BOXING DELIRIUM TREMENS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 223, 1 September 1936, Page 2

BOXING DELIRIUM TREMENS

'WILD NIGHT AT SYDNEY STANDI 1 ■ s , _ - ''"'SuyS*-' WOMAN ENTHUSIAST KICKS ROMERO ON SHINS. ill " • • | WOULD NOT ENTER RING WITHOUT £SOO CASH. SYDNEY, Aug. 20. What a night! I%'lfas boxing delirium tremens! And the aftermath of those unprecedented occurrences at the Stadium last night (says a writer in the Sydney Sun) is the management's announcement that Al. Romero wil!>not be paid his percentage, Fred Henneberry, however, is to receive his share of the ''gate;-'

It was a night of extraordinary anti-climaxes. , The crowd was just about drooplj£?g from the reaction of all the suspense and excitement. Afitd then the. "manner ner . in which the fight ended stunned' them. ■ '*"v In "fiie twelfth round," Romero, who had been twice cautioned for hitting in the "breakaway,, ripped a low right as Henneberry j bajcfcj-mpved against the ropes. jack-knifed in apparently great pain, and fell writhing on the canvas. But before his collapse the referee had placed his hand on Henneberry's head, proclaiming him the winner. Henneberry had therefore won on a foul. t But at the

stand such liberality with supporting entertainment.

But, to the consternation of officials, boxers were being knocked out in a rounu. It was a desperate position. The demand was rapidly .'Exceeding the supply, and Romero and Stadium representatives were sliil indulging in boudoir bargaining.

Ultimately the supply of preliminary volunteers ran out/; ,One or two rebelled at what they considered unevenness of matches. So Fred. Henneberry was sent into the ring to dispel the growing suspicion of the crowd. Back to Dressing Room.

Minutes passed, and Henneberry, warmed right up to top pitch for action, was becoming chilled in the ring. The suspense for him was almost unbearable, and still there was no sign of Romero. Then his brother, Bill Henneberry. resolved that, Romero or no Romera, there would be no fight, anyway, and led Fred back to the dressing-room.

Stadium. Afterwards the management stated officially that the decision was ; "no contest," and tljat the referee had reported that this was his intention in he action he had taken. Ahead On Points. Henneberry had a most commanding lead on points when the contest so astonishingly ended. A woman spectator, evidently one of Henneberry's warmest supporters, expressed her excited indignation by, fiercely kicking Romero on the shins j "as he walked through the throng to his dressing-room. "I got something-* back on him," she exclaimed triumph- j antly.

i Police organisation swung into action, and Mr. Munro ,went into the ring to tell the public that there would not be a fight. But as he waited for stillness in the stormy clamour, the news was received that Romero would fight, and for a percentage, waiving his previous demand. Henneberry warmed up again by shadow-sparring in the dressing-room, "and followed Romero into the ring. Then more extraordinary happenings occurred. Romero was persistently offending by hitting in the breakaways, being cautioned as early as the secOTd round and again in the seventh. Not only this, but he was offending by hitting after the bell. Anticipating this at the end of the tenth round, Henneberry retaliated with a

Romero whirled when she kicked him., Had his attacker been a man, Romero would liaia- had.A„one-punch knock-out win. When all the confusion was returning to normality, the management stated that Romero and George Simpson, who accompanied Romero to Australia, Would probably be returned to America immediately.

riglit drive that made Romero's head swivel.

About 6 p.m. came Romero's ultimatum to the Stadium that he would not enter the ring uniess he was paid £SOO. He demanded payment at his flat, where he lay on a bad in his fighting attire, with his hands bandaged ready to fight. This was the prologue to chapters of incidents that,;:would make vivid reading in a melodrama of pugilism. The £SOO was procuied by the Stadium authorities,'but there was a counter-specification: concerning the sum. * The manager (Mr;' Jack Munro) packed the money indoles in his two hip pockets, au<I t &M& that moment he was under of two arm yd I detectives.. \ Jfe ? Pie made two t%«stQ Romero's flat, accompanied by life' in an endeavour to persuade'/Romcm to fight, i 'i S W

Henneberry won eight rounds of the contest by good boxing and effective hitting. Romero fought in periodic flashes to conserve his energy for the late period of the battle. Henneberry outranged him and made the majority of Ms blows swish harmlessly over his back. But Henneberry revealed an inclination to lead with Lis loft shoulder and was cautioned for it in the eighth rotind. Heunebcrry's right ear and left eye were bleeding. Dejected Romero. Before he left the Stadium the disconsolate Romero explained why he had adopted his attitude of demand and defiance.

He said he thought he had travelled to Australia on a guarantee of £250 for his first fight, but did not receive it. The Stadium management's reply was that no guarantee existed, that (sables provedwthis, and that Romero way under a misapprehension. Furiher, Romero said that a man in America, claiming to be his manager; was, in fact, no longer his manager. T!iis man, ' lis added, acting through a poy/er of attorney, in Australia, was cent ■M Romeo's share of the'.'gate, to wMQh, Romero, said, thjs.i'ffen was not entitled.

Interviews Failed. Those interviews failed. Then followed bedroom conferences between the Stadium's managing director and Romero. But they, too, were futile." Almost anyone who had influence with Romero 'was enlisted, but the dialogues alliknded in the same u!,l impasse. "-|§§§!l . tfjj M$ mm The counter-proposal to Rgnwo was that he accept £3OO, andfjhat £2OO should be placed in the' hands of someone mutually agreed upon. This person would subsequently pay to Romero the balance of his shave .of 25 per cent. The payment tr> him of £SO0 r it was explained, would have represented more.; than his share of 25 per cent. | j

Romero explained that' he, did not j have much money after-being' AusI tralia so long, with only one previous j fight, lie therefore desired -to have all his money, without a third being deducted, entered-'the ringlast night. That was the. reason why he had delivered his ultimatum. He shook hands with Henneberry in the dressing-room and departed in a sfcate of the utmost, dejection/ His mind was in a whirl', after so much pro-fight haggling, it was a wonder that he fought as well as he did. Romero has since been paid his perlentage.

Meanwhile, as bargainifiC proceed- ." ft a ' t pair !-* ,u I ed, frantic officials »at jttie Stadium! were mobilising' boxers for further! preliminary contests. Sq Preliminary after perlimirfnry was i being sent into the ring. Almost anybody with a cauliflower ear or a Ant-; tened nose was regarded as a possible! recruit. The crowd could not under-c