BOXING

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 30

BOXING

By Cross Counter

Pete Sarron and Johnny Leckie meet in Wellington this evening. Jack Johnson, the ex-heavy weight champion, is now acting as conductor of a jazz band

Ihe prices of admission in connection with the Carnera-Stribling fight at the Albert Hall, London, on November 18, ranged from £4 4s to 8s 6d.

Fred M ebster, the British light-weight boxing champion, was knocked out by Justo Suarez, the hard-hitting Argentinian, in the first round of what was to have been a 12-rcund contest in Buenos Aires.

Artie Hay and Ted Morgan will meet at Hastings on January 30 in a bout for the professional welter-weight championship. Hay. who has been boxing as a middle-weight for some time, is under forfeit to make lOst 71b, and in some quarters his ability to do this and maintain his strength is seriously questioned. The contest for the light-heavy-weight Lonsdale Belt between Frank Moody (holder) and Harry Crossley, at the Stadium Club. London, on November 29. is described as a “ tame and colourless contest.” Crossley, who boxed mainly on the defensive, was awarded the decision Eugene Huat, the French fly-weight, who decisively defeated Izzy Schwartz, the man favoured by the New York Commission as the most entitled to bold the world s championship, was one of four selected to take part in an elimination in New His opponent was Black Bull, who won on points. The names of the other two contenders are not given.

Millie Smith, the South African bantam champion, had a narrow escape from defeat by Mickey Doyle (U.S.A.) at Johannesburg. He just scraped through on points. Ixindon papers state that Smith and Baldock would meet in London, nu i tW ? Fears ago Smith defeated Baldock, then went to America, where he failed to live up to hie reputation, returned to South Africa, and then accepted an invitation to visit Australia, where he made three or four appear.*lls most noteworthy opponent being Fidel La Barba, who twice defeated aim. Ihe first Harvey-Hood fight for the middle-weight championship of England promoted by the National Sporting Club was lor a purse of £4150, and the second’ also promoted by the same body was for a purse of £4500. The first ’light took place at the Stadium Club, which cannot accommodate more than 1700 people, the second in the Circus at Olympia, which can accommodate 6000. The club is said to have lost money over the first fight, but hoped to make up more than the loss over the second, the prices Sr at ln ’ ssion for 1311 Honi £4 4s to

James J. Corbett was really the first heavy-weight world's champion under the Queensbcrry rules (says an American writer), an exalted pugilistic title which he won from the famous John L. Sullivan, whom he defeated at New Orleans on September 7, 1892, in 21 one-sided rounds. Sullivan and all previous big champions won their kingly crowns under the tough old bare-knuckie rules, which became obsolete after Corbett acquired the heavy-weight title. The adoption of the Queensbcrry rules, with Corbett as the big mogul in boxing, not only greatly improved the manly sport, but made it immensely popular all over the world. Corbett, by his gentlemanly conduct and clean living, probably did more than any other man to elevate and improve the game. In fact, with his brilliant skill in the ring he really revolutionised boxing. “Gentleman Jim.” as he was generally called, started his fistic career as an amateur, while a bank clerk in San Francisco, his native city. He, however, displayed so much cleverness in various sparring bouts that he left the bank for the professional ring mid quickly polished off Duncan M'Donald. John Donaldson. Martin (Buffalo) Costello, Professor William Miller of Australia, and other top-notchers of his heyday. Corbett’s two gruelling victories over game Joo Choynski with very small gloves proved that Jim was not only a masterly boxer but- a rattling good fighter as well. Probably Corbett's greatest battle was his 61-round draw with Ihe great Peter Jackson at the old California Club in 1891. It surprised followers of boxing throughout the world and made Corbett a very popular contender for the big crown, which be finally won from Sulbvan. Among the other famous men Jim defeated were Charley Mitchell, boxing chamnion of England; Jake Kilrain. and Kid M'Coy. After he lost the big title

to Bob Fitzsimmons, Corbett became quite an accomplished and successful actor. In fact, he lias acquired more wealth before the footlights than he ever did in the ring, and is at present a popular stage favourite all over the country. Although he has passed his sixty-third birthday, he does not appear to be more than a man of 45.

According to a cable message from New York Phil Scott ami Jack Sharkey will meet at Miami on February 27. and Hie chances are that the winner will be recognised in Europe and America as the world’s champion, as the contestants are regarded as the respective champions of the two countries. Commenting on the announcement that the bout has been arranged Cestus says: “This will be extremely pleasing news to English followers of the sport and to the English boxing writers, who. tor months, have been very outspoken in their criticism of the action of the American authorities in ignoring Scott’s claims to meet the best man that American can produce. There is this to be said from the American point of view: American promoters run boxing as a business and not as a sport, with the result that, being called upon to put up big purses, they very naturally seek to match up men who are a big public draw. That is the reason why Schmelling came so prominently into notice. He caught on with the public, and therefore, from the promoter's point of view, as an attraction he was preferable to Scott. Schmelling. however, has been out of the limelight for several months, while Scott has caught the eye by his defeat of Campolo, and also has found favour with the press as the man having the best claims to meet Sharkey, who is regarded as the American champion, and, on performances, having the best right to fill the vacant position of world's champion.” A recent cable message stated that Jeff Dickson has at last been granted a promoter's license by the British Boxing Board of Control. Dickson. who is an American, has been a successful promoter’ on the Continent, and judging by the following quotation from London Sporting Life, the attitude of the board was not very popular. Sporting Life stated recently: “The reconstituted British Boxing Board of Control has been 10 months on trial, and in that time has been even less successful th,an the old board in its professed attempt to control professional boxing in Britain. Instead of harmony, it has produced discord and rebellion. It has made rules and decisions which it has no power to put into effect, and thereby macle itself an object of derision. Not only has it alienated the confidence of the public and the respect of those it is supposed to govern, but it has lost the support of the press, which was given to it so freely at the start of its new life. It has had a blundering existence, and the first and possibly the biggest of its blunders was its refusal to issue a promoter's license to Jeff Dickson. The board played upon the promoting element in its ranks by stressing the fact that Dickson would be a formidable competitor. forgetting that legitimate competition in any business is good for all.” Dickson defied the board by promoting the Carnera-Stribling contest, and of this venture All Sports M 7 eekly states: “The fight, the whole show in fact, was a triumph for Dickson, and the Board of Control must realise more than ever how foolish it has made itself appear by attempting to keep him out. Everyone in boxing who counts was there, even members of the board, I suspect, and the fact that the Prince of M’ales, his curiosity tickled by all the stories of Camera, occupied a seat at the ringside, gives the promoter a status which will ensure his success. I should say that Dickson made a handsome profit, and if that is true, he lias accomplished more than the majority of others who have gambled in boxing promotions. Camera, I understand, received £2OOO. and I take it that Stribling's fee would be much the same. Altogether the ' house ’ produced £8000.”

DONOVAN DEFEATS CROM’LE. NEW PLYMOUTH. January 16

Tommy Donovan (M'aitara) decisively outpointed Tommy Crowle (Australian feather-weight champion) before a crowded house to-night. The contest was fought at great speed. Crowle had slightly the better of the first two rounds, but Donovan won every other round. In the last round Crowle claimed a foul, but was ordered to box on.

BERG BEATS CANZONERT. NEW YORK, January 18

Before an attendance of 17,000 at Madison Gardens, Jack Berg, the British light-weight champion. won easily a 10-round decision over Canzoneri, who got the worst beating of his career.