BOXING AND BOXERS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1934, Page 10

BOXING AND BOXERS

THE SPORT IN ENGLAND.

HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECTS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) London, July 20.

It is as was to have been expected (writes B. Bennison). Max Baer has no more intention of coming to England to trade his title than attempting to jump the moon. Jeff Dickson must have been smiling in his sleeve when he gave it out that he did not altogether despair of bringing the one and only Max this way. Even if Baer was in the least disposed to travel, he would want a generous slice of the earth. So why need there be worry ? I should like very much to see the cream of American fighters, but, really, are they worth the while ? I doubt it. I certainly would not toss my cap up if news came through that Maxie Rosenbloom was tempted to head this way. America may consider him to be the best of all the cruisers. I do not. He was little better than a plater when Tommy Milligan knocked him out at the Albert Hall, and he cannot, after all the years that have gone since, have improved. It would be almost any odds on Len Harvey knocking him- out, and, shrewd man that he is, Rosenbloom will steer clear of our ring. It is possible that Dickson will land some of the smaller fry. I doubt' whether he will move Camera, though the Italian must now take it for granted that Baer will not put on harness again for a year at the earliest. It would not surprise me if Baer sooner or later told the world that, as a serious fighter, he has “kicked in.” BETTER ON THE SCREEN. To me at all events he is more intriguing as a film artist than he is in the ring. The making of pictures is his strongest suit. There can never have been a luckier or a more extraordinary champion, if the screen story of Inis fight with Camera does not lie. I am truly sorry for the Italian, for if he does not return to Europe with Jeff Dickson, he will find little that he may profitably do in the States. It would seem that the wire-pullers on th'e other side have already embarked upon a freezing-out process. At any rate the Madison Square syndicate, having more or less given Baer up as an immediate proposition, announce their intention of staging various eliminators by way of finding a heavyweight with the strongest claim to the title. Both Max Schmeling and Walter Neusel are included in the scheme of things, together with Steve Hamis, and one or more merely hefty fellows. There is no mention of Jack Petersen, though if the Welshman, now away with his father on a cruise, beats Larry Gains, he will be pressed to go to New York. My advice to Petersen is to lie low in the matter of America, whatever the result of the fight at the White City on September 10. I shall be curious to hear what Petersen pere has to say about "futures” when he returns from his holiday. I had an idea that, if all went well, he would set inquiries afoot about Doyle. Now, unless the young and spectacular Irishman changes his mind, he will do no more fighting in this country. During the week a suggestion was made that Len Harvey would do well to engage with Jock McAvoy at the Wandsworth Stadium, which is rapidly gaining favour as a boxing centre. As a matter of fact, promotions there have been among the most successful launched in London. It has long been known that McAvoy was keen on fighting Harvey for the cruiser title, but, unless there has come to be a change in the official position, Harvey must first meet Eddie Phillips. It may be, of course, that Phillips is not over-keen, but I have an idea that, in the absence of exceptional terms, Harvey will not again trade with McAvoy, who, by the way, might in the near future operate from London. Ted Broadribb is prepared to pay handsomely for the privilege of taking him under his wing. Whether McAvoy induces Harvey to take the ring or not, I think he would be well advised to exploit a wider field. Not that he is lost Manchester way, but the odds are that he would find greater scope in town than he has so far found in the North Country. Given the opportunity, he is quite capable of beating any middleweight. At that particular poundage I should favour his chances against Harvey.