BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19787, 10 March 1927, Page 2

BOXING

- .AUSTRALIA’S LOSS GRUME ALOWED TO GO CHAMPIONS NOT CATERED FOR The departure of Billy Grime, feather-weight, and welter-weight champion of Australia, has left a big gup in the fighting force of Australia, comments a Sydney writer. In addition his leaving us is, from a financial poin: of view, a loss to Stadiums, Ltd. Re, however, decided to seek fresh fidols and pastures new, and it is to be hoped he will be successful. It is unsatisfactory for good Australian fighters to leave for othe* lands, as there is generally a slump following their departure. As in the past they have a desire to conquer in another country. However, when a boxer here reaches the top in three divisions as Grime has, or even in one section, he naturally wants, if there are no likely opponents in sight, to go abroad to fight others. It is obvious that if a public entertainer is a good draw card, he should be kept working. Grime has proved himself to be a money-maker for art concerned in his contests in Australia. Too Late The idea of importing boxers to meet Grime was mentioned at a send-off given the triple champion at Pans House. Sir Benjamin Fuller was in the chair. During the evening Air Alunro mentioned that he ha.d cabled to the New York