GILLESPIE V. DONOVAN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 4

GILLESPIE V. DONOVAN

THRILLING EXCHANGES' ASSURED

GILLESPIE IS A CHAMPION.

That; the contest to be staged at the ■New Plymouth Opera House between Norman Gillespie, lightweight champion of Australia,- and' Tommy Donovan; the Taranaki champion,, will be of the noquarter variety is certain, for both are tough,-, they punch to; hurt, they are game. :and clever, but, withal scrupu--lously fair foemen.. Gillespie is in the limelight at'presept more than at any time since he smashed Jack Roberts into submission and set Australian fans enthusing over him,, by reason of the action of an Australian promoter in announcing Gillespie had forfeited his. crown by leaving for New Zealand to accept lucrative engagements. Concerning the position E. C. Turner, one of Australia’s foremost boxing experts, writes: —

. .. A GILLESPIE IS THE' CHAMPION.

/Tho peculiar position that has en/circlcd ’-the/title has already been told; in' these columns; Gillespie holds the’ crown, 'which he, won on May. 24, 1929;Tlie : champion lias been far from a busy•pugilist since that-date. -He contested: , bouts with-Lou Bloom in the following July., and : August; and in September; won the decision in a contest with Eng■lishnran' Harry/ Corbett, a former- Lonsdale Belt holder... On- December .7 last he defended his title against Jack 1 (‘‘One Round”) Roberts at Rushcutters’ Bay. Two monthslater he again beat Roberts at Leichhardt. On January 10 last' the champion lost to Jones, from whom he won the crown, Gillespie’s form was all wrong on that occasion. Since his last meeting with Roberts Gillespie has not defended his crown (as far as writer’s records show) since December last. But because he has not defended his title over such a long period should not be the reason of him be-, iim deprived of his proud possession. He absented’ himself from the fistic front for some months because of a badly damaged hand and when fitted to take the ring, exercised his right in asking, 'for a suitable-guarantee. This.was not forthcoming. A certain, section of the press began -to force, a .lightweight title match ; upon the promoters by way of /getting” at' Gillespie and' his. Sammy Chapmafi, by holding the view) tlirlt Jones was champion by-. default.But/whilemo- guarantees were forthconi-:' /iffg l; Gillespie received a "•£lOO. guaran-; tee from Napier- to . meet ‘Leckie and he. accepted. Just before he departed for the Shaky-Isles, tiie Rushcutters’ Bay Stadium and,Leichhardt heads, put their 'brains together and pushed the follow-!; ing resolution: “lir the event of the: holder of any title not defending it once in each three months after winning ■ it, any titles held by him -shall revert to : the previous holder, or holders.” No* Stadium -or’ Stadiums have any right to pass such ■ Their, action is unconstitutional and only a . controlling commission can possess such

power. With Gillespie’s departure for New Zealand the Leichliardt promoter decided to stage ; a bout between the previous holder, Jones,, of Newcastle, and Kelso, to- decide who was best fitted to wear the crown. Unless the holder of the title wilfully refuses to defend his crown or absents himself from the country for more than six months, then he may. be deprived, of his possession. ... In Gillespie’s case the .ring is the place for him to lose the lightweight cfoiVn—the. place where he won it. Unbiassed critics are of the opinion that he is still champion. : First-class ' preliminaries, ringside scats at 10s, and further popular prices for. stalls, circle and “the gods,” are assuring for the tournament outstanding success. -