THE SPORT OF BOXING

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1929, Page 5

THE SPORT OF BOXING

PUNCHES AND PUNCHING DOINGS IN THE SQUARED CIRCLE. FIXTURES IN PROSPECT. (By “Referee.”) Saturday.—Tommy Donovan v. “Kid” Smith, at Stratford. July 2u.—Southland amateur championships July 27. —Johnny Leckie (N.Z.) v. Pete Sarron (U.S.A.), at Sydney. July 29.—Tommy Donovan v. an Australian opponent, at Wellington. July 29 and 30. —Auckland amateur championships. August 2. —Artie Hay (N.Z. welter champion) v. Billy Richards (Australia). August 12 and 13. —Wellington amateur championships. August 13.—Taranaki amateur championships, at New Plymouth. August 20. —Toiiimy Donovan v. Tommy Griffiths, at New Plymouth. Finals Taranaki amateur championships as preliminaries. August 29, 30 ond 31— N.Z. amateur championships, at Greymouth. Date to be fixed—Tommy Donovan v. Johnny Leckie, at New Plymouth. The matching by the Stratford Sports and Pastimes Club of “Kid” Smith, and Tommy Donovan on- Saturday night is an indication of the progressive spirit ‘possessed by that body. In Donovan the club has secured the best box-office attraction and most talked of pug. in the Dominion, it is to be hoped such enterprise will bp well rewarded and that as the hour or the contest approaches the officials will be able to hang outside the “House full” sign.

It was inevitable that Johnny Leckie should, be re-matched with the little Yankee, Pete Sarron, after their recent wonderful display in Sydney, when Johnny secured a points decision over the American. Leckie received more heavy blows in that fight that he has in the rest of his career and was told by his medical adviser to spell for a fortnight. The return is booked for Saturday and the drome of stoush should he filled to overflowing. # ’ =s Tlie matcli-niaiiing committee of the Taranaki Boxing Association has for some time past been working overtime in an endeavour to secure suitable opponents to pit against the Waitara sensation, Tommy Donovan. When it persuaded Auckland Matt Hatton, who is as hard to sign up as Gene Tunney, to leave bis home town the position was relieved for a while, but as the contest drew near it became necessary to search for further talent. Again the position has been saved by the return of Tommy Griffiths from Ins journey across the Tasman. No time was lost in securing the services of the Dunedin boxer and the match has been arranged for August 20.

The sensational Novocastrian, “OneRound” Jack Roberts, who defeated Filipino “Kid” Johnson (twice) and Springbok Willie Smith in almost jig time, had a spanner thrown into his works when Babe Herman, U.S.A, slugger, knocked him out in 12 rounds. On top of that Lou Bloom, of America, gained a points decision over Jack in his home town. Newcastle. The Australian damaged his hands so badly that he will have to spell for at least two months.

“Kid” Smith, who crosses gloves with Tommy Donovan at Stratford on Saturday night, has forwarded his record: which reads well. He states he is 23 years of age, commenced his career as a glove gladiator in 1925 in England, and has had 52 contests, .winning all except

two. About IS months ago Smith turned professional and as such has entered the ring six times, to emerge the victor on four occasions. One contest was drawn and one lost, the latter to Tommy Donovan on points at Paten a few weeks ago. He has defeated such well-known boxers as Johnson of Melbourne, Cann of Timarn and Richardson of Christchurch, while lie has also acted as sparring partner to Ted Morgan, amateur welter champion of the world, and Australian Teddy Green.

Tommy Griffiths, the Dunedin feather who recently returned from a voyage to Australia, had, so he says, “A wonderful trip, but no money.” Tommy has fought in the Dominion for a number of years with considerable success and has compiled a very creditable record. He. has twice beaten the rugged Blenheim sera imer. Dick Vereoe, and holds a points

decision over Billy McAlister, the bantam champion of Australia. He also ran Johnny Leckie to a close decision, being beaten on points over 15 rounds. Tommy then visited the Commonwealth with Leckie but foolishly agreed to fight a return with McAlister at the Bst 61b limit. Griffiths made a valiant effort to reduce and actually got to within half a pound of the weight. However, the washing took its toll of bis stamina and, after forcing the fight over the early rounds, he faded away and was severely punched in the seventh session. There is no yellow streak in Tommy s make-up and he gamely struggled on until the tenth, when the fight was awarded to McAlister on a technical knock-out. Tommy rehabilitated himself when he fought “Cocoa” Jackson, Australian featherweight champion, and won easily over 15 rounds. On his last appearance in the Commonwealth Griffiths was beaten in eight rounds by Ern Connors.

