THE SPORT OF BOXING

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1929, Page 7

THE SPORT OF BOXING

DONOVAN’S DEFEAT OF CROW TARANAKI ASSOCIATION CRITICISED. LIST OF FIXTURES IN PROSPECT. (By “Referee.”) To-night.—Billy Grime (Australia) v. Pete Sarron (U.S.A.), at Auckland. Wednesday. —Johnny Leckie (Napier) v. Pete Sarron (U.S.A.), at Napier. February 14.—Johnny Leckie v. Billy Grime, at Wanganui. * # * ■# # The fifth contest between Grime and Sarron is to be staged at Auckland tonight. Familiarity breeds contempt and it seems as if Sarron has the Australian’s measure. w o n a The deciding battle between Johnny Leckie and Pete Sarron is to be staged by, the Napier association on Wednesday night. The pair have a win apiece, but Sarron’s was by the short route and he gave Leckie such a. trouncing that .the New . Zealander’s fistic aspirations received a rude, setback. . It looks like Sarron again. w•. • • e While. Tommy Donovan’s defeat of. Tommy Crowle was an admittedly creditable performance and . the contest easily his best to date, there were numerous little incidents, if one might’ call them incidents,, which detracted from the merit of his victory, . There was an abnormal amount, of holding, at which Donovan was the chief offender, and he was early told to “keep ’em up.” Again he displayed a habit of butting with his head, something-which was neither appreciated by his opponent nor by the crowd. Donovan’s penchant for butting was, apparently, the cause of the wound oyer .his eye being re-opened, .for it was bleeding after, he..had given Crowle a jolt on. the jaw with his forehead.

Another objectionable, habit Donovan has adopted is that of toothlessly grimacing at an opponent. T^ ie continuance of such habits is bound to make the Waitara boxer disliked by the public and, while that, no.doubt, does not greatly concern him, he should remember that' it is by the public’s appreciation of himself as a boxer-fighter that he is. where he is to-day. “Referee” is sure that the majority of Donovan’s most ardent supporters would, greatly like to see him cut the “rough-stun” out in the ring and. act more in the manner of the thorough little, gentleman his intimates know him [to be. , . .

No doubt lack of suitable sparring partners has been his greatest handicap and practically all he knows is what he has learnt ,by studying the-methods ui iiis opponents. That lie.: hits ’ gone, so far in such , a hard, game says much for his pluck and pertinacity.. Qne tvould like to see him take advantage ’of Tommy Crowle’s offer to teach him . all he knows of the noble art for, although he suffered defeat at the hands of a much stronger opponent,, the Australian is well versed in the finer points and has the additional advantage of having been trained by some of the most capable of Australia's capable, mentors. Donovan could learn much from the Australian.

® u .... ■ The Taranaki association has 'been taken to task by various, sporting scribes throughout the Dominion lor its attitude in refusing to release'Donovan-to meet Yankee barren under any. other association. “Aeneas”, in the Wellington Post has gone sb far as. to . state, that it is a matter which the Bp.xiiig Council might .well investigate, •’Referee' is in flie position to know that the Taranaki association would welcome such an investigation, the results of which would probably create a stir in. boxing circles throughout the Dominion. “Aeneas” considers it unfair to Donovan that he should be “tied up” in such 1 a manner. One is impelled to ask why will not VVellington release Sarron to meet the Waitara boxer at New Plymouth 7 As a. matter of fact Donovan is under no"obligation to the Taranaki association other than, that he prefers to box under tlie aegis of a body which has nurtured him. from, a raw amateur to the prominent position he holds in the boxing world to-day —that of being the most, sought after and, most talked of pug in New Zealand. Surely it is logical teat Donovan, who is in a Government position and lias to obtain special leave, and lose wages, to meet opponents.a long distance from his home town, should prefer to box in Taranaki where- he can, .and does, knock-off work at 5 p.m., fight the same niglit and return to his work the following morning. Further, the Taranaki association has recently been offering the maximum purse allowed by the New Zealand Boxing Council, and no other association caii, according to the rules governing purses, offer more than that. “Aeneas” is barking up the wrong tree. . . * - .# -,i M

Australian Billy Grime balanced his. account with Johnny Leckie at Napiei recently, taking the decision much to the vented disappointment of the packed house. The debated decision was the correct one, despite the fact that 90. per cent, favoured the New Zealander. Johnny has been out of the game for some months, a sick man,, while Billy has been endeavouring to show the world that he is as good now as he ever was. Nevertheless the Dominion feather champion took the ring in great condition and it. was only the. wile of a seasoned veteran that placed his points margin behind. Leckie did most of the leading—he w T as allowed to do so and Billy, crouching almost to the canvas, ducking, bobbing and . weaving, waited for the lead and then pounced in, ripping short-arm stull' to the body and head. Johnny, many times, boxed in the brilliant manner in which he is so capable, but-it was generally only a-flash and Grime would make up his leeway by short-arm jabs. In the seventh a terrific right made the Australian wish for home and mother, but Leckie failed to seize his-advantage and Grime weathered the session. Grime indulged in some “rough-house’ 1 work with his left and got away with it. Leckie retaliated in kind and was promptly remonstrated with. The third meeting of the pair at Wanganui in February should prove thrilling.