BOXING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17864, 4 June 1926, Page 3

BOXING

NOTES AND COMMENTS BY “ CESTUS.”

£LKY CLARK SHOWS BRILLIANT FORM, (Special to the “Star.") LONDON, April 22. Such was the form of Elkv Clark (writes Eugene Corri * at the beginning of the week against Kid Socks that he would probably have beaten the best of his poundage in the world. I doubt whether at any time in his career, he was in such fighting trim. And as long as he- lives Socks—as game a boy as ever drew on a glove—will not meet such a hard-hitting or a relentless fighter. It was a bout that I enjoyed immensely., I lived every second of it. and I am sure that a very large and distinguished gathering felt the same as I did. I crave for nothing better, nothing more decorous, nothing more completely in keeping with the spirit of J:he sport. M C. H. Douglas, who was referee, had not the least trouble with either lad: I did not see a single clinch to which exception could be takeif. The one admonition was given to Clark —to see that he hit with a closed glove •—and even then there was nothing dreadfully wrong. Clark has gone far to help us to forget our indifferent championship standard. As we watched him, he set us saying that at least our little men have not forgotten how to box and fight. And as for Kid Socks, there never was a more worthy challenger. Clark, as I expected, was too strong, physically and as a puncher, fur the London youth, and the wonder was that Socks got as far as the very last round, and with only a trfle more than a minute to go. No other lad would have kept up for *o long, and no other lad would have held so surely to a fighting brain as he did under the .storm and stress of it all. The footwork of Socks was a delight. He pulled out tricks that would have been worthy of Pedlar Palmer, and there was high merit in the defensive battle which he was compelled to •wage.

I heard it said that Socks at the beginning was overawed; that he was terribly apprehensive: that he was even fearful of what would happen to him. I do not subscribe to that view. If Socks had carried the fight, and had swapped punches as he was invited to do by the Scot, he would perhaps have been knocked out before half-a-dozen rounds had gone. For Clark was in his most devastating mood. Clark, perhaps smarting under the memory of his defeat at Albert Hall, so fashioned himself that he denied the least scope to Socks for the making of points. He made it impossible for the youth to box as he did when they had the 12-rounds affair Kensington way, Clark made Socks appear to be a foreign, an unnatural Socks, and those who were disposed harshly to criticise the Bethnal Green lad for adopting safety tactics gave him small credit for seeing and realising that his one hope of weathering the storm was bv bringing tiredness to ('lark, and then pulling out all he was capable of in the way of aggression.

I have often remarked upon the weight of Clark's punches. Believe me. he put every ounce of his power in his blows that he sent along last Monday night. His one-two punches were indeed mighty blows, and done more effectively than I have ever seen for years. Clark was abviously the master from the first round to the last. And now I suppose he will be contem-

plating having a shot at the world’s title. FROM THE WEST COUNTRY. Next Thursday, at the Albert Hall, we shall have a real opportunity of summing up one of our young hopes—this boy Len Harvey, of Plymouth. Harvey, still in his ’teens, is now a welter-weight, and, if I mistake not, he will be a heavy-weight before his career is finished. He comes from a grand Devonshire stock of big-boned men, and already, though a boy, his limbs are big and strong. There is a clearness in his eye, a coolness in his Banner, which remind one strongly of that ether grand young boxer, Jack Ilood. But Hood is almost fully developed as to style, and fully fashioned physically. The boy Harvey, brilliant though he is, is nevertheless still in an early stage as regards knowledge of the ring and its ways. He has much to learn. But, fortunately, nothing so far to unlearn. And in this negative respect he is years ahead, in my view, of the boy who was deemed to have beaten him, Johnny Sullivan. At the Albert Ilall Harvey will meet a finished and most skilful exponent of i>oxing in Harry Mason, our lightweight champion, who, I suspect, is more comfortable these days at the higher weight. Will Mason be too clever for him? I doubt it, for Harvey’s defence is his strongest point. But it may be that Harvey, though naturally careful, will be drawn by his v.ilv opponent into rash attack, and if this is so, Harvey will be beaten, for Mason is a past master at making the rushing, tearaway fighter look foolish. If liarvey takes my advice, he will play a waiting game, even as Mason will play it, and lead for the most part with his long and hurtful left. Do not expect Harvey to survive this most difficult test triumphantly; but rejoice if he does. That, at any rate, is how I regard the contest, and T shall not be a whit dismayed if Harvey loses. He has all his life before him.

MIDDLEWEIGHT SUPREMACY. If Milligan, Frank Moody, West and Moore are really intent upon business, the war of words which been waged around them should cease, for Mr AlBird, the Manchester promoter, has come fordward with an offer of what I consider to be particularly handsome purses if they will take his ring before Whitsuntide. Frank Moody, and Ted Moore are in America, but the first-named, through Mr Teddy Lewis has issued quite a comprehensive challenge and one especially to Tommy Milligan. Mr Bird will put up £1,500 for a contest between him and the Scot, and a like amount for fights between Milligan and West and Milligan and Moore, There would, in the circumstances, appear to be no obstacle in the way of matchmaking, certainly no excuse for any more challanges. It will be interesting to see what hapens. Perhaps Moody and Moore may, with reason, plead that they cannot get away from the States in time to be in the ring at Manchester by Whitsuntide, but Milligan and West, are on the premises, so to say, and if they do not get to grips they must not again plead fo/ an opportunity to settle the question of middle-weight supremacy. If Hood were not laid aside by an injured hand he would perhaps be Milligan’s first opponent since Scot’s return home. West has been wanting to have a crack at Milligan for ever such a while and now there is every reason why Milligan should accomodate him.