BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 22068, 15 July 1933, Page 14

BOXING

Events Ahead. July 17.—Ray Nicol v. Billy Sullivan, at Hamilton. Aug. s.—Bert Lowe (Dunedin) v. Tom Croft (West Coast), at Invercargill. Aug. 9.—Southland Amateur Championships. Aug. 12.—Otago v. Southland amateur contest at Dunedin. Aug. 30.—Professional contest at Invercargill. Sept 7,8, 9.—New Zealand Amateur Championships at Blenheim. Oct. 2 and 4.—Australasian amateur championships at Brisbane. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “St. Bernard” (Nightcaps)—“Twist” Jaggers attended the Southland Boys High School in 1921. “W. J.” (Alexandra)—Suggest you try yourself out at the Southland championships first. NEWS OF THE WEEK. (By “Veritas.”) Several of the competitors in the novice tournament on Wednesday were badly in need of a haircut, their flowing locks getting in their eyes. Another boy' would have weighed considerably less if he had had a bath before his bout. Tom Croft had a comfortable win over Billish at Wellington on Monday night. In the fourth round Billish was dropped for “eight” and looked about finished, but Croft could not land a finishing punch. Billish stood up to a lot of punishment. He was very game, states a Post report. The decision was the only one possible. Report hath it that Eddie Parker and Billy Sullivan are to be matched in Timaru this month. It is years since Eddie Parker was in the ring last, but if he could regain some of his old form he would keep Sullivan very busy. Percy Hawes was married a fortnight before he met and defeated Joe Franklin recently. Hawes is reported to have challenged Johnny Leckie for the feather-weight championship of New Zealand.

Whose the blame? After mid-night on Wednesday a young amateur boxer from Wyndham was found wandering around Invercargill’s streets looking for the Civic Theatre. He was to pick up the Wyndham bus there. He had been to a doctor and had some stitches inserted in his lower lip which had been injured during a bout that evening. He was alone and was obviously suffering from his experiences. Did the S.B.A. know anything about this boy’s injuries? Was he required to look after himself, or was there anyone detailed off to see that he was properly directed in the matter of receiving attention ? The two heavyweights who provided so much entertainment at the tourney on Wednesday night have been “engaged” by the S.B.A. to fight a special preliminary on the night of the Lowe—■ Croft match. Also on that programme will be Bill Pasco and A. J. Bourne, the hard hitting light heavyweight of Christchurch.

The old firm, Nicol and Sullivan, meet for the fourth time, at Hamilton, on Monday night. These heavyweights are evidently giving value in the north.

After Nicol defeated Sullivan at Auckland he was challenged by Alan Campbell, of Timaru. Wednesday’s amateur tourney was another of those successful amateur nights the S.B.A. are noted for. The response by the public was a good one and proved conclusively that they will pay to see the “lily-whites” in action. Jack Kelly, the veteran light-weight amateur, was not taking, part in the tourney, but he was not far from the inside of the ring. He seconded Billy Campbell when the Otautau boy won through Arnott’s (Milton) disqualification.

A mixed reception greeted the decision in D. Thomas’s favour in the open lightweight mill between Thomas and MacFarlane. This was MacFarlane’s first appearance in the ring for some

time. He shaped well but left himself very open to swings from both hands. In the third round, Thomas apart from dropping MacFarlane for "eight,” scored freely with both hands to MacFarlane’s head, and scored sufficient points to more than outweigh the difference, if any, in the preceding rounds. MacFarlane’s infighting was commendable. He was turned out in good condition by Billy Sycamore and shaped as though he should play a promising part in the decision of the lightweight championship later on. With Billy Campbell, Jack Kelly, Jack Reidy, “Shorty” Thomas, Harold MacFarlane and others, possibly Jack Thomson and Carmen Epencer, available, the lightweight class should produce one of the best champions we have had in the south for some years.

Mr “Son” Tail’s refereeing was the subject of much favourable comment from a couple of Wellington visitors at the ringside. They admired his activity inside the ropes and the unhesitating way in which he hopped in to protect hopelessly beaten and helpless boys from unnecessary punishment. It is good to hear such comment from outside. “Veritas” has always been favourably impressed with .Mr Tail’s refereeing ability, and taking a line through one or two northern referees, who have been hailed as second to none in the Dominion, he appears to be well in the forefront of them all. It is hoped by many supporters of the game locally that the S.B.A. will not overlook Mr Tail’s prospects of the managership of the New Zealand team to Australia and ensure his nomination going forward by appointing him a delegate to the annual conference of the N.Z.B.A. at Blenheim in September. The older generation of Southlanders will be pleased to hear of Dan Creedon, one of the hardy champions of bygone days. Writing in the N.Z. Sportsman “E.C.T.” (Sydney) says: “June 7 last meant the sixty-fifth milestone for old Dan Creedon, that hard fighting New Zealand-born heavyweight of other days. Creedon first saw the light at Invercargill. For some time now he has been an inmate of the Home for the Aged and Infirm at Royal Park, Victoria. At present the old warrior is enjoying much better health than for some time.” Veteran Dave Smith was so pleased with the ability of Wally Hogg, the Napier welterweight boxer who arrived in Sydney a few weeks ago, that recently he took his new charge along to engage in a couple of work outs with no less a fistic light than the redoubt-

able Bobby Blay. To say the very least Hogg rather amazed all who witnessed these lively displays. Quite realizing the fact that he was boxing a great one, Wally commenced nervously but quickly found his feet and forced Blay to employ every atom of wizardry to hold the Gisborne boy in check.— N. Z. Sportsman’s Sydney Rep. Paul Berlenbach, ex-champion lightheavyweight, was at one time deaf and dumb. Gene Tunney was the first title holder to win the honour via the decision route, and Jess Willard the only one to lose the championship sitting on his stool, being unable to continue. Bob Fitzsimmons, the greatest body walloper of them all, never once hit below the belt, and Fitz fought them all for 34 years. Tom Sharkey was given a decision over him once by Referee Wyatt Earp, a famous gunman, but the consensus of opinion was that Fitz was robbed and Bob had hit Sharkey with a fair punch, his famous solar plexus. Maurice Stickland, the New Zealand heavyweight in Sydney, is now 13st. 7 lbs. He will probably be matched with Ray Nicol when he returns to New Zealand. Cancro, the biggest man ever to win the world’s boxing championship, received only 16,000 dollars ( £3200 at par). Sharkey, who was knocked out in the sixth round, received 70,000 dollars (£14,000 at par), which represented 42 per cent, of the gate. SPENCER v. KELLY. A DISPUTED DECISION. Dear “Veritas,”—ln your boxing notes of the Ist inst. you state Carmen Spencer has met and defeated the veteran Jack Kelly three times, and there was no doubt about Spencer’s superiority on Tuesday night. According to the above there must have been some doubt in your mind with regard to the two previous bouts. Many fans present at Wyndham say Kelly should have received the decision there also. I understand Kelly has had 80 contests in all and was never K.O.’d and being a comparatively young man I do not think he will be prepared to hang up the gloves just because of three doubtful- decisions. I think the Southland Boxing Association should show some gratitude towards one who has kept the standard of boxing very high and who was always willing to get them out of a hole and enter the ring at short notice. The general public are becoming disgusted with some of the decisions and one wonders what decisions will be put over on Wednesday night. Perhaps “Veritas,” you may be able to enlighten me why the judges disagreed over Kelly and Spencer at Wyndham?—l am, etc., y “JUSTICE.

8/7/33- , xl _. , .. [I was unaware that the judges disagreed at Wyndham. Did they 1— •Veritas.”]