BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 19172, 16 February 1924, Page 13

BOXING

(By “Punch.”) FIXTURES. February 16 —Eddie Parker v. Jack Heeney at Gisborne. February 18—Harry May v. Larry her at Auckland. February 20—Em \ oung v. Tom Heeney at Tokomaru Bay. February 21—Eugene Volaire v. Jack Keenan at Wanganui. February 28—Harry Stone v. Eddie Parker at Tunaru. March 10 —Harry Stone v. Tommy Fairhall at Auckland. July 4—Luis Firpo v. Harry Wills. AUSTRALIAN BOUTS. February 16 —Les Murray v. Earl France. February 16—Bert Spar go v. Bert Ris-t-uccia. February 23—Billy Grime v. Jimmy Semmons. March I—Jack Finney v. Alf. Simmons, Dame Rumour credits big “Jock” Richardson with the intention of absorbing pugilistic tuition, and whatever hard knocks may come along, under the hands of Freddy Jarvis who resumes his classes in a few weeks. Tex Rickard has been beaten in the negotiations for a Firpo-Wills match by a syndicate which has announced that the complete arrangements have been confirmed by cables from Firpo himself The fight will take place on July 4. Lewis Raymond is at the head of a New York syndicate with a capital of two million dollars, which will build a gigantic stadium holding 120,000. He has already paid Firpo £lO,OOO, out of a guarantee of £50,000. This was 25 per cent, better than Rickard offered. The announcement did not find Rickard napping, however, for he had already signed up Carpentier and McTigue to meet early in May. Sydney papers mention Earl France, the latest invader of Australian shores, as a redoubtable first opponent for Les Murray. France, whose years number 23, is spoken of as an aggressive boxer by the Californian coast newspapers. As most of his contests have been in Los Angeles we may take it that he is more used to the short bouts in favour there than the 15 or 20 rounder patronised by Australian fans. France first came into the game in the latter part of 1916. Since then he has had 140 fights, and has beaten the best lightweights on the Pacific coast. Perhaps his best performance is a 15-round referee’s decision over Clonie Tait, who stopped Llew Edwards some years ago. France beat Tait shortly after Llew Edwards was beaten by the Canadian. The 140 fights have resulted in only about 12 defeats—mostly when he was beginning in the game. He made quite a hit in New York, where he was tabbed as a logical contender for the lightweight championship of the world. But he was defeated by George Chaney in a most peculiar way, and that settled his chances in New York. Charlie Purdy, of Auckland, and Roy Trowern, of Whangarei, are billed to meet in a special bout at Auckland on February 18. In view of the publicity which has oeen given to Purdy’s claims as New Zealand’s representative at the Olympic Games, enthusiasts all over the country will welcome this opportunity of seeing the young Aucklander s form.