BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19783, 5 March 1927, Page 5

BOXING

.1 GRIME AND PURDY J ( THURSDAY’S GREAT CONTEST ( WIN FOR WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION c 1 (By ‘ 1 Solar Plexus”). < The Wellington Boxing Association, f live body and all as it is, must feel ( decidedly proud in having arranged a i match between Billy Grime, the triple i title holder of Australia, and Chame Pudry, lightweight champion of New i Zealand. Grime was expected to fight i in Auckland also, but the Northern < Boxing Association failed to clinch the 1 match through Grime leaving for Amer- t ica earlier than was expected. Grime J has a wonderful re,cord as a boxer since i Joe Hall arrived in Australia five ] months ago. During that time Grime took part in 16 fights, of wlych he won ’ 15 and lost one. The fight Grime losv was against Teddy Murton. Grime 1 fouled his opponent in the 17th of a 20- 1 round bout. Among Grime’s unsue- £ ecssful opponents have been Joe Hall, 1 three times, Ignacio Fernandez, three ? times, Bert McCarthy, twice. Havilah t Uren, Eddie Butcher. Johnnie Reisler, Jack Jones and Pedro Campo. £ f Grime’s Arrival. t Grime arrived in Auckland this wecK , a little off colour after the sea voyage, ‘ but it will not be long before the Aus- • Italian ehampion will be right back vn ( his best. He is particularly keen *o _ win the feather-weight championship 5 of the world in America, and there Ts 5 every possibility that the crack wih j have a prolonged spell in Now Zealand on his way back to Australia: It is j to be hoped that while in the Dominion Grime will be available for contests. 5 Model to his Profession. Billy Grime does not impress the casual observed from the physical point of 1 view. He is quiet and unassuming, r and is a model for many other members of his profession. He should prove very popular everywhere he goes. Tils future will be watched with interest now that ho has established such a unique record in pugilism as the hold- 1 ing of three titles. Other men in the world to hold three titles were. Frank Thorn and Bob Fitzsimmons. Grime 1 wi l ! never he. seen fighting for the c welter title again. Ho only fought " Butcher to prove he could win the title , if ho wanted to. 1 1 : Finding the Champion. Already an elimination tournament I has started in America to find a succcs- r sor to the throne of the retired feather I champion of the world in Louis ("Kid”") Kaplin. It is more than lilte- i ly that Grime will fight in this tourn- y ment, or otherwise he will probably c have to prove himself in a battle against some featherweight before 1 meeting the actual winner of the tournament. I

What a tremendous boost the game would receive in Australia if Grime were to return a world’s champion. Feather-weights from all countries, especially America, would flock to Australia, like middleweights in the days of Les Darcy, to seek the honour. Grime’s Rise to Fame Grime has not been thought a great deil of until just lately. Who gave him credit, for his uncanny cleverness or wins over importations or even Sydney boxers? It was not until Grime beat Johnnie Reisler on points in 20 rounds that he really came prom inently before the public. The general opinron expressed has always been that Grime would be beaten if he would stand and fight instead of running away all the time, and that he was afraid to mix matters with any of his opponents. Grime, however, proved this opinion to be altogether wrong when he fought Havilah Uren, Pedro Campo and Eddie Butcher. How will Purdy Fa.*e? Purdy will be expected by many to defeat, or even draw with Grime, but it will be moie than interesting to see how he fares against the best boxer Australia has produced for several years, and one who has won his way to the coveted ranks of the world’s best. Purdy is clever—there is not the slightest doubt on that point. He will give Grime a great time when the Australian tries to hit him. but Purdy will experience the same difficulty when ne attempts to hit Grime. The pair have similar styles but the difference will be in punching power. Grime carries w ”K. 0. in each hand, while Purdy has nothing dangerous, although he hits very hard. Whatever the result. Purdy will learn something which will staler him in good stead in England. Puray will leave for the other side sometime in May. World’s Title Holders. The list of present recognised world ’s champions, with their ages and birthplaces, is as follows: — Heavy-weight.—James Joseph (Gene) Tunney, 28, b. New York. Nationality, Irish-American. Light Heavy-weight.—Ovila Chapdelaine. Fights under the name of Jac*. Delaney, 26, b. St. Francis, Canao*. French-Canadian. Middle-weight.—E dwa r d (Mickey) Walker, 25, b. Elizabeth, New Jersey. Irish-American. Welter-weight.—Peter (Pete) Latzo. 24, b. Scranton, Pa. Czecho-Slo’ akian. Light-weight.— Samuel (Sammy) Mandell, 22, b. Chicago. ItalianAmerican. Junior Light-weight.—Albert Morgan Pilkington. Fights under the name oi Tod Morgan, 21, b. Seattle, U.S.A. Irish-Welsh-American. Feather-weight.—Vacant. The title is claimed by many, but the last holder was Louis (Kid) Kaplan, who resigned owing to failure to make the weight. Bantam - weight.— Charles (Phil) Rosenberg. 22, b. New York. Hebrew. Fly-weight.—Fidel la Barba, 21, b. New York. Italian-American.