BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 25306, 8 June 1935, Page 15

BOXING

FIXTURES AHEAD. June 10.—Ern Jacobs v. Maurice O’Brien (middlexyeight title), at Invercargill. June 17 (tentative).—Don Stirling v. Watty Jack, at Dunedin. June 18.—-Charlie Buckley v. Percy Hawes, and J. Ramsay v. N. Fisher, both at Christchurch. June 13.—Max Baer v. James J. Braddock (world’s heavy-weight championship), at New York. September 11, 12, and 13.—New Zealand amateur championships, at Dunedin. NEWS OF THE WEEK.

(By

“Veritas.”)

The Southland Boxing Association stages its second title contest for the season on Monday evening when Ern Jacobs (Wellington) meets Maurice O’Brien (Auckland and Dunedin) for the middleweight crown. The title was held by Harry Lister who forfeited it through his absence from the Dominion longer than the stipulated term. The last time southern patrons were given an opportunity to witness a middleweight championship bout was when George McEwan and Les Adams fought for the vacant title. McEwan won an exciting encounter on points but went down to Adams some days later in a return bout, not for the title however. McEwan was beaten in turn by Frank Prendergast and Tom Crofts but the title was not at stake until he met Bert Lowe at Dunedin. Lowe won the crown and lost it in the ill-fated fight with Lister. There has not been a great deal of interest shown in the middle-weight class since the days of Harry Casey, Lachie McDonald, and Jim Broadfoot, but now that the S.B.A. has taken the middles on there should be plenty of interest again. By his showing against Maurice O’Brien the last time they met Em Jacobs placed himself on a high pedestal with local fans and it will occasion no surprise to find the theatre packed on Monday. O’Brien, too, gained many friends, and there will be a big percentage present prepared to say that O’Brien has an equal chance with the clever Wellington boy. It promises to be a slashing encounter. •

Three good preliminaries figure on the same programme. Most interest will be shown, of course, in the MuirReid clash. Muir will have a good pull in the weights, but by all accounts he is not likely to have matters all his own way. Reid is reported to be a fast and clever boxer and has to his credit two decisions over Em Jacobs (amateur). According to the Dunedin Star Watty Jack has been matched to fight Don Stirling, the welter champion at an early date. The S.B.A. is still waiting word from Cyril Pluto regarding his proposed New Zealand visit, but it is practically certain that he will come across and make his debut in Invercargill. He will probably engage middleweights in his first contest or two. Pluto is a welter but he has been fighting and defeating middles in Australia. Em Jacobs is ambitious, says N.Z. Sporting Life, for he wants to have a go at Ray Nicol anywhere, even in Wellington. One condition though— Nicol’s light-heavy title must be at stake.

Billy Pearce has got an idea into his head that his existence in the fighting line has been forgotten and he wants N.Z. Sportsman to make a small noise on his behalf and let all middle and light-heavies throughout the country know that he is on the warpath. Pearce can’t quite figure why he wasn’t lined up for a fight at Masterton last week and, by reason of his fairly recent decision over Gus Fitzmaurice, reckons he should have been given a shot at the vacant middle title against Ern Jacobs instead of M. O’Brien. However, Pearce isn’t going to despair about things and intends to lodge a written challenge with the N.Z.B.A. secretary to fight the winner for the title. As Pearce is a pretty good sort of a fighter when in form, it’s a wonder that more Associations do not avail themselves of his services.—“Olympian.’'’ Ron Richards has received an attractive offer to go to New Zealand for three contests i (says the “Sporting Globe”). He has been guaranteed £lOO for one and 80 per cent. .of the net profits of two others. It is estimated that that will represent at least £2BO. The Otago Boxing Association intends to stage its next professional contest on June 17, writes “Hooker’ in the Dunedin Star, and a good programme will be arranged in support. The principal fifteen-rounder will be between Don Stirling (New Zealand welter-weight champion) and Watty Jack, of Invercargill, who recently outpointed Frank La Hood in his first professional contest. Southland Boxing.

In a letter to “Hooker” of the Dimedin Star, Mr Alf Fyffe, well-known official of the Southland Boxing Asso-

ciation, gives some interesting comments on fistic doings in the south. He states that the association can do loti of things providing it has the professionals, as they get good-humoured audiences who appreciate good fights and put up with poor ones, and always come back again, knowing well that the association is putting on the best it can get. The ten-rounder between O’Brien and Jacobs was great, it pleased everyone, but : the house was not good. The boys were on a percentage basis, but the association tossed its profit to the boxers. But next time they meet (on June 10) the Civic Theatre will be too small. The S.B.A. will match Nicol again shortly, but will have to put on an amateur night soon after Jacobs and O’Brien meet for the title. Mr Fyffe says he cannot understand the 0.8. A. not putting on O’Brien. He is aggressive and carries a punch. The Southland amateur boys seem to be pretty scarce at present, but he says they will have a full team in Dunedin at the championships. George Singleton is acting as referee next to “Son” Tall and is making a good job of it. He says that Cyril Pluto, the Australian, and Don Stirling should make a good fight if Pluto decides to come this way. A NEW STAR YOUNG CAMPBELL’S SUCCESSES. Sydney, May 2. Following a series of knock out victories over Al. Rex, “Snowy” Breasley, “Son” Tealey and Bob Thornton, Newcastle’s up-and-coming light heavyweight boxer, “Young” Campbell, sensationally knocked out the Italianr American boxer, Pietre Georgi, in the seventh session of a schedule fifteen rounds bout at Leichhardt Stadium on Wednesday night last. Campbell’s rise in the ranks during the last few months as indicated by his decisive victories, has been sensational (says Ted Turner in the Sportsman). Newcastle boxing enthusiasts have long awaited the arrival of a fistic sensation to follow in the footsteps of Harry Collins, Billy Edwards and Jack Roberts. The latest recruit is probably one of the most unorthodox boxers in Australia to-day. He can fight with left hand forward or as a “portsider” with equal success. Invariably he opens with the orthodox stance and, after a few rounds, wheels around to “southpaw.” No opponent has survived with the exception of Ron Richards who defeated the Newcastle youngster some weeks ago in the Brisbane ring. Careful match-making will only bring out the very best in Campbell, who handled the seasoned Georgi like a veteran after three rounds. Outscored in the clinches, Campbell, through mere lack of topline experience, deserted the close milling for long range punching in which his left hooks predominated. At the conclusion of the third round he informed his trainer-manager, Tom Maguire, that he believed he had Georgi beaten. From that round on the Kurri Kurri K.O king fought with the. coolness of a veteran, finally, flashing a heavy left hook to the jaw in. the seventh, and down crashed the visitor to the canvas.