BOXING AND BOXERS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1935, Page 8

BOXING AND BOXERS

THE SPORT IN ENGLAND. HUGE CROWD TO SEE HARVEY. (From Our Own Correspondent). London, Nov. 29. The looker-on of boxing is not infallible, writes B. Bennison. Not infrequently, either because of partisanship oy inability to discriminate between scoring and non-scoring punches, he is at variance with the official in charge. But, with every deference to Mr. C. H. Douglas and his long and varied experience, I am convinced that the 75 per cent., or more, of the 12,000 spectators who witnessed the Harvey-Neusel fight at Wembley last Monday were right in doubting the correctness of his decision. ’ As I read the fight Harvey was in front at the finish. Maybe the referee, in his disapproval of the holding and clinching and wrestling which disfigured the contest, decided that neither man deserved all the spoils. Of the details of this, ihe first venture at Wembley, more than enough has already been written. I have no desire to enlarge, nor is there any excuse for enlargement, upon whal I feel is ancient history. It is enough, from the point of view of the promoters at least, that more people were attracted to the ringside than ever before in the history of indoor boxing in this counjry. Which is proof, if proof were needed, that there is still an unlimited public for boxing with a meaning and purpose. The man in the street decided that a fight between Harvey and Neusel would reveal the strongest opponent that could be found in Europe for Jack Petersen. The pity was that the German, especially, with all his two stone or more advantage in weight, did not rise to the occasion. And not only so, but he was obviously and astonishingly out of condition. And, worse, he appeared to take the point of view that being as a giant is to a pigmy, it was only necessary for him to exert his bulk to wear down the Englishman. To those who remembered Neusel when he first came to this country, he was indeed a strange, an impossible Neusel, top-heavy, slow-moving, unimaginative, and with, but little fire. He was as a man who had lost his ambition. My study of him suggested that the recent hammering he took from Max Schmeling, his countryman, had robbed him to a fatal degree of the daring that had stamped him as a possible worldbeater. Harvey, with reason, has been much criticised for holding, and probably, under a less tolerant referee than Mr. Douglas, both he and Neusel, because of their indifference and stone deafness to warnings might have been ordered out of the ring. But although Harvey was given to clinching and exploiting spoiling tactics to the limit of his capacity, he was for the most part left with no other alternative, so persistently did the German lean, and make boxing, as we understand boxing to be, next to impossible. ACCORDING TO PLAN. Harvey could not forget his comparative physical littleness. And there is much to be said for his contention that, if he had not sought to protect himself in every way against the hugeness of the Teuton in the earlier rounds, he would have asked for. and taken, punishment which he would have been unable to withstand. Harveys case is that he fought according to plan. That is, he made it his first business to manacle Neusel before letting himself go. Nothing will destroy his belief that his taetjes entitled him to the verdicc. That he is in every way a better, cleverer and more scholarly boxer than Neusel may not be questioned. I have never had a high opinion of the German. His latest, performance proved to the hilt that his virtues are represented by physical strength and an abnormal capacity for assimilating punishment. I do him no injustice when I say that, judged by his latest display, he. is as far from being a world's champion as

is Jack Doyle, who, it-is given out, contemplates a visit to America early in the year. ‘ Harvey is hoping that, upon his return from a Christmas cruise, he will be privileged to have a rubber match with Petersen, or,' alternatively, be linked up with Ben Olin, the new world’s cruiser champion. THE PETERSENS’ AMBITIONS. I have had a long talk with .“Pa” Petersen, and, as I expected, he was largely indifferent who would be Jack’s next opponent. I gathered, however, that if he had his choice he would prefer Jack to fight Neusel sometime towards the end of January or early February, if only because such a contest would mean that he had met every notable heavyweight in Europe except Schmeling. Said he: “Jack for a certainty would knock out Neusel, and in. that event would perhaps further encourage the Wembley people to import Hamis, Lasky, Loughran, and Olin. If Jack met and knocked out Neusel, there would be such bidding for the more likely contenders for Baer’s crown that not even the best of them could afford to stay at home.” I have a shrewd suspicion that Harvey would much welcome a visit by Olin. He hugs hard to the belief that he can beat the conqueror of Maxie Rosenbloom. During the next few days it is probable we shall have definite news from both Wembley and Mr. Jeff Dickson as to their intentions in the matter of Petersen, Harvey, Neusel, and Olin. Tire success of the launching of Wembley's swimming pool as a regular and pretentious fighting centre is bound to make for the healthiest competition. Whatever fears existed that Wembley for the purpose of boxing would be deemed to be off the map have been dispelled. I should say that more money was taken, at last Monday’s promotion than any since the fight between Gains and Camera and the Doyle-Petersen affair at the White City. The receipts amounted to more than £7,000. and must have left a generous margin of profit. Tire £lOOO heavy-weight competition was, in the novelty of it at least, a tremendous success. It is to be concluded on Monday week, when Nel Tarleton is to defend the feather-weight championship against that clever young man, Dave Crowley. And, with an eye for newness, a match will

be staged between George, Brennan, the former A.B.A. . and : Empire Cruiser champion, and Erich Seelig, the, German. , London has' a warm place in her heart for Brennan, but she ■- remembers Seelig as a ■very , tough fighter, - and Sis wondering whether the ex-Nottingham policeman, in pitting himself against the German, is'more valorous than discreet. For myself I am rather surprised that Brennan has no‘t waited a while longer before matching himself with such an experienced and rugged professional as Seelig. Yet, on the principle of. nothing ventured nothing won, I admire Brennan for the plunge he is about to take. Brennan is an excellent boxer; and there have been times, when, as an amateur, he made me sure that he was the equal of the majority of the paid light-heavy-weights. Since he decided to make . a whole time, job of the ring; he has scarcely realised all my expectations, but I do not despair of his future by any means, ON HIS NATIVE HEATH. I am rather curious to know the reaction of Mr. Jeff Dickson to the news that there has been an. enormous. demand for places at the fight between Jock McAvoy and Kid Tunero at Manchester on Monday. It will be recollected that it was his intention to present our middle-weight champion and the Cuban Negro at the Albert -Hall some few weeks ago, and that such little interest was aroused that it was as well, perhaps, that Tunero cried off owing to illness. If the expected crowd at Belle Vue materialises, McAvoy and those of his immediate circle might well say that, so long as desirable opponents can be obtained, he would be foolish to exploit the London market. In his own diocese McAvoy is and always has been a card, and. if, as he should, he beats Tunero, Marcel Thil will be a fortunate fellow if he can afford io refuse the handsome offer which will be made to him to come to Manchester to defend the worlds middle-weight title. Ex-seaman Watson goes on his way rejoicing, and, having last Tuesday defeated Norman Snow, has got so appreciably near to a fight with Kid Berg for the light-weight championship that it must now be only a matter of time and terms when the famous East Ender will have to toe the mark against the Newcastle sailor.