BOXING AND BOXERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16704, 8 April 1922, Page 10

BOXING AND BOXERS.

KILBANE TO VISIT ENGLAND. HEAVY-WE ICHT OF PROMISE. (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, February 15. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Kilbane, but (writes Mr Eugene Corrie) I learn from America that immediately upon his arrival here, he trill look me up. A very enterprising and severely business-like fellow I should say Kilbane is, judging by the sheaf of literature which his agent has sent to me ; that he knows how to beat the big drum is certain, but if he expects to make a fortune by touring Europe with his sparring partner, I tear he will be disappointed. If Kilbane is out to add to what I suspect ialready a considerable bank role, he will set out for a match immediately he comes this way. Eugene Criqui says that he is prepared to meet Dundee for the featherweight title, and T have no doubt that he would be gencrousl - supported by his friends. But the Frenchman must . know that a world’s champion is oftener than not a. very difficult gentleman to get into the ring; money only counts, and it would surprise me very ranch if Kilbane’s terms did not frighten away promoters. If Criqui is successful in getting a match with Kilbane. he will have to fight for practically next to nothing, as Freddie Welsh had to do before be could get Willie Ritchie, t fie then light-weight champion, by i!;e heels. However. T await the visit of Kilbane with a ve.*y real interest he must 1m? a remarkable man : few have

such an imposing record, and that. r« lias held a world’s title for something like-ten years is unique. He retains much of his natural pci Iciness, but has developed a weakness ioi; round rm punch iang, instead of hitting straight. He is very clever in the way he does his footwork , lie has any amount of speed, hut he does not, rattle his men as he used to do Broker must take himself in hand, he will never realise the high expectations we once had of him. Murton, it must be said is much better than I thought he was ; there, is real merit in this boy : he is a credit to the distinguished Plymouth school. In the sixth round he had a very bad time; ho was then crashed in the jaw with about the only good right-hander Broker pulled out, but he not only recovered thereafter, he made so many points that he was a clear winner at the end.

You will perhaps have read that two German boxers, who had entered into an agreement with Jim Harris, were to have had contests in fvondon. but were not allowed to come* to this country by the passport authorities. I am not so foolish or small-minded as to insist that no German should ever be allowed to box in this country, but I do think it was a mistaken policy on the part of an English promoter to seek to try to stage a couple of them in Londwon at the present time. e have not. yet shed all the bitterness engendered by the war, and whether it is right or not. it will be a long time- before we allow Germans to come into our sports. They would have undoubtedly been a novelty if they had been permitted to appear, but it would have been a very doubtful one, and one not calculated to do any good. We are not going to keep Germany out of games for all time, but for the present we will manage very well without her. At the moment Guardsman PemviJl, who defeated Frank Doddard at Premierland. would be the first to admit that he has a great deal to learn, that he has decided limitations ; but. with all of them he must be. regarded as a heavyweight of much promise. Peuwill is still in the Army, but he is soon to enter civil life, and then, if he gives his mind entirely over to improving his boxing and fighting knowledge, he should win a fair amount of success. Like a very great many of our fighters. he has no more than half an idea of how to punch ; had he been able to hit hard he would have put Goddard out long before the contest had reached half way. Goddard made a rather sorry show. He was terribly slow, and at the beginning, I thought, strangely nervous. Instead of having improved, he has gone back, and I am afraid he must abandon hope of ever winning a place among the firstraters. There is much that is almost tragic in Goddard. In him you have an ideally-made man. unusually strong, and with physical qualities approaching perfection, but he seems simply unable to produce really front-rank artistry.