BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 21986, 8 April 1933, Page 14

BOXING

NEWS OF THE DAY.

“Veritas.”)

(By

The reappearance of Tom Croft in Invercargill (v. F. Dawson at the Civic Theatre on Monday night) will be welcomed by Southland lans who saw him in action against George McEwan some months ago. Although Croft lost to Bert Lowe on points on Monday night at Dunedin, he was far from being outpointed or outclassed by the Olympic representative. Indeed, according to reports, the decision either way would not have caused any strife. Croft is a good two-handed boxer, and although he will be giving away weight to Dawson, he should be clever and quick enough to keep the Australian doing his best the whole way.

In addition to the main bout between Dawson and Croft there will be a good programme of amateur bouts.

Mention of amateur bouts reminds one that the season is at hand, and from now on the amateurs will require just as much attention as the pro’s from the S.B.A. One school that has kept its boys in solid training during the past few months has been waiting for the association to move in the matter. The amateur side of the gam* must not be overlooked.

It is reported that George McEwan and Frank Prendergast may be seen in action at Tuatapere in the near future.

The Makarewa Club’s night on Thursday was voted one of the most successful of its kind ever held in the district. Interest in the game in Makarewa is 100 per cent just now, and credit is due to Billy Foster (tutor) and the officials for their enterprise in establishing the club. To cap an excellent evening’s entertainment supper was served, to over 150 ladies and gentlemen! Where are the champions? Last year’s Southland amateur champions may be located as follows:—Heavy and light heavy, Frank Prendergast—now a professional and training constantly in Invercargill; middleweight, Bill Pasco—still keen and sparring partner for Ray Nicol, Billy Sullivan and all the heavies of the district; lightweight. Jack Reidy—in training in Invercargill and not a pound heavier for summer rest; Jack is ready to take on anybody in his class; featherweight, Jimmy Mosely—turned pro. during the summer season and has now given the game best; welter, Arty Sutherland—mining in the Nevis district, but sure to be ready to defend his title when the time comes along; bantam, R. McMillan—at Bluff as far as is known.

It will be seen that the heavy, lightheavy and feather titles are now vacant. and whether there is anyone on the horizon to fill them remains to be seen. The amateurs showed plenty of keenness last season, and with the inauguration of clubs at Otautau, Makarewa and Wyndham, and a revival of interest at Gore, Bluff and Tuatapere the prospects for a successful season would appear to be very bright. So far there is not a great lot doing round some of the local schools, but I understand there are a number of good boys very active out at Makarewa under Billy Foster’s care. Ray Nicol is again in solid training and is keen to show that he can reverse the decision against Alan Campbell when they next meet later in the month. Both eye wounds have made a good recovery. There was a remarkable ending to a six-round contest at the Newton Stadium recently when Art Rolls (10.6), and Marcel Laffincur (10.10), fought a “draw.” In the fifth round each started a punch simultaneously, and each connected, knocking the other out. As the blows had apparently been struck at the same time, the referee, Art. Mawson, declared honours even. An almost parallel case happened in 1900, when Otto Cribb and “Snowy” Sturgeon knocked each other out. However, Cribb was given the verdict, the referee stating that Cribb landed his blow a fraction of a second before Sturgeon. JIMMY KELSO CONQUEROR OF FOREMAN AND DELANEY. When Jimmy Kelso scored a sensational points victory over Al Foreman about six weeks ago, there were few who ■ realized that he possessed sufficient ability to enable him to wrest the light weight crown from Bobby Delaney. Kelso rose in the night, so to speak, and fought his way to prominence in a very convincing manner. W. F. Corbett, writing in the Sydney Sun, paints the following pen picture of the new champion: “A laundryman, on his Let from 8 a.m. till the clang cf five, seizing linen bundles, shooting them from carrier to drying-ma-chine, in an atmosphere of dripping humidity; and at night a fast-stepping, swift-hitting lightweight struggling for fame under the blaze of ring arc-lights. That, gentlemen, is, or was, Jimmy Kelso, challenger for the Australian lightweight championship, who will face the title-holder, Bobbie Delaney, at the Stadium. Chance brought Kelso into this sudden prominence—a chance against Al Foreman. It had been viewed as just another victory for Foreman: but it was an astounding triumph for Kelso. And now he is out of that laundry steam preparing for the battle of his life; not that Jim dislikes the laundry. He doesn’t, and if he wins the championship he is not going to strut and idle. He’s going back to the laundry. Jimmy Kelso is exceedingly fortunate that he possesses the employer that he does—an employer who is just as keen on fights as Jimmy, and sees them all from the front seats. And that’s just the reason—this fight-feel-ing in common—that Jimmy has been given a fortnight’s perfect freedom from work to prepare for the big opportunity.”