BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 19123, 15 December 1923, Page 12 (Supplement)

BOXING

(By “Punch.”) FIXTURES. December 15- Freddy Smith v. Clarne Blackburn at Taumarunui. December 26. Jim O’Sullivan v. Tom Heeney, at Palmerston North. January 1.-- Harry Stone v. Eddie Parker, at Hastings. January 5 - Eddie Parker v. Jack Heeney, at Gisborne. March 17—Mike McTigue v. Joe Beckett at Dublin. AUSTRALIAN FIXTURES. December 15. —Alf. Lewis v. Les. Kemp. December 15. Billy Grime v. Bert Spargo. December 15.—Henri Dupont v. Eddie Butcher. December 22.—Sid Godfrey v. Louis Plees. THEY SAY: That the little 'un was the winner e\ery time on Tuesday night. That another professional bout will be staged on January 2. The Southland Association has wired Les Murray, asking his terms for a contest here. The secretary mentioned Harry Stone and Harry May as likely opponents, but it must be stated that the American will fight Eddie Parker on January 1. The result of the Murray-Vol aire bout in Wellington leaves Stone as the only boxer under lt)si. who is capable of beating the Invercargill lad. Stone weighs 105 t.,» while Mui ray 's weight at the Wellington contest was 9st l(Jslbs. There are, of course, several boxers over that limit, who might extend our lightweight champion, but he would be under no obligation to concede any poundage to anybody. The chance of gaining a double title might induce him to meet the new welter champion. That a tournament (including a professional fight) is to be held at Bluff, but no official advice has been received by the act-(ing-Centre. No application for approval of progranunc or list of officials have been forwarded, neither has either contestant (W. J. Sycamore and W. H. Leckie) been licensed, as is required by the new rules of the New Zealand Boxing Association. That Harry May intends stopping at Invercargill for some time yet. In conversation with the writer he expressed himself as willing to meet Les Murray if caJlfd upon. After this battle, I think it will be pretty generally conceded that Harry May is a most promising boy. He is young and should improve under expert coaching. As yet, there is a certain monotony about his glove-work that could be diversified by more variety—further development of his left hand chief on the list. His infighting was' worth watching, while bis blows held more sting than most spectators thought. Above all, the boxers? showed no desire to hug closely and the spectators could see all that passed. That the young Invercargill leatherpusher, E. Livingstone, impressed by carrying the fight to McNeil. Many spectators were of opinion that McNeil should have gained the verdict, but I cannot agree with them. Many of McNeil’s most crushing blows landed with the open glove, others did not score points by landing on the back through not propping his stockier opponent off with his long left. He wasted energy in trying to send blows inside where Livingstone had much the better of matters. Livingstone’s whirlwind onsets at the beginning of each round piled up the points and superior condition enabled him to hold off his opponent for the rest of the round. Taken in all, his northern experiences have greatly improved Livingstone. That Pat Gleeson is on his way to England. That there is one complaint to make with the almost faultless arrangements at Tues day’s battle. The orchestra, or should we say violinist and pianist, played some very doleful music. That Jock Graham has lost his title, but his reputation as a real fighter is undimmed. A right hand with 20 k.o’s. to its credit, caused Graham’s downfall. That posters for the coming fifteen-round engagement between Sycamore and I>eckie, !at Bluff, are being displayed there. The i figure and the lay-out are the same as appeared for the previous Bluff Tournament and for the Graham-May contest. Ihe Bluff Association would be well advised to secure a new design, as many people, thinking it an old poster, will fail to notice it. That Kelly has recovered from the acci dent to his knee, but will have to rest his leg for some time yet. It is to be hoped that the Makarewa lad will have a chance of turning the tables on W. Fewster at some future date. Fewster now holds two victories over him, but the first was gained when Kelly was not in a condition to enter the ring, while in the fight on Tuesday night, Kelly appeared to have a slight tdvantage of a very even battle. That the project of the Southland Association resulted in a slight loss, caused by the many empty seats in the dress circle and the orchestral stalls. The dress circle has always been empty when boxing takes place and the local Association would be well advised to reduce the charges to that portion of the hall. That two sportsmen at Bluff are giving cups to their local Boxing Association. The classes to compete for them hfve not been decided, but will probably be open and novice. •

That Jock Graham is a most unlucky boxer. The breaking of a bone in the hand midway through the bout is not the only accident he has met while lighting. In hie last fight with Fred Hansen he broke his collarbone in the tenth round, and at was the case here, fought without any ap preciable lack of energy. In a bout with Les Murray, he broke his arm in the tenth round.

