BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 19099, 17 November 1923, Page 13 (Supplement)

BOXING

(By

“Punch’

FIXTURES.

November 28 —Stewart Smith v. Eugene Volaire, at Auckland. December 7 —Tournament at Frankton. December 11—Harry May v. Jock Graham, at Invercargill. December 12 —Les Murray v. Eugene Volaire, at Wellington. April—Luis Firpo v. Harry Wills, at Buenos Aires. AUSTRALIAN FIXTURES. November 17—Terio Pandong v. Bobbie Gray. November 24— Archie Bradley v. Tommy Uren. THEY SAY: That, if the public support the local Association for the coming contest, that oody will stage a battle between Les Murray and Eugene Volaire at New Year. That the Gisborne mix-up will cause big Jim O’Sullivan to re consider his decision to cross the Tasman. That the enterprise of the S.B.A. in staging a professional contest on Show night deserves success. It being Show night, country visitors will have somewhere to go —and the reasonable prices should not debar the thriftiest of farmers from entering. That women would make good seconds. Just imagine if the poor referee blundered what a babel of sound thc-re would be! The local Association's secretary, Mr J. H. Gilbertson, announces the completion of the negotiations for the Graham-May conest. The contestants have agreed to enter the ring on the night of December 11 for a purse of £135 and the welter title will be disputed over fifteen rounds. W. H. Leckie, of Dunedin, not being available, the promoters have made a wise choice, securing R. H. Fulcher, also of Dunedin, to contest a six-round preliminary with W. J. Sycamore. There will be no need for the writer to enlarge on the local man's fighting qualities—Southlanders have already adjudged him a fast, clean battler. Public interest will be centred on the young Dunedin leather pusher who, since his last appearance in an Invercargill ring, has gained South bland honours. When last in Invercargill, Fulcher fought a fast battle with a fellow-townsman, A. Rowe, the referee, if I remember rightly, ordering another round to be fought. After beating the South Island feathers, Fulcher met and was defeated by C. Purdy in the Dominion title decision. To be beaten by one, who the Australian critics acclaim is the most scientific amateur in aj! Australasia, is no disgrace! In a recent Otago tournament Fulcher, with H. Kindly, gave “the best contest of the night.” On this occasion his fighting weight was 8.9, so the local boxer, who invariably weighs in at 9.0, should be at an advantage in this respect. In another six-round fore-runner of the chief event, E. Livingstone will oppose E. McNeil. Both are well-known locally, Livingstone having appeared at most recent tournaments, while McNeil has not appeared jublicly for some time. On the day of the 31anks Benefit, this pair gave an exhibition )out, McNeil appearing somewhat in need )f training. But time will remedy that. Should any of the above bouts reach a udden end via the k.o. route, A. WilkinBen, Southland’s welterweight, will enter the ring to oppose J. Doyle, of Bluff. Monetary considerations need not debar local sportsmen from this encounter as prices are surprisingly low. Those desiring seats by the ringside need pay 10/- only, 7/6 will be the entrance fee for the dress circle and other stalls seats and 5/- for seats further back in the stalls, while those who tender 3/- will gain admittance to “the Gods.” All these prices will, of course, ae plus amusement tax. THE FIGHTERS. Anowing Jack Humphries to be acquainted with both the combatants in the coming professional encounter at Invercargill, the writer extracted the following notes from him:— At Greymouth, in 1921, Harry May wrested the lightweight title from New Zealand’s best, proceeded to Australia and gained Australasian honours. By turning professional, he defeated Paul Dignan (the 1 conqueror of Clarrie Blackburn), later being defeated by Paul Hannah twice and each a doubtful decision, according to Humphries. Paul Demsky was his next opponent and, in two contests, the pair emerged with a victory a piece to their credit. He then Opposed Smith, who lost on a foul. Jock Graham, well-known in the ama4?urs of Auckland, entered the wage earning ranks about the same time as Harry May. His most notable bouts have been jhiUi Laurie Cadman and Les Murray„