BOXING CONTESTS AT PATEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1930, Page 5

BOXING CONTESTS AT PATEA.

JACK JONES SUBSTITUTES LESLIE. Owing to indisposition the Auckland lightweight boxer Glen Leslie, who was to have fought Jack Crowley at Patea on Friday night, finds that he is unable to fulfil his engagement. To fill the breach the secretary, Mr. C. J. Gardiner, yesterday communicated with Jack Jones, ex-feather and lightweight champion of Wales, who agreed to substitute. Although he will probably have to concede weight the Welshman should prove a greater drawcard. One of the classiest boxers ever to visit New Zealand’s shores, Jones has had a run of ill-luck. Having foolishly contracted to make 9.4 for the American, Pete Sarron, tho Welshman took the ring a walking skeleton and gave one of the greatest exhibitions of stoic courage ever witnessed in a New Zealand ring. The referee stopped the contest, but although ho lost, the Welshman made a host of friends. He subsequently met and defeated Lou Bloom at Invercargill and lost a much-disputed decision to the American in the return contest at Westport. He returned to Hawera, where he met and defeated Glen Leslie, although he had broken his thumb early in the contest. Since then Jones has spent months with his right hand in plaster and only recently has he commenced serious training for future contests. The Wellingtonian, Crowley, will have a formidable tusk to account for the Welshman, but the New Zealander is a boxer-fighter and one who makes every round a winning post. Reports to hand show that he has greatly improved in boxing ability as the result of his sparring with Peto Sarron, Lou Bloom and the Australian Billy Richards. In addition he has youth in his favour, tremendous strength and the will to fight to the end.