' Billy McAlister, Australian bantam champion, received a rude shock recently when Welshman Laney Morgan recorded a draw against him after the Australian had declared that the said Laney was absolutely no match for a pug. of his prowess. In meeting Morgan the Australian ran up against the toughest opponent he has encountered for many a long day and “Mac” was a sadly disillusioned boy soon after the contest had commenced. However, he paid a fine tribute to Morgan after the contest when he said that he had heard the Welshman was good, but did not believe him to be half as good as he was. The pair meet in a return tomorrow night. # -» *. #

The sudden termination of the Hatton v. Donovan affair at tfio New Plymouth Opera House last Saturday night left the large crowd agape with astonishment. It was not so much that Donovan had been successful in disposing, midway through the third stanza, of an opponent rated as a particularly clever and game exponent of the noble art as it was the fact that Hatton collapsed when he seemed to be just warming up to his job. The Aucklander commenced well, for he is a notoriously slow beginner, and had, by dint of heady evasion and superior in-fighting, divided first round honours. In the second session Donovan had a slight margin in his favour on Referee “Mick” Stewarts score sheet, li- the third and last round Hatton seemed to be overwhelmed by the fury of the fireman’s attack and early was sent to his knees. Donovan then nailed him when he was backmoving and both fighters hit the canvas, with the ultimate winner uppermost. That was the beginning of the end for Hatton. Donovan, when his man bounded upright at “nine,” launched a furious onslaught which the Aucklander made only a feeble attempt to evade, allowing his opponent the opportunity to administer the coup de grace by means of a left to the solar plexus and right hook to the jaw. After the fight Hatton exhibited a large lump on the back of his head, claiming that when he fell he struck his head on the canvas. He said ho was dazed thereafter and only dimly remembered struggling to his feet.

The Wellington Association’s policy of staging frequent tournaments is meeting 0 with the approval of patrons and the Town Hall was well filled on Monday night when two professional contests were the top liners of an attractive programme. Sid North (Australia) drew with Cyril Hurne, the local bantam, over 15 hectic rounds. It was an even break, North’s harder hitting being counterbalanced by Hume’s superior boxing. The struggle developed from a tame commencement to a vicious slugging contest on North’s part and clever evasion, with snappy lefts and rights interspersed on the part of Hurne. The Wellingtonian appeared to be remembering the sleep-producer Vic White had handed out to him recently, for lie kept his ,’iw well in and managed to evade North’s strenuous attempts to apply the closure.

The contest that pleased the fans most was the 10-rounded between Jack Crowley and Jim Cotterell, who have both fought in New Plymouth. Cotterell opened well and had the genial Jack on the canvas as early as the first round. In the third session Crowley, who could not use his right, rushed his opponent and both fell to the canvas. Jack was doing great work with his left and in the fourth had the Petoneite worried. The sixth saw Crowley as full of fight as ever and he continued to thud solid lefts to the body. Crowley connected with a stinging left to Cotterell’s nose in the ninth and thereafter both fighters were covered with gore. Cotterell came with a rally over the final session and was awarded t’ verdict. Crowley, who has the heart of a Heeney, was warmly applauded as he left- the ring, for he gave a very game showing.

BOXING AND BOXERS.

HISTORY BEING MADE.

Despite the holidays there has been little else discussed (writes Eugene Corri) among boxing people except the history-making happenings at Olympia. And there has been the liveliest speculation as to whether it will be possible for the National Sporting Club to arrange one or more world championships. Such thing as fights .for world titles are uot easy of arrangement, especially when you have to reckon with such as • Jack Kearns, who is responsible for Mickey Walker; and as to the bantam position a definite move cannot be made until America has seen fit to nominate her best of that particular division. It is said that it will take at least £30,000 to get Walker and Harvey into the ring. Maybe, but 1 very much doubt whether Walker in New York could draw that sum against Harvey or any other challenger. If Kearns is the shrewd fellow he is accepted to be he must know that the N.S.C. can pay his

man as much as any promoter on the other side will be prepared to put up. I have an instinctive feeling that if we keep on urging Walker to come this way again he will do so. The title is worth more to him in London than in his own country, for there his stock is not rated as high as it was. And in the matter of the bantam title surely it can be argued that Baldock’s position is as strong as, if not stronger than, that of any other Bst 61b man. Providing we put up a generous purse which wo are completely ready to do, he should be free therefore to fight in his native ring. I understand that Baldoek is not prepared to wait for America to take the lead, and if their accepted best bantam is not for travelling he will go to the States for a match. If I , were Baldoek I should wait a little while longer to see what develops. I admire his spirit, but it would never do for him to make the trip unless he has a hard and fast con-

tract before leaving. He should insist that he has done as much as, if not more than, any other bantam to do battle for the title. There must never be any question of his being tried out if he -goes to America. His business should be to fight for the championship or stay at home, where there is still some work that he could profitably do.

AFTER THE HEAVYWEIGHT.

As regards Len Harvey there has broken out another war of words between him and Phil Scott. For the life of mo I cannot understand why he should trouble his head about the heavyweight champion. You will remember that immediately after he had knocked out Frank Moody at the Crystal Palace a challenge (which I did not take too seriously) was issued on his behalf to the heavy-weight champion. Apparently Harvey, or at least his backer, believes that lie has the beating of Scott. If that is so and they will put up a side stake big enough to suit the Scott party, no doubt a match could be rnaae, providing one or the other of them did not expect a promoter to pay them un the Dempsey scale. There is nothing simpler than the staging of a fight if the principals really want to fight. There is nothing to stop them from getting m the ring at once. I see some objection lias been made to such a boilt; it is held that it would result in a tian rnaten. But whilst Harvey is only a middle ne would be only following long-established precedent if ho fought the heavyweight champion. It cannot surely be forgotten that Carpentier, no heavier than Harvey and when not as old, fought Bombardier Wells at the Ghent Exhibitions. The physical disparity between them was extraordinary. Carpentier was not as tall as he is now, and he must have been a couple of stone the lighter. Such being the facts let Harvey and Scott meet by all means if they are simply itching to fight. I am not a little surprised, however, to find . that Harvey should not be primariy concerned to get a contest with Walker. That should be his whole aim. lie should leave Scott to confine himself to men of his own class.

A SLOW STARTER. And while Harvey is waiting definite news of Walker I do not think he would find it very difficult to secure a return match with Ireland in Edinburgh, if he so minded. I would not advise him to visit America yet awhile, though I have little or no doubt that he would do well in the States. Ireland, I am told, was not a little cross that he was held to have taken the full count. He swears that ho could have continued at the ninth second. I doubt it. But even so

I do not think the count was taken too quickly. If they met a second time all the odds would be that Harvey would again win by a knock-out. I think he is a better boxer than the Scot and is the heavier puncher by far. The only fault that may be found with Harvey is that he is inclined to take too much time to feel out his man. He is a slow beginner. It is as if at the start he does not feel quite himself. I am assured, however, that he fought Ireland strictly according to plan, that he deliberately allowed and encouraged Ireland to show all he had before setting out for victory. Harvey. at Olympia, for the first five rounds did little that was remarkable. It was only when he unloosened himself that we had in him a great midde-weight.

I am asked whether I consider him to be better than Milligan, was at his best. I have begun to think so for the reason that the Scot, as he was against Walker, did not show himself to be such a general of himself as I believe Harvey to be. The trouble with Milligan was that he was impetuous. It was as plain as a pikestaff that if he insisted upon a downright fight Milligan would play into the hands of Walker. Yet he absolutely declined to play for safety. Milligan was all fire: Harvey is as cold as ice. He is a thinker, and I expect that he will go further than Milligan. I consider that Harvey stands alone among the middle-weights of Europe.