BRILLIANT FEATHERWEIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

BRILLIANT FEATHERWEIGHT

THE LECKIE THAT WAS—AND IS. • “FIGHTING JOHNNY” IS THROUGH. There is no realisation more grim to the athlete who has basked in the spotlight of fame and won the adulation of sportsmen than the realisation that he has come to the end of his tether. In the sport of boxing more especially than in any other he who with wisdom translates the bold writing upon the wall is a sage indeed! At Dunedin last week, facing for the first time in years the fans who so staunchly espoused his cause when as a stripling of 18 years he was battling his way to fame, Fighting Johnny Leckie definitely confirmed ’ the two-year-old suspicion that as a potent fighting force he is through by assimilating a drubbing and 14-round technical knock-out at the hands of Percy G. Hawes, of Christchurch. Leckie from the outset was receiver general. His punishing left no longer made the openings for his crushing right smash; speed; footwork, all were missing. The end came in the 14th round when Hawes drove home a left hook as they broke clear from an exchange and Leckie went down for eight. He rose gamely but fell again alongside the ropes and the referee intervened. . , . That is the Leckie that is ! The Leckie that was commenced his career at the tender age of 15 and in the succeeding three years contested honours with the cream of Niw Zealand’s amateurs to lose but two decisions, one of which was to clever Frank Taylor, of Auckland, in a bout involving the flyweight title at the national championships. “The nearest approach to Jimmy Wilde I have ever seen,” stated Mr. Earl Stewart when he attended the championships on one occasion to select representatives for the Olympic Games. “An ideal combination' of boxer-fighter and the best 9-stoner since Billy Murphy,” added Mr. Stewart. Leckie did not make the trip to the Games but turned professional. He amassed an amazing record for a youngster in competition with the pick of New Zealand and Australian featherweights. In his third contest he deprived Duke Maddox of his New Zealand title and in his ninth bout, of international standing, won Australasian honours by defeating Norman Gillespie, the champion of Australia. By February, 1929, Johnny’s record .read:—Won, Harry Gunn, k. 0., 8 rounds; won, Mark Carroll, k.0.,' 11 rounds; won, Duke Maddox, k. 0., 2 rounds (N.Z. title); won, Darby O’Connor, k. 0., 12 rounds; won, Tommy Griffiths, pts., 15 rounds; won, Mark Carroll, k. 0., 5 rounds; won, Duke Maddox, k. 0., 8 founds; won, Eric Harley, k. 0., 5 rounds; won, Norman Gillespie s pts., 15 rounds (Australian title); won, Billy Melton, pts., 15 rounds; won, Billy Melton, k. 0., 10 rounds; won, Teddy Green, t.k.0., 10 rounds; won, Archie Hughes, pts., 15 rounds; won, Nortftan Radford, pts., 15 rounds; won, Tommy Barber, k. 0., 3 rounds (Australian title); lost, Tommy Barber, pts., 15 rounds; won, Norman Radford, k. 0., 5

rounds; won, Dick Vercoe, k. 0., 6 rounds; won, Billy Melton, k. 0., 7 rounds; lost, Charlie Glasson, pts., 15 rounds; won, Matt Hatton, k. 0., 3 rounds. In New Zealand the champion had cleared the decks, for Tommy Donovan had not at that time made his mark. Accepting an offer from Sydney Stadiums Johnny Leckie competed in five bouts in Australia—Billy Grime, won, k. 0., 14 rounds; Claude Wilson, won, points, twice; won, Pete Sarron, points; lost, Pete Sarron, k. 0., 13 rounds—and created a sensation by his sterling ability. If his conquest of Grime in his first bout won him golden opinions in Australian sporting circles that affair lost lustre by comparison with his bouts with Sarron, of which the Sydney Referee wrote:—

