THE NEED OF BOXING

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1935, Page 12

THE NEED OF BOXING

A MAGNETIC FIGURE

COLOURFUL TARANAKIAN

THREE YEARS’ RECORD

(By

“Canternakian.”)

Colour! Personality' For what does it count in the sport of boxing?. What shall it profit a man if he be cast in splendid mould, if he possesses rare stamina and well-knuckled hands, if he has little of colour,. personality? The box office gives the answer. Sarron! Leckie! Donovan! Packing into the stadiums of a small Dominion thousand upon thousand of tense fans, drawing purses soaring towards three-quartets of a thousand pounds. Not merely because they were good fighters but because they Were colourful 'figures. That triumvirate is just a memory. To-day the New Zealand professional boxer is an unattractive figure battling to hold the allegiance of a h’thful few. Above all the causes orie might attribute to the fall from grace there is one that stands in the boldest relief—lack of colour. Give to the New Zealand ring a leader, a Leckie, a Donovan, to fight the Sarrons, and boxirig Will come back. Does the future hold such figure?

Three years ago at New Plymouth, Clarrie Gordon, Taranaki, frail, 15 years of age, won a New Zealand championship from a powerful fighter before a house frantic with delight at the trinity of qualifications that brought him success—the fighting spirit of a gamecock, real boxing ability and colourfulness. Three years of spectacular exhibitions have written upon the Gordon list of honours: —Three New Zealand titles, an Australian title, Jamieson Belt, two Wanganui titles, three Taranaki titles. His full record is as follows:—

Won—McDowell, at Patea, points. Lost—McDowell, at Feilding, points. Won—Foote, at Wanganui, points. Won—Gray, at Wanganui, points. Won—Loveridge, at Hawera, points. Won—Loveridge, at Hawera, points. Won Turner, at Hawera, points. 1932. ♦Won—Loveridge; at New Plymouth, points. ♦Won—McKay, at New Plymouth, points. Won—Loveridge, at Patea, points. Won—Gray, at Patea, points. ‘ 193:’. Won—L. Huzziff, at Eltha.n, points. Won—L. Huzziff, at Hawera, points. Won—A. Deere, at Eltham, points. Won—A. Deere, at Wanganui, points. ♦Won—Richmond, at Blenheim, points. ♦Lost—Williams, at ? lenheim, points. 1934. Won—Ryan, at New Plymouth, points. Won—O'Neil, at Hawera, points. Won—Loveridge, at New Plymouth, points. \ Won—Thomas, at Patea, t.k.o. Won—P. Huzziff, at Jitham, points.

Lost—J. Jarvis, at Hawera, t.k.o. *Won-Aitken, at Hastings, points. *Won—Fisher, at Hastings, points. *Won—Smith, at Hastings, points. *Won— Al Stock, at Hastings, points. Won—J. Moore, at Invercargill, points, (Australasian title). 1935. Won—Hedberg, at Patea, points. Won—Dunn, at Hawera, points. Won—Murray, at Wellington, points. Won—W. Hawes, at Blenheim, points. Won—Gishard, at Hawera, knock-out. Won—Callaghan, at Gisborne, points. Won—Wilson, at Awakino, points. Won—P. Huzziff, at Eltham, points. *Won—W. Craig, at Dunedin, knock-out. *Won—P. Kelly, at Dunedin, points. ’Won—W. Hawes, at Dunedin, points. * N.Z. Championships bouts. Total: 42 bouts, won 39, lost 3. At 18 years of age Clarrie Gordon claims recognition as a New Zealand representative at next year’s Olympic Games. And then, perhaps, professionalism. Will he, by his splendid boxing, dour fighting qualities and tigerish attack give to New Zealand the colourful figure that will win the fans back to the sport of boxing?