BOXING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18614, 16 November 1928, Page 3

BOXING

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

*F

"CESTUS."

Though Johnnie Leckie has definitely decided to visit America, he has not yet accepted either of the offers he has received, but that of Charles Harvev seems to be the one having the stronger appeal. It is reported that Charley Purdy has returned to Sydney, and that JLachie Macdonald will shortly follow. Purdy is looking for a match with Carroll, the Australian welter champion, who recently defeated Harry Mason, the Englishman. At Wellington on August 9 Carroll gained a points decision over Purdy in a contest described as “one of the most brilliant l>oxing exhibitions, as distinct from fighting, ever seen in the Wellington ring.” During his short stay in New Zealand Carroll had two other fights, both against Casey, one at Wellington, which he lost on points, a decision that did not meet with general approval, and the other at Christchurch, which he won. The Napier Association appears to have had. bad luck financially with its recent promotions. On Wednesday of last week it staged two professional fights, one of ten rounds and the other of fifteen, Teddy Green, the Australian champion, and Taylor, of Auckland, being the contestants—in addition to several amateur bouts. Yet, says a local paper, “the attendance was ooor and certainly constitute a very weak effort on the part of the general public to show appreciation of the attempt bv the association to popularise the sport.” This, an excellent programme, proving a financial failure, and coming on top of previous reverses, is enough to damp the enthusiasm of those responsible for the Napier promotions The association of late may have paid too much attention to the feathers and bantams. Perhaps a change to heavier classes might prove beneficial from a box office point of view. The Northern Boxing Association (Auckland) has arranged a match for December 3 between Billy Harms, the South African middle-weight, and Tom MTnnes, of Scotland, who created a very favourable impression in the northern city in contests against Pocock and Monson. The Sydney Stadium management, in the endeavour to revive interest in boxing in Australia, is inviting several top-notchers to accept contracts. These include Fidel la Barba (ex-fly-weight champion of the world, and now a bantam), Teddy Baldock (the English champion) and Willie Smith (the South African bantam who has a victory over Baldock on his record sheet). If these high-grade exponents of the art accept the terms offered, Johnnie Leckie might find it to his advantage to cross the Tasman before embarking on his American trip. True, the trio mentioned are bantams, but each of them could enter the ring only a pound or two below Leckie’s weight. x x The way American Boxing Commissioners do things:—A Chicago fight manager having allegedly said that a fight had been “ arranged,” he was called to account by the Illinois Commission, with the result that his license was revoked and he was suspended indefinitely. “ These whisperings about results must stop,” said the chairman. “ We are glad to investigate all charges, but gossip—idle gossip—is going to be traced, and the spreader of it is going to be punished.” X X. X The National Sporting Club, the premier boxing club not only of Great Britain, but of the world, has shed a bit more of its old conservatism by deciding to admit members of the general public (says a London writer). This is a notable departure from the rigid rule of the famous club, which permittedt only members and friends introduced by them to be present on what are known as “club nights.” The innovation will be appreciated. It has long been a grievance with many people that the very events which the public ought to be able to see—events of national and international importance—should be decided behind closed doors, as it were; and the decision of the club will go a long way to remove this feeling. When the National Sporting Club expands, as it must surely do in time, into premises fitting to its traditions and the traditions of British sport, an old grievance will be removed altogether. For the present the number of “outsiders” admitted must necessarilv be limited by the capacity of the accommodation. Speaking of the demands of boxers on promoters London “ Sporting Life ” editorially remarks: —“Every labourer is worthy of his hire, but the amount of the hire may be altogether out of proportion to its real value. Boxers who would be well paid with a £5 note talk glibly about hundreds when asked to appear in the ring, and those to whom a hundred or two w'ould be ample payment do not blush when they ask for thousands. There is only one Tunney in the world. There is no other boxer to-day who can scoop in a fortune for a single appearance, and who finds it not the least strain on his financial resources in consequences to travel in kingly style. The inflated demands now made by the boxer of medium skill for deigning to display his skill in the roped arena will have to be moderated, or, like Othello, he will find his occupation gone.” In New Zealand the same sort of thing is going on, only, of course, in a smaller way. Purses ranging from £SO up to £2OO are offered to contestants who, in many cases, are wcrtn just about onefourth of the amount. Speaking generally big purses mean big prices of admission tvhere the seating capacity is comparatively limited, and big prices as often as not mean reduced attendances and consequently loss to the promoting bodies. The British Boxing Board of Control Sm being criticised by the Press for some of its recent decisions. One was that all boxers min t weigh in at two o’clock on the day of the contest, and that con- - <tants must not enter the ring before r .m. Another was that “no Euro►an ch- . . wi:i be recognired by rhe pi ou of Great Britain has been beaten

for the title.” Commenting on this. London “ Sporting Life ” says: “Looked at through Continental eyes, the 8.8.C.’s action is rather rich. Whatever one may say about the 1.8. U., you can’t get away from the fact that they really do control boxing on the Continent. Every European country, with the solitary exception of Great Britain, is affiliated. Is it likely they are going to take notice of what the 8.8. C., whose prestige, even in England, is anything but high, says or does? In the circumstances, it w’as a waste of time for the 8.8. C. to have said what it did. They have merely succeeded in making themselves look foolis,h.” It would seem that the board is not popular in England, though, I believe, those in control are members of the National Sporting Club, for steps have been taken to form a rival body known as the British Boxing Alliance. The alliance proposes to attempt to work in harmony with the International Boxing Union, which the Boxing Board refuses to recognise, and has made the first advance by suggesting that the boxers recognised by the union as holders of the European championships should be matched class for class against the holders of British championships, the winners, of course, to be the official European champions.

FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS. RECOLLECTIONS OF A SECRETARY. Mr Norman Clark, secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, who has had many years of experience in connection with British boxing, supplies “Pearson’s Weekly” with some of his recollections. The following- are extracts: We have had many amusing bouts at the National Sporting Club at different times, but I think the most peculiar I can recall was that between Arthur Evernden and Jack Meekins in November, 1909. Both were very hard hitters, and some hefty exchanges took place; then, in one of the rounds, Evernden landed on the jaw and Meekins on the mark, both simultaneously, and down the pair went like ninepins. Evernden, who had caught a proper solar plexus knock-out, evidently had not a chance of getting up; whilst Meekins, lying face downwards, was to all appearances unconscious. It certainly looked as if both were to be counted out; but at the ninth second Meekins managed to stagger to bis feet, instinctively covering his face to guard against the onslaught of blows he expected. To his surprise none came, and amidst his protests his seconds assisted him to his corner. It was not until he was firmly seated that he discovered he was the winner. The same evening a long discussion ensued amongst various referees and judges as to what decision should have been given had both men been knocked out. One suggested that both should be disqualified for not trying; but eventually it was decided that the verdict should go to the man leading on points at the time the knock-out took piace, or, in the event of these being equal, a draw should be declared. Which, I think, is undoubtedly the right decision to arrive at in such circumstances. One of the greatest boxers I can recall was the famous negro, Sam Langford, who, though never more than a light-heavyweight, was a tremendous hitter, and a man even Jack Johnson fought shy of. Langford was a modest, well-mannered fellow, but he was not without certain characteristics of his race; and these, together with the very sober airs he gave himself, sometimes made him rather amusing. He first came to this country early in his career, and at the National Sporting Club won his first respectable purse by easily beating Tiger Smith. The day after the contest he came to see Mr “Peggy” Bettinson, the late manager of the club. After he had received his money, he leant over and said with great seriousness: “Mr Bettinson, I want you to give me the name of a tailor where I can get a first-class frock coat.” Mr Bettinson gave him a suitable address, and he continued: “And a fine silk hat ” Peggy again obliged. “And a pair of spats, a cane—and a large diamond ring.” Having told him where all these could be procured, Mr Bettinson asked: “Going on the halls, Sam?” “No,” came the reply. “Not the halls, Mistah Bettinson. Ahm goin’ back to America, back to my home town. And when I get there Ahm just goin’ to stand at the corner of the street and let them see me.” Langford, without doubt, was a tremendous hitter. In many of his contests he could stop his opponent almost whenever he wanted. In one match he had when touring the States, his bout came on rather late, and he had to hurry away to catch a train. For five rounds he gave a nice exhibition, and his opponent was growing confident; then, on coming up for the sixth round, Langford suddenly offered bis hand.

“But,” exclaimed his surprised opponent, “this is not the last round.” “It will be,” was Sam’s solemn reply. And, having shaken hands, he landed the K.O. without more ado. I remember once having a discussion with George Bernard Shaw as to which was preferable as a career, literature or pugilism. Shaw favoured the latter. “Journalism,” he wrote, “is said rightly to be a good walking-stick, but a bad crutch. It enabled me to live until, at thirty-eight, I first had a play produced commercially. . . . “Pugilism is a much better game if cne can reach the eminence at which you can demand £IOOO, win, lose or draw, and though age soon stops that, one can keep a gymnasium and teach, and referee, and so forth. Finally, one keeps a public-house, and discovers that a successful oublican has as good a Lime of it as Edward VII., in very nmch the same sort of way.”