to promote contests in London. The Daily Express says that the board’s former attitude was petty and futile, and’ all those who care for the catholicity ofBritish sport will welcome the abandonment. PAUL BEATS BOURKE. SYDNEY. January 7. At the Leichhardt Stadium to-night in a 12-rounds bout, the New Zealander, Jaclt Pau] (10.4), outpointed Al Bourke (’10.7)? of Newcastle. It was a splendid fight,’ Paul forcing matters until the fifth round,' when he cut Bourke’s eye. The latten brightened up and dropped Patti for seven in the eighth round. Paul thereafter, was extremely’ aggressive and floored Bourke for eight in the tenth round? Bourke managed to see the round out, but was outboxed in the remaining two. UZCUDUN BEAT YON PORAT. NEW YORK, January 10. L’zcudun secured a decision over Voq Povat in a 10-round boxing contest. HEAVY-WEIGHT TITLE. SCOTT AND SHARKEY’. NEW YORK, January 7. Phil Scott and Jack Sharkey will meet at Miami (Florida) on February 27. It is announced by the Madison Square Gar? den Corporation, sponsors of the battle, that the representatives of the fighters have agreed to terms and wiil sign the contracts on Wednesday. LONDON, January 9. Advice from New York states that q Scott-Sharkey fight has been fixed up and there is the greatest interest. It is recalled that it is 23 years ago since an English heavyweight fought for the world title.

Scott, in an interview, said he knew that he would get a chance sooner or later and he believes he can beat Sharkev.