BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 19

BOXING

FIXTURES AHEAD.

June 15—Jacobs v. Dazler, at Blenheim.. June 18.—Charlie Buckley v. PercyHawes, and J. Ramsay v. N. Fisher, both at Christchurch. June 22.—Jacobs v. Mudgway (tentative), at New Plymouth. June 24 (tentative).—Don Stirling v. Watty Jack, at Dunedin. June 25.—Hawes v. Aitken, at Oamaru. June 25.—Jacobs v. Ford (tentative), at

Masterton. June 27.—Amateur tournament at In-

vercargill. July I.—All-amateur tournament, at

Miramar. July 6.—Oxley v. Carrig, at Pahiatua. July 8 (probable)—Ray Nicol v. Em Jacobs, for light-heavyweight title, at Invercargill. September 11, 12, and 13. —New Zealand amateur championships, at Dunedin. NEWS OF THE WEEK. (By “Veritas.”) Since Em Jacobs has proved himself a clever boxer, it is probable that the S.B.A. will match him with Ray Nicol for the light heavyweight title. July 8 has been mentioned as the probable date. The amateurs will get their opportunity on June 27, when a tournament will be staged.at the Civic Theatre. Billy Sullivan is keen again and is looking for a tilt at Ray Nicol and his light heavy title. .* A correspondent, signing himself “Old Sport,” writes from Dunedin to the N.Z. Sportsman as follows: “Being a spectator at the Stirling-Griffin fight, I feel I would like to give you a few details of the bout. In the first place our local papers do not give Young Griffin much credit. You can take it from me he put up a wonderful performance against a much heavier man. At times he made Stirling look like a novice, making him miss time and time again. It was not until the eleventh round that the extra weight began to tell. In the fifteenth round Griffin went in to mix it with Stirling and was fighting well. He was floored with a right to the jaw (so our papers say). In my opinion it was a “rabbit” punch. This is also the opinion of many others who were in a position to see. Jim Griffin senior, questioned the referee, but was told he was not in a position to see. ‘Young’ Griffin is now in Dunedin Hospital suffering from severe headaches. He was X-rayed last Saturday and the doctors are of opinion there is nothing seriously the matter. They seemed quite certain he was hit on the back of the neck. He will be in hospital for at least another fortnight. PARS FROM THE SPORTSMAN. "Kid” Fisher, who made his first New Zealand appearance at Masterton last week, says he’s feeling just great with a fight into his system and is frothing to have a lick at evergreen Billy Pearce, “Bunny” Martin or O’Brien. Billy Aitken, on whose shoulders is likely to fall the mantle of his cousin, Johnnie Leckie, is much in demand since his successful entry into the professional ranks, and already contests have been offered him in Hastings, Masterton and Oamaru. The association officials in the town are anxious to sign him up to fight Percy Hawes. The Marlborough Boxing Association is at present angling for a JacobsDazler scrap in Blenheim next Saturday. Dazler is now back with his old trainer, Charlie Gear, North Island light-heavy champion in 1922 and a former pupil of Billy Crawford. The Wairarapa Boxing Association is contemplating throwing a mill on June 25 when it is hoped to match our J. Ford against Ern Jacobs. Ford, at present still an amateur, has a big following,, in Wairarapa, and _ his future career will be followed with an unusual amount of interest. Acting on the advice of his instructor, Herbie Larsen, Billy Aitken will definitely refuse to accept fifteen rounds contests until he has participated in at least ten ten-rounders. This decision is wise and is in keeping with the recently adopted American principle of keeping growing lads out of long-dis-tance contests before maturity. In the States it is believed that the early “burning-out” of good class boxers is directly attributable to the youngsters being overworked early in their careers. Boxing is a strenuous sport and the system must be hardened to the tremendous grind by gradual methods. Billy Pearce, the Wellington middle weight, is now in the hands of Harry Hansen, the capable Moera Boxing Club instructor. In a letter to “Olympian” Hansen states that his protege is willing to meet any 11.6 man In New Zealand—Em Jacobs especially. N.Z. Sportsman is in sympathy with Pearce’s claims for some sort of recognition and is of opinion that some nearby association should accommodate him.

Jack Kelly, of Invercargill, has competed in the Southland amateur lightweight championship on several occasions, winning in 1926 and 1931, and being runner-up on every other occasion, writes “Hooker” in the Dunedin Star, in a review of Kelly’s performances.. He won the mid-Canterbury light-weight championship last September, and three days later was runner-up in the Canterbury light-weight championship, being unable to fight in the final owing to a dislocated thumb, injured in a bout

at the mid-Canterbury championships a few days previously. For five successive years he won in the open lightweight class at the Bluff tournament (1924-28), and last year won the open light-weight class at Invercargill, Wyndham and Tuatapere tournaments. He represented Southland at the New Zealand championships in 1931, and lost a close decision on points to M. Candy, a very well-performed fighter. In return bouts, he has defeated all but two of those who held decisions over him, and these two he has not met in return bouts. Kelly has never been knocked out, and only five of his victories have been scored by a k.o. Kelly was always a popular fighter in Invercargill, and this was not surprising in view of the way he has been known to come to the assistance of the Southland Boxing Association. On one occasion a professional contest terminated unexpectedly in the second round. The audience was disappointed, but had compensation when Kelly won a fine bout over six rounds against W. Murphy, the well-known ex-Otago amateur ®welter-weight champion. At Invercargill last year Kelly competed in a four rounds’ preliminary, and was then asked to take the ring against a middle-weight. He did so, and won on points. At the time of writing the date for the bout between Don Stirling and Watty Jack at Dunedin had not been definitely fixed, says “Hooker” in the Dunedin Star. June 24 was the date set by the 0.8. A., and Jack expressed his willingness to appear on that date. Stirling' has also agreed to accept the match, but the position has been complicated by the fact that Christchurch has been after him for a contest with Mudgway on June 26. If not tied up, he will appear here on June 24, and otherwise the contest may have to be put back a little.