PURDY AND BOXING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 11

PURDY AND BOXING

‘‘Old Aussie” writes: “My remarks about Charley Purdy as a boxer seem to have caused a little interest in boxing circles, and as undoubtedly arguments and different opinions make for the good of the sport, why, let them all come. ’Old Timer,’ in your columns, takes exception to my opinion that Purdy is the cleverest boxer the Dominion has produced, and cites Billy Murphy, Alf Gault, Tim Tracey, and Reg Trowern as all being better than Purdy. I have seen all this bunch in action, and am still of the opinion that Purdy overshadows the lot. ‘Old Timer’ suggests Trowern, and not Purdy, should go abroad, and that Purdy should stay in New Zealand if he wants to earn any money. But that is just the difference, and it is not understood by ‘Old Timer,’ that Purdy, secure in the knowledge of his great ability, is not afraid to fight anyone in his class anywhere. Trowern has done very well, despite the poor showing he made with Grime, and as for stating that Purdy would not fight Trowern, unless he made 9.9, ‘Old Timer’ knows that is the light-weight limit, and Purdywanted to battle for the title with Trowern or any other light-weight prior to his departure for England.

“ ‘Old Timer’ need not take too much notice of what Australian boxing writers pen about New Zealand boys, as there is a good deal of prejudice existing against boxers not indigenous to the Aussie soil. But though lam an old Aussie, and proud of the fact, I am sure that New Zealand Charley Purdy for elusiveness and cleverness easily outpoints any Australian I know of, and Grime, compared with Purdy as a speed merchant, would require a little start and then some. While on the subject of New Zealand boxers, does ‘Old Timer’ remember a young fellow called Dick Sandal, who fought Geo. Seale a draw many years ago in Sydney? Otto Crib was another good one, but none of these men would beat Purdy, fighting under properly refereed rules. The “roughhouse stuff” such as holding and hithitting, butting, rabbit-killer punching, shamrocking, palming, and wrestling permitted by referees of to-day surely has no right place in the boxing game, and one wonders when looking on what has become of the referee, who insisted on a clean break, no hitting in the breakaway, and when the men clinched insisted that no hitting could be indulged in unless both hands were free. Opinions are not of much use unless strongly held, and I will be strong for Purdy until he is outboxed under strictly fair conditions.”