PROMINENT BOXERS SUSPENDED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18466, 18 May 1928, Page 12

PROMINENT BOXERS SUSPENDED.

TOM HEENEY IN LONDON. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON. March 29 Our London correspondent, Mr Eugene Corri, writes:— Little else has been talked about during the week than the action of the British Board of Control in the matter of Jack Hood and Joe Bloomfield. It is a most regrettable happening. What suspension for two months must mean, to a man who fights for a living, you know full well. Especially in the case of a champion, as Hood is. Nothing so drastic has been known in boxing in this country, and I can well understand that the two fighters feel the bottom of their own particular world has fallen out. I was at the fight between Hood and Bloomfield, and took particular note of all that happened. There cannot be a shadow of doubt that the affair, so long as it lasted, was a particularly dreary business. When those at the ringside at the National Sporting Club take to whistling and giving themselves over to derisive laughter, you may be sure that there is something wrong. We of the club pride ourselves upon a regard for decorum, and the departure from an observance of quiet distressed me not a little. And yet the unruliness, if so it may be called, was understandable, as it was almost excusable. Hood and Bloomfield are naturally very sore at the decision of Mr J. W. 11. T. Douglas, who was in the chair, and at the dreadful sequel. But they can do no more than grin and bear it. It was obvious, if only for the good ofthe game of boxing, and that is all I am concerned about, that the ruling of Mr Douglas could not be left where it was. Clearly was the case one for the Board of Control. Since Lord Lonsdale was in the chair, it follows automatically that the boxers had a fair and sympathetic hearing. There is no greater champion of the professional fighter than Lord Lonsdale. If he could have seen a way out, there would have been no suspension. That it hurt him to put Hood and Bloomfield on the shelf for a couple of months goes without saying. The trade of fighting is ordinarily hard enough in all conscience, without the application of the coke-hammer, as represented by the decision of the Board of Control. “No Contest” means that neither Hood nor Bloomfield can hope for any money from their affair at the club, but from a financial point of view Hoc*} has been hit terribly hard, for his suspension means that the match with Mancini has been called off. And Mancini, for his part, must consider that he has no luck. The chances were that a fight between Hood and Mancini would have brought both more money than any other contest in which they have engaged. I was given to understand that there was the keenest possible demand for tickets, and that the gate would be in the neighbourhood of £sooo—near to a record for Holland Park. It is certain that 3-oung Mr Douglas would not have’ ordered Hood and Bloomfield out of the ring had he not felt that he had no other alternative. That he gave the fighters every warning that he was not at all satisfied With their ways will not be denied. Three times did he caution them before he stopped the bout, a'nd his final action was most cordially approved by the vast majority of those who had places at the ringside. There has seldom been a verdict tnat has won such warm and wholehearted approval. TOM HEIKET AT THE NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB. LONDON, April 5 Tom Heeney is back from the States, and, on the occasion of the appearance of Hood and Bloomfield at the National Sporting Club, he was introduced from the ring to the members. lie looked in the pink of condition. I would congratulate the New Zealander upon having been given a definite promise that he will be Tunney s opponent in the summer. The probability is that they will meet in July. Whatever the result, Heeney will not have to worry unduly about money lor the rest of his days. I should not bo in the least surprised if, before the summer is over, he will be able to say that, apart from Tunney and Dempsey, he is the richest fighter. Ileeney’s sudden accession to wealth is one of the most remarkable happenings in my time. A year ago he would not have minded having a fight for a £2O note. It is possible that he then doubted whether there would ever be more than a bare living in the game for him. Few boxers, with limitations which it was agreed were most marked, have struck such a gold mine as he has done. Almost from the moment that he landed in the States it has - been roses, roses all the way; and, better still, Heeney holds to his modesty.