BOXING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18785, 14 June 1929, Page 4

BOXING

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

By

"OMSTURS."

A New York cable message states that Tom Heeney will have a return match with Maloney at Philadelphia on June 24, and on July 4 will meet Harold Mays at Miami, the winner to meet Young Stribling at Philadelphia. This news indicates that Tom is not out of the running for the championThe cable gives the name of Tom’s opponent at Miami as >. Harry Fay, but as I cannot find the name in my record I think it should be Harold Mays, who has come forward lately in the heavy-weight class. William Hemmingway, who writes most delightful and instructive articles in the American Press on past and present heavyweight champions and near champions, in a recent article dealt with those whom he considered in the running tor the world’s championship. Two in his list are Harold Mays and Tom Heeney. As Mays is practically unknown in New Zealand, Mr Hemmingway’s opinion of him is interesting. He writes as follows: —“ Harold Mays has not made a lot of fuss about challenging, etc., yet he is a fine big lad, tall, rangy and showing the fire and dash of a stake horse.” Mays was one of Tunney’s camp when Tunney was training for his championship fight with Tom Heeney. Tunney* wanted a sparring partner who would do his best to hit him and this Mays did. Mr Hemmingway says:—“Mays dashed at Tunney every round and manoeuvred and slugged at him as if he wanted to knock him out. The champion never resented being hit, for he had the intelligence to know that this sort of practice would diminish his chances of being hit in the actual battle; nevertheless, pull his punches as he might, there were lots of times when he rapped Mays hard enough to put the ordinary big fellow down. Mays, instead of being discouraged, found these scraps inspiring. He ‘ found himself ’ as the boys say: that is, he developed fighting ability to meet the champion on something like even terms, developed assurance and self-confidence that fed his ambition. And by the time Tunney was ready to meet Heeney, Mays was ready to face any man. He has done enough work since that night to keep himself fit and he promises to give anyone a tough baJbtleN

The circumstances in connection with the defeat of Purdy at the Leichhardt Stadium, Sydney, on Friday, if correctlv reported, should lead to an overhauling of the rules governing boxing contests. The ‘’Guardian” states that Purdy was knocked out twenty-five seconds after the bell had rung for the termination of the round, the din being so terrific that the referee did not hear the bell. Now, as Purdy was knocked out after the full three minutes had elapsed, legally speaking, he was knocked out during the period that elapses between rounds, and as fighting is not permitted during that period, he was illegally knocked out. It seems strange that the referee did not hear the bell, but possibly it was not of the loudsounding order, and its tintinnabulation might easily have been drowned by the yells of excited spectators. Purdy might not have been able to survive another round, but the incident is a clear indication that provision should be made in the rules to protect the interests of a boxer who is knocked out after the termination of the round. The rule as it stands is that the boxing must not proceed for a longer period than three minutes. Therefore, if a boxer is not knocked out in that period he cannot legally be knocked out. Official deafness to the timekeeper’s signal* surely should not be allowed to override a rule. As a breach of the rules—quite unintentional, of course—led to a contestant being illegally knocked out, should not the bout, under such circumstances, be declared “no fight”?

The British lion ofttimes takes a lot of arousing, but when he is aroused he generally works most effectively. Several months ago the various boxing forces in Britain joined up with the idea of placing the sport under one general control, and the present British Board of Control was the result. That body is now working in conjunction with the European International Federation, and it also has working agreement with the New York Commission. Recently, according to a cable message, it was stirred to action by the dominant part played by America with respect to worlds championships, the climax coming with the announcement that the New York Commission had agreed to recognise a match between At. Brown, a negro, and Vidal Gregorio as for the world’s bantam-weight championship. In England Teddy Baldock is regarded as the rightful title-holder, but America has completely ignored the claim. “ Sporting Life,” in commenting on the position, said: —“ America must have a champion of her own making, whether he be white, black, brown or yellow. Only by an all-nations boxing agreement will it be possible to establish an •undisputed world’s champion in each weight.” The British Board of Control took up the matter, and has sent a letter to boxing federations throughout the world, seeking their co-opera-tion in the formation of a universal body for regulating world’s championships. The letter says that, if such a body could be formed, it would result in the greatest revival of boxing, as boxers of all nationalities would then have an opportunity of boxing for world championships. The prospects of forming a universal body do not appear to be very bright at the moment, because, even in America, there are two bodies, each claiming plenary powers—the New York State Commission and the National Association, which claims the affiliation of some thirty State Commissions, yet is powerless to upset the. rulings of the New York Commission. There is ample evidence to show that the New York Commission regards itself as the supreme body in the boxing world, and is indifferent to what other bodies say or do. Its powers really do not extend beyond the State of New York, but it issues orders which are obeyed by other Commissions, and it would seem that, unless it is prepared to become a unit of a United States Federation, the only hope of the British Board of Control getting any way near the ideal it suggests, would be fer it, in conjunction with the European International Federation, to join forces with the American National Association. Then the New York Commission would -be left in solitary possession of the sport in one State, but as that State happens to contain the City of New York, which possesses the biggest promoters 'in the world, and is the Mecca of all boxers, though reduced in territorial command, none the less it would be able to retain its present dominant position. It’s a pretty puzzle and. in the world-wide interests of the sport, it should be solved. But just now the New York Commission appears to be in an unassailable position, and can snap its fingers at any combination of federations. Selfish, no doubt, but very human, when one considers the personnel of the New York Commission and those behind it. «*» K »* The Christchurch Sports Club will hold an amateur tournament on June--24, the programme consisting of sixround bouts between local lads and opponents from other centres.

Bert Brown, who left New Zealand three or four years ago as a featherweight, has returned to New Zealand a light-weight. During his absence he has made quite a name for himself in the ring in Canada and the United vStates, having met and defeated men with high local reputations. He has informed the Manawatu Association of his return, and has mentioned that he would like to be matched against the Newcastle (N.S.W.) knocker-out, Jack Roberts, and it is understood that the association has communicated the fact to Roberts. 8 8 The Otago Association has decided that no class below the fly-weight division will be provided for, and no boy under 7st will be accepted for a contest. This is a step in the right direction, but it should not have been left to a local association to take it. The decision should have come from the governing body, thus making it cover the whole of the Dominion. As it is the Otago Association’s decision doe? not extend beyond the jurisdiction of that body. We don’t want immature kiddies appearing in the public ring. H *'• 25 The British Boxing Board of Control recently decided that a Colonial boxer of white parentage shall be eligible to box for a championship of Great Britain and the Lonsdale belt provided he has been resident in England for two years in three. A 'recently received American paper states that Max Schmelling, the German heavy-weight, will meet Paoiifio Uzcudun, at the Yankee Stadium, New York, on June 27, at the annual charity tournament that is promoted for the benefit of the Poor Babies’ Milk Fund. There is not a doubt (says a London writer) that Baldock, the British bantam champion is a great favourite, and it is no exaggeration to say that he is the nearest approach to the famous Jimmy Wilde that has come to the front since the great little Welsh conqueror went into retirement. He is certainly the type of boxer admired by followers of the sport. It has been said of Kid Chocolate, the Cuban negro, that he is another Dixon (writes W. O. M’Geehan, sports editor of the “New York Ilerald-Tri* bune”). In the bout with Graham, the other night, the “ Second Dixon ” showed no resemblance at all to the first, with the exception that he is of Senegambian extraction. Every once and a while you hear of a " second Gans,” a “second Jack Johnson,” and a “ second Wolcott.” But. somehow, these seconds never look like the firsts. There was, for instance. Jack M’Auliffe second. After seeing him Jack M’Aitliffe first never smiled again.

HOW THEY BOX IN CHINA.

FIGHTS UNDER “ ALL IN ” RULES.

There is a boxing revival in China, where the sport is being taken very seriously indeed (writes H. E. Cleveland in London “ Sporting Life.”) The first national Chinese boxing, wrestling, and fencing tournament, which was sponsored by the Government, to encourage these sports, was carried through at Shanghai recently. There were no fewer than 260 entrants, drawn from all parts of the Celestial Empire.

As a matter of fact, the “noble art” has been practised in the “Flowery Land” for many hundreds of years, and although it never reached to the artistic level of the modern methods of “hitstop, and get away,” brought to perfection by* Jem Mace and other professors of the milling game, there is enough similarity in the technique employed by the Chinese gladiator to indicate to anyone familiar with ring etiquette that it tvas closely allied to the Anglo-Saxon sport. The Chinese gladiators of a century ago were evidently taught how to use both hands with equal facility, and should they retain ambidexterity in their boxing curriculum they will be dangerous rivals to Britishers and Americans; in fact, to fighters of every nationality. It has been before pointed out that the boxer who could “change over” quickly and deliver a straight righthander, “ the long Me-lford,” with which George Borrow beat the Flaming Tinman. would soar above his fellow’s and create a revolution in the art of selfdefence. And why not? European and American fighters commence their training on much similar lines.

They avoid all practices, habits, or foods injurious to health, paying particular regard to their wind, speed, and stamina.

The Chinaman devotes literally years to his training, subjecting himself to great hardships in the process. Tie starts his preparation by improving his quicknes of vision. This he does by leaving his bed while it is yet dusk, and then trying to define individual objects from many.

This compels singleness of purpose and concentration of gaze, which ensures a keener vision. He then attempts to follow the flight of a small object, a bird, fish, or animal, so long as it is in a group.

His next object is to learn to maintain an equilibrium of balance at all times and under any circumstances by practising on a table constructed for such purposes. This gives lightness ot movement and agility. The strengthening and hardening ot the leg muscles is done much in the same way the Anglo-Saxon adopts, with the addition of running long distances and the climbing of trees. His dumbbells and clubs for swinging are much heavier than those in use by British and American boxers, on the principle that the greater the weight used the quicker and more satisfactory the development. The Oriental pugilist goes in for shadow boxing, but it is different from what we have become accustomed to seeing in the training quarters here. He works upon the theory that he will be knocked down, and therefore he learns to fall in a way to minimise the chance of injury. No gloves or padding are used oy the Chinaman. He bends only his fingers at the second joints- and jabs with them. In order to harden these knuckles he will give them months of assiduous attention. When thoroughly toughened tney will inflict a cut as clean as if a razor had been used. 4 , There are no rounds according to the rules of boxing in vogue in china. The yellow-hued “pugs’ fight until one or the other is beaten beyond the shadow of doubt. Boxing in that country- permits the contestants to hit or kick, any part of their opponent’s body. If one of the rivals received an injury by a kick, no matter where it takes effect, and is, as a result, unable to con. tinue, the “kicker out” has the verdict and what monetary reward there is attached to it. . As proof of the ferocity shown m these so-called boxing matches. pre-

parations were made to compensate the relatives of the contestants who might be killed or seriously injured during the recent national tournament. It is considered unfair to strike a . rival boxer on the frontispiece, so that no “cauliflower ears” or other facial disfigurements result from these battles. During the past few years there has been a tendency to develop boxing move on Anglo-Saxon lines than hitherto. Chinese students at the European and American universities have taken a liking to the “noble art,” and many of them have become quite proficient mittsters under English and American instructions.