That the prices for the coming Bluff Tournafhcnt, 10/-, 5/- and 3/-, do not compare very favourably with thbse charged by the local Association. That a Press Association message records* Gene Tunney’s victory over Harry Greb. Greb, the aggressive, rugged veteran, called the Pittsburg Windmill, scored a rather easy victory over Johnny Wilson a month ago, when he gained the middleweight title of the world. In America, Greb has the reputation of a “rough house” fighter. That, judging by the Napier report of the Blackburn-Stone contest, the Aucklander was outclassed in every department, despite the fact that lie kept fighting hopefully all the time. Having the advantage of daily training bouts with Eugene Volaire, Blackburn entered the ring in high hopes, only to find that the eccentric viritor knew a great deal more about the finer pointe

than most New Zealanders dream of. quote from the Hawke's Bay Herald: "Stone has certainly a great knowledge of the art, far too much for the comparatively inexjjerienced young New Zealander, who, however, must be congratulated on the exhibition he made. His opponent did not lake things seriously at all, but occasionally he received a reminder that he could not carry things too far. No one knew when Stone was going to provide a humorous turn, but each and every one had a purpose. To the audience it was most amusing, but to Blackburn it was of the greatest importance." The report also shows Stone’s fine sponmanship. in a letter to the writer, Stone expresses his satisfaction at the arrangements made by the Napier Association and pays a tribute to his young opponent, whom he describes as "a lad who should go very far in the game. He is clever, game, and hits hard, a boxer of whom great things may be expected in the future.” He wants any Association desirous of matching him to communicate with Mr Aldridge, secretary of the Napier Association .and concludes with a promise to visit Southland. Incidentally he signs himself "Light-weight champion of Australia”—a claim that some Australian boxers might dispute. In January next, Hughie Dwyer, should he still be away from Australia, will have to forfeit his title, which will revert to the former holder, Sid Godfrey. provided he is still in the game. That, since his return to Australia, Tommy Fairhall has refused a contract for three fights in Manila withbJamito, Flores and Villon, the contract carrying a £3OO guarantee. The chances of a match with Syd. Godfrey account for this apparently foolish decision. That when New South Wales hold their amateur championships in January, John H. Douglas, of the National Sporting Club, London, and father of Johnny Douglas, cricketer and boxer, will act as third man. He will report whether, in his opinion, any of the contestants are worthy of representing Australia at the Olympic Games. It would be interesting to have his opinion of Charlie Purdy and his prospects with the English and American amateurs. That the Blenheim Association are endeavouring to arrange a match between Carl Callaway and Lachie McDonald, the ex-amateur welterweight champion of Australasia. That McCormick, the amateur heavyweight champion of New Zealand, will turn professional in January, when he will meet Dave Mundy at Greymouth. The new’ Maoriland professional welterweight champion, H. May. who is tarrying in Invercargill for a holiday term because he has found the place to his liking, desires to thank the officials of the Southland Boxing Association and follow’ers of the game of fisticuffs generally for their hospitable treatment of a stranger during his visit. On being questioned as to his impressions of his recent successful contest, the Whangarei boxer stated that he was convinced that the referee of Tuesday evening last (Mr T. A. Henry' was a very capable official and one of the most efficient he had ever fought under and his experience in this connection has been a fairly wide one for a young glove performer. The ex-title holder. J. Graham, of Auckland, , was also pleased with the treatment he received in Southland and made this fact plain prior to his departure for the north.