BOXING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 April 1927, Page 5

BOXING.

a Light-weight contender.

A visitor to Timaru this week wao Art Collins, an Anglo-Australian lightweight, who has been in New Zealand for some months, vainly seeking matches with .suitable opponents. Collins, a pleasant and cultured young Englishman, who was educated " at Ardingley public school, Sussex, spent two years in the Commonwealth, and in Westralia was a pupil of Harry Stone. He bears, however, none of the outward and visible signs of the professional pugilist, and in nearly every respect is. the antithesis of the spectacular American-Hebrew, who drew a record hou.se in Timaru when opposed to Eddie Parker. . Having almost qualified by resident for eligibility to contest a championship, Collins, who has grown Jiis Australian poundage of 9.5 in the New Zealand climate, is anxious to get into line for a. shot at the light-weight crown which Purdy is expected to relinquish shortly. The visitor, who is making a business tour of the Dominion, has been, along with his manager, Hal Jones, sounding various Associations, but .so far lias found the sjiort in the dull season Having heard from Stone of the enthusiasm prevailing hero during his tutor’s visit, Collins was anxious to secure a match in the home town of Fitzsimmons, ITagerty, niul the Gunns, asd would be highly pleased to make his debut in the ring with Harry Gunn,- of whose skill lie holds a high opinion. Collins, who finds the South Island climate .more like that of his native land than Auckland’s intends to settle in Christchurch. Hal Jones, who is endeavouring to place Collins, has had a colourful career. Educated at AVinchester and Pembroke Cambridge), be claims to have lived it down, by joining a circus when supposed to be “finishing” in Switzerland. Since then, lie has been drumming, droving, driving and clowning in circuses, as well as tutoring children in the troupe. His kalediscopic story includes 20 yeans ns boxing and athletic instructor in many lands, nnd army championships won in France.