BOXING AND BOXERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16681, 13 March 1922, Page 3

BOXING AND BOXERS.

DOOK AND BECKETT. AMERICANS IN ENGLAND, (Special to the “ Star.”! 1 iONDON. Jsnuavc 26. Johnny Buff. whose defeat of Pet* Herman for the world’s bantam fitfte wo never expected, hae arrived in tixs country, and (writes Mr Eugene Com) on Monday night wes introduced to the members of the National Sporting Club. Buff’ hats the appearance of a veteran, in point of age. He is thirtythree, or perhaps a little more, and he is certainly in the raid-winter of his fighting career, though he has not boxed professionally for more than throe seasons. When I saw him in the ring one evening at that gigantic merry-go-round, Coney Island, lie reminded me very much of Taney Lee. because he look* so old-feehioned: and he is some fighter. Of that you may be assured. A magnificent left haitd, which he is g)ven vo using corkscrew fashion, and a thoroughly workmanlike right be ha« When I saw him be. was the recogniaec flyweight of the States, and a« such, the idea was to put him up against Jimmy W iJde. Hi-s sensational defeat of Herman, whom, we thought was almost unbeatable, naturally altered hii plajis as They were framed when I wsa in America. IVe are told by Buff, aise his manager, t-bat he has come t< Europe to spend a holiday ; that ho is not especially on the look-out for work, but l seriously doubt whethei he- will return home without having a! least one fight, and that with Wilde providing terms can he arranged. Buff looks much bigger than when T him last summer, and if the making cH a match with the Welshman comes tc be discussed, one of the first, and per haps the primary question, will be bb« matter of weight. .Viter Wilde's experience against/ Herman, he will b# very shy about making generous con cessions again There would be rouefc money for such a contest, and assuming •that the men are willing they would b« well advised if they agreed to tight or a percentage basis. I am afraid, though aleo am 1 pleased, that the day seems to have de parted when any promoter would feei disposed to give fixed guarantees ui i'.ny man. Jf they got int-o the ring, and the disparity in poundage wa-e not enormous. Wilde and Buff vould draw one of the biggest crowds yet seen at a boxing ms tell in this country. I havq not discussed the likelihood of the two meeting at Holland Park under ’■he auspices of the National Sporting Clob. but 1 have a shrewd suspicion that Mr " Eeggy Bfcttinson. in the event ot their not asking for ridiculous terms, would lx* pleased to stage a match between Wilde and Buff.

There is something like a common notion that Wilde has lost Ins keenness for the game, but T am sure if Jimmy were assured that Buff was willing and anxious to meet him under reasonable conditions reappear. It will he interestincr to >oe what happens. Every hotly vili he pi eased with the news that doe Beckett lias decided that he has been holidaying long enougfi. and that he has signed articles to do hat-tie with George Cook at Holland Park J?ink in March And. better than all, Beckett has ceased to demand n sure and particularly handsome sum for putting on the glovee: like- Cook, he will get a portion of what he will draw. In other words, the fight will be on a percentage. Each man has put down £-500, which ri a sufficient guarantee that the contest will be a part iculnrlv stern one. Beckett has no manner'of doubt that he will heat Ibe Australian, and T dare say mo't people will favour his chances, after realising how limited is the experience and ihe boxing of Cook But Reckrit must not count bf* chickens before thev are hatched! Cook may be rather obvious : he has n ** wonderful rosmv--© or trickery, but. he is abundantly blessed with vouth . there- is no end to his courage: and ho really looks lik© fighting. If I know Beckett night such a man will always give him trouble. 1 do not «ay that Look v, ill win, but I have a feelinsg that Beckett will find him a particularly hard mu to rrack. What I am anxious to de at the moment, however, is to congratulate Beckext rig trs heartily upon his sweet reasonableness in what In-* consider-. bi= fighting value to be. and lus determination t-o be up and doing His match with Cook might change his whole career, for if he wins ho can hare a fight, with good Dick Smith for the heavyweight belt, and should he be the winner. I understand Jack Curphey. and possible Arthur Town ley. would he ready to try their hand against him. And Beckett must know the more tights he hn<* the better he will become. Beckett has often complained that be is griev ouslv misunderstood : by a readiness tv» meet all and sundry it should not- be difficult to win considerable popularity. There is every indication of a regular has Johnny Buff come among us. but 1 hear that. Dundee, who is contemplating a trip in company with his father to Italy, will afterwards head for Loudon. and Kilbane is also to " -ho Europe. Then there is a possibility of .lack Britton visiting ns. and there are mnnv who believe that. Dempsey will he here in the late summei . Last Monriav a striking Canadian, known as Soldier Horace - Tones, who is credited with having won sixty-nine knock-out victories. was at th© N.S.G- and he gave it out that lie is agreeable To a match with any of our henries. I do hope that none of our visitors regard England as the. fighters’ El Dorado; it is nothing of the kind. fortunes can no longer be picked up in a ringle night, and it is not improbable that more than a few of them will leave The shores disappointed. Any good man that is a man with a proved reputation -can find employment, but he must not expect that promoters r ill consent to his fighting on his own terms. Hex. ever, we welcome the strangers cordially. and Imp© they will have a very good time; also that they will heighten interest in th© game.