“Leckie and Sarron Heroes—All Pleasantries of Noble Art—A wonderful young pair of fighters, fierce as wild-cats, with the ring gallantry of duellists of old, are Sarron and Leckie. A return match must take place. The fight last Saturday night was the sort of affair I would gladly witness every night. It contained all the pleasantries of the noble art; the content was fierce from the first second to the last, and the tactics of both men as fair as can be. The fans screamed and cheered with delight, as each man smashed away with only one intention — a knock-out. And the crowd roared with pleasure when the game little lad from New Zealand recovered from two knock-downs—in the seventh session—and after a minute’s rest, cams out and punched his way to the honours of the next round. After spending three minutes hurling devastating punches, the men would smile at one another as they crossed on their way to their corners. They fought as fighters should fight—in fairness and without feeling.” “Victor Embraces Vanquished—Dramatic End of Sarron-Leckie Bout—The end of the Leckie-Sarron fight was dramatic. The gallant little New Zealander, who had been out on his feet for the last three rounds, was punched from pillar to post in the 13th. He took it all like a Spartan, and never stopped making some sort of an effort to return punches. But he was exhausted by the punishment he had taken, and right swings floored hinjrfor 11 seconds before the end of the round. Dazed and weary, Leckie awaited the count on one knee; at “nine” he climbed up an imaginary ladder, but the fatal ten just beat him as the bell rang for the end of the session. - Sarron dashed forward, threw his arms round the man he had battered for 13 rounds, and, amidst a tremendous volume of cheers from the huge crowd, the men hugged one another like brothers. There was more than one tear in the eyes of the fans, especially those who knew from experience what an effort was required to stand up under the punishment the gamecock from New Zealand had taken from the American.” In manner inexplicable to the majority of boxing followers the fighting force that promised to achieve for Johnny Leckie world-wide fame languished.

There were factors that will probably never be published that contributed in little less extent to the battering attack of Sarron that broke the New Zealander in health and spirit and brought about a severance of partnei'ship with Trainer Archie Leckie. Stadiums Ltd. on medi-

cal advice released Leckie from his contract, and he returned to Dunedin, where he spelled. Valiantly Leckie strove to justify in his subsequent career the tribute of an Australian mentor: “Leckie possesses all the essentials necessary for the moulding of a world champion,” but in vain. He won from the egotistical Yankee Sam Shack in his first contest after his rest and then transferred to Napier. Four losses followed, to Grime (pts.), Crowle (pts.), Sarron (pts. and t.k.0.), but he revived fresh hopes by splendid victories over Glen Leslie (k. 0. Tommy Donovan (k. 0. Shack (pts.), and Ted Nelson (Australia, k. 0.). Then again the sinister figure of Peter Sarron arose and Johnny tasted defeat that might have been drastic had the American chosen to bring to bear his full range of attack. Since then in contests with Tommy Donovan alone has Leckie displayed anything like true form, their clash at New Plymouth before a meagre attendance and with little at stake but the crown held by Donovan being a gruelling affair with the Taranakian’s courage a magnificent feature in his vain defence of the title. Llew Edwards gained a brilliant points decision over Leckie at New Plymouth and at Wellington Joey Thomas easily outpointed him. Three years ago New Zealand’s dream of a world title-holder faded, while today the boxer who promised its achievement has made what should be his final effort in the ring by suffering complete effacement at the hands of a good, young, rugged fighter, Percy Hawes, who, nevertheless, had he met “Fighting Johnny” Leckie in his heyday would have met just as complete defeat. THE SPORT IN ENGLAND. BIG DRAW FOR MANCHESTER., (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, August 31. We are told that Jackie Brown will fight Valentine Anglemann at Belle Vue, Manchester, on September 11 at Bst. 21bs., (writes Eugene Corri). That, of course, means that no title will be involved. I would- have preferred it otherwise. Rightly or wrongly I take the view that whenever a champion takes the ring it is proper that he should risk his kingdom. Fighting for fighting’s sake may be all very well—it is not possible to ■ have a title staked in every contest —but in the matter of champions it is different, and especially in the case of Brown and Anglemann. We saw them at -Olympia at the flyweight limit, and then Brown, to his everlasting credit, beat the. Frenchman. So far as I know Anglemann is a natural Bst. boy, as is Brown, and as such he should figlit. I have not the least doubt that Manchester people will be rewarded with a rousing battle, but, after all, since there will be nothing tangible to be won it is of no more importance than an everyday exhibition. I, personally, am not curious to learn whether the Frenchman is any better at a couple of pounds over the fly-weight limit than he was at Olympia. The only excuse for a return match with Anglemann would be to have a further opportunity of seeing whether he is more qualified to hold the flyweight title than Brown. I do not think

he is, for I am quite decided that he pulled out his best when. he fought under the auspices of the National Sporting Club. I am not sufficiently familiar with all the pros and cons, and there may be good reason why Brown, tiring of inactivity, has been left with no option but to meet the Frenchman in a non-championship affair. It is said, with what truth I do not know, that, if Ginger Foran had not put such a high value upon his services, a match between him and Brown would have been made, and so have put an end to what I hold to be an unnecessary controversy. Assuming that Foran is disposed to insist upon a price in excess of what a promoter will pay, I would say unto him: —if you honestly believe that you can beat the fly-weight champion, and I am sure you so believe, you would be wise to forget all about terms. Let me tell you a story. When Willie Ritchie, the German-American, was the world’s light-weight champion, Freddie Welsh did not hesitate to take the ring for what remained after Ritchie had been paid. Said Welsh to Ritchie “All I want is to get you into the ring. That will be enough for me; you can take all the money that is going. For the moment it is the championship I want.” And Ritchie, on that understanding, came to London, and traded his title at Olympia. ITS THE TITLE THAT COUNTS. The fight went 20 rounds, and I was referee. It was a bitter fight, and was won by Welsh. When accounts were squared, there was little or nothing left for Welsh. He would have it that he received no more than his expenses. “But,” said he, as he made every haste to get back to America, “what does that matter. A fighter who applies a business mind to his job must throw bread on the waters. I have got what I wanted after chasing Ritchie thousands of miles. Now, with the title, I shall make a fortune, for I shall at once set out on a non-stop campaign.” Welsh held to the programme he fashioned, and accumulated much wealth. Only when he met Benny Leonard, the greatest light-weight America has perhaps produced, did he strike his flag, and then, from all accounts, he contributed to his own downfall by inattention to strict training. Foran, my boy, if you have a chance to bring Brown to heel, forget all about loaves and fishes. I do hope that you have been misrepresented. If you have set your heart upon fighting Brown for the world’s championship, and providing that the man in possession is ready to toe the mark, you should be willing to make any concession. I would like all fighters to read Tunney's story of his life. There was no big money for Tunney until he got to grips with Dempsey. When I first saw the old champion he was content to receive a few dollars a round, and even then he was a heavy-weight out of the ordinary. If Tunney had not been content with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table he would have got nowhere; he would have been frozen out. No fighter ever got to the top who made the size of the purse his chief consideration. Do you know' that until Carpentier was brought to London by the late Jimmy

White to fight Sid Binns, and later fought Young Joseph at King’s Hall, Blackfriars, he would have thought himself fortunate to get a hundred francs, though at that time his name was being screamed throughout France as a coming champion. When he was brought to Paris from Lens he was delighted to get 50 francs. In the last talk I had with the famous Frenchman he said, “I have to smile when I hear folk call out ‘there goes lucky Carpentier,’ as if to suggest that during all my fighting days money took to showering upon me. The truth is that I did not make acquaintance with what is called real money until I had been fighting for nearly four years. I was pleased to accept what was offered until I had made good outside my own country. We should have many niore better fighters if the younger men realised that the top may only be reached: by fighting, and not sharing big purses. Real money only comes in plenty when you have made good, and the only way to make good is to beat all the other fellows.” ■ I see that Brown has not so far arrived at a definite understanding in the matter of Midget Wolgast. May. we take that to mean that he is leaving himself open for Foran? At any rate, he may be assured that by defending his title at home he would add to his popularity. As for Foran, the wisdom of his pressing his claims to a championship fight regardless of terms should be obvious.

Meantime, the fact that Brown is soon to fight Anglemann leaves me but slightly interested, for such a match, though it might well produce a thrilling spectacle, will be valueless. If I were Brown I should look for long and far down my nose before going to America, since there is such a desirable opponent as Foran on hand.

FEATHER-WEIGHT MATCH IN SIGHT.

At the time of writing Mr. John Mortimer, who watches over ex-seaman Watson, has not got a definite pledge from Chocolate’s manager to defend the world’s feather-weight title in London. From what I can gather, however, the various parties are in a fair way of making a match. The Cuban negro has been offered quite a deal of money to come here; more, I should say, than-he could at present hope for in the States. I am anxious to hear the result of the conference in Paris. If a contest is arranged I should much fancy the chances of the Newcastle sailor. Congratulations to Nel Tarleton on his success in Australia. From all I hear he is having quite a good time “Down under,” where the game seems to have taken on a new lease of life. I can see the hand of my old friend, Hugh Macintosh, in the revival. Len Harvey has received an offer to go out, but he prefers to remain at home, perhaps to prepare for Eddie Phillips who, having recovered from a troublesome eye injury, is all keen to meet him a second time for the cruiser title. It will be all to the good when Harvey is back at work; but I do hope he will not persist in his challenge to Petersen. In his heart he must know that there is small likelihood . of his fighting the Welshman. Phillips appeals to me as the most desirable opponent for Harvey.