BOXING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16869, 5 February 1929, Page 12

BOXING

THE HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE THIS MONTH'S CONTESTS If the programme of eliminations in quest of the final contenders for the world's heavyweight boxing championship is carried out as announced last v. ci'k, by the end of the present month ;.i,' number of potential opponents for a title hour, with Jack Dempsey, tho former champion, will have been reducd from seven to four. The first of three contests definitely arranged tool; place last week, when Max Schwelling, the popular German, defeated Johnny Risko on a technical knock-out in the ninth round. On February 22, Kayo ('bristlier is scheduled to meet, Paulino U/.cudun, and live days later Jack Sharkey and Young Stribling will try conclusions at Miami Beach.

Jn America, apparently, more interest attaches to the latter contest. Uzcudun does not seem to be regarded seriously as a participant in a title bout, while Christner's defeat at the hands of Sharkey on January 25 has somewhat discounted his prospects, although Sharkey won qnly by a narrow margin. The Sharkey-Stribling match, however, although .stilt over three weeks olt'. is being keenly awaited. Both men are training in Florida, and are reported to be taking things easy in their, preparations. Already both are in good condition, Stribling from a series of recent bouts, and Sharkey as the result of his training for his bout with Christner. The winners of these two contests, and the New Zealander, Tom Ileency, will then remain to continue the eliminations in search for Dempsey's opponent for the crown in September. Itwould appear that nothing very definite has yet been done in the matter of matching the four remaining men, but it is understood that the winners of the two semi-finals will meet in the final elimination contests. It is generally considered that Schwelling will be called upon to meet the winner of the Sharkey-Stribling bout, and that lleeuey will find bis opponent in tho bettor of Uzrudun and Christner. Tfeeney has met Uzcudun twice already, suffering defeat on the first occasion—his second light in America—and subsequently fighting Hie Spaniard a draw. Christner is a newcomer to the field, and Ibe only real guide to his ability is his narrow defeat by Sharkey, with whom the New Zealander had to divide the honors in a match shortly before Heeney's fight with Tunney.