FINE CONTEST EXPECTED

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1930, Page 6

FINE CONTEST EXPECTED

BILLY GRIME MEETS DONOVAN. BOXING BOUT AT HAWERA. When Billy Grime was informed that the gargantuan Italian boxer, Primo Camera, has a squad of picked gunmen to., “protect” him and his cash earnings in America, the little Australian fighter smiled, and was soon in reminiscent mood.

“It is not generally known,” be said, “that a successful lighter in America has to have what is quaintly called, ‘protection.’ He does not seek it. It is forced upon him. The hint is quietly conveyed that a refusal of ‘protection’ will offend, and might mark the boxer for automatic and early perforation.” He mentioned that the ex-champion Jack Dempsey paid out thousands of dollars of his ring earnings to the gunmen, firmly believing that the gunmen were no respecters of persons, and that there was no fun in being a dead champion of the world. “Such is evidently the case with Camera,” said Grime; “but he is in the fortunate position that he has no protection fees to pay. Accjrding to a recent message, Leon See sold Camera to Bill Duffy, my old manager... Now Duffy is one of the United States’ great bootleg kings, and he is a feudist of renown.” The little Australian considered that the progress of Duffy was one of the sights of New York. Wherever he went he was accompanied by an armed guard, and on the golf links he was always easy to pick. Duffy owned two of the biggest night clubs in New York, said Grime. , The Australian would not talk of his own experiences, but when asked if it ■was advisable for boxers to go to New York, he was emphatic. “No,” he said. “If a boxer wishes to go, he would do much better at home. ’Good heavyweights, however, are always in demand.” Whilst in New York Grime was matched with Harry Blitman, the leading contender for the junior lightweight. championship of the world. It was a no-decision contest, but the verdict of the newspapers "meant that the winner was to be matched with Tony Canzoneri for the world’s title. Grime received the unanimous verdict of the newspapers, but he did ,not receive his coveted chance for a world’s title bout. “Duffy was in the swim,” he said, “and as soon as I became aware of the fact I cancelled my contract and placed myself under the care of Walk Miller, who subsequently committed suicide.” Billy Grime meets the Waitara featherweight, Tommy Donovan, at the 11awera Opera House to-night, and it is probably his final appearance in the New Zealand ring. He has been training assiduously at Hawera for the past three weeks under the care of Jack Jones. In addition to the professional contest there will be six amateur preliminaries.