THE SPORT OF BOXING

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1929, Page 4

THE SPORT OF BOXING

HAWERA MATCH CANCELLED

INVASION OF OVERSEAS BOXERS.

DONOVAN MEETS TOMMY CROWLE

“Referee.”)

(By

To-morrow.—Billy Grime (Australia) v. Johnny Leckie (New Zealand), at Napier, Thursday—Tommy Donovan (Waitara) v. Tommy Crowle (Australian featherweight champion), at New Ply-

mouth. December 16. —Jack Jones (Hawera) v. Lou Bloom (U.S.A.), at Invercargill. December 17.—Billy Grime v. Pete Sarron (U.S.A.), at Wellington. December (date to be fixed).—Jack Jones (Hawera) v. Lou Bloom (U.S.A.),

at Greymouth. December 27.—8i11y Grime v. an op-

ponent, at Auckland. January I.—Johnny Leckie (New Zealand) v. Pete Sarron (U.5.A.),, at Napier. January.—Tournament at Hawera. February.— Tommy Donovan v. an opponent, at New Plymouth. # * # «

In view of the coming clash with Sarron, Johnny Lcckie’s return to the arena to-morrow night is attracting Dominionwide interest. The New Zealander meets in a return contest the old war-horse Billy Grime. Grime suffered the ignominy of a knock-out for the only time in his career when he met Leckie; and, if necessary, would fight for nothing to wipe out the stain of that defeat.

Featherweight champion of Australia Tommy Crowle, and Crowle pere, stepped off Tuesday’s Sydney boat and travelled to New Plymouth to do battle with Tommy Donovan. In a short period Crowle has compiled a creditable record over the best at his weight in Australia, numbered among his victims being Tommy Barber, Tommy Doble, Cocoa Jackson and Togo Robinson. * # # #

It is understood that the Taranaki Association has secured the services of the Australian for an indefinite period. Enthusiasts - know what a wonderful display Doble made against the Waitara slugger, and if fickle form remains true Donovan should be thoroughly tested by the Cornstalk representative.

Since his disastrous American tour Billy Grime has met with varied success in his fistic essays. He has lost on points to Fidel la Barba, Pete Sarron (twice), and Babe Herman, while he has defeated Lou Bloom (twice) and Pete Sarron. He was knocked out in 14 rounds by Johnny Leckie, and lost onq of his contests with Sarron on a technical knock-out in nine rounds.

Johnny Leckie has been out of the game for over three months, his last essay being on August 19, when he defeated Sammy Shack at Dunedin. While in Australia Johnny knocked-out Billy Grime in 4 rounds, defeated American Claude Wilson twice and Pete Sarron, and in the return contest was knocked out by Sarron in the devil’s session.

With features almost as flat as a gramophone disc, Yankee Lou Bloom acted as Sarron’s chief second at Wellington on Monday night. Lou is an American ’varsity youth, only 22 years of age. In his four years of boxing he has fought over 240 contests and lost but 15. While in Australia Lou twice lost to Billy Grime, was defeated on a foul by Englishman Harry Corbett, and took decisions over Jack Roberts and Norm Gillespie (twice). • «■ a =»

“Annoyed at Sarron’s ‘rough-house’ tactics, the crowd gave vent to its disapproval in no uncertain terms. Jones was the victim of numerous ‘rabbitkillers.’ ” So stated a report of the contest between Pete Sarron, the AmericanHebrew, and Jack Jones, of Wales, at Wellington on Monday night. If such is the case then the referee of that contest deserves to be' taken to task. At the first sign of illegal tactics a warning should have sufficed. But even after the warning was given it was reported that the American again had recourse to the “rabbit-killer.” There is seldom an excuse for the use of such a blow. In nine cases out. of ten it is deliberate and likely to cause serious injury to the recipient.

The rules of the New Zealand Boxing Association definitely state that the referee may, without a caution, disqualify a competitor for committing a foul. The fouls defined are: (a) Butting with the head on any parts of the opponent’s head or body; (b) hitting or pushing with the knee, elbow, wrist, forearm or heel of the hand; (c) holding and hitting; (d) making a fraudulent claim of foul; (e) digging the chin into an opponent’s shoulders; (f) making insulting remarks to an opponent during the progress of a contest; (b) using any chemical compound on head or body calculated to affect an opponent; (h) hitting with open gloves; (i) hitting on the breakaway after being ordered to break; (j) hitting below the belt; (k) hitting on the back of the neck (the “rabbit-killer”) or on the kidneys; (1) going down without being hit; (m) wrestling or roughing on the ropes or on the breakaway; (n) failing-to break when ordered; (o) indulging in any tactics which in the opinion of the referee are unfair or unsportsmanslike. * # * *

With arrangements finalised' for the return contest between Pete Sarron and Jack Jones, the Hawera Association was particularly unfortunate in having to cancel the contest owing to the indisposition of the Welshman. The courageous Jones took on too big a hurdle when he contracted to make 9st 51b, or forfeit £5O, for his first essay with the Yankee. “Referee” has it on reliable information that t-hree days prior to the contest Jones was 341 b overweight. During those three days he starved, reduced 321 b and.entered the ring weighing Ost 421 b. He looked and was a skeleton, being so weak that he could hardly stand upright. Yet against one of the most formidable men of his weight in the world he gave an exhibition of stoic courage that has seldom been equalled in the hempen arena. At his normal weight, about Ost 101 b, Jones is a particularly brilliant exponent of the art noble and the fact that he was tied down to make such a -ridiculous weight does not reflect great credit on the association concerned, or the boxer himself for agreeing to waste. Sarron, too, might not have made the terms of his contract so hard. Billy Murphy and “Ruby Robert” Fitzsimmons never cavilled at giving away stones in weight, while even in these enlightened days

Billy Grime has held three Australian titles at the one time, and defended them on numerous occasions, while “Hop” Harry Stone tackled good middle and light-heavyweights with the same equanimity as he did men of his own .poundage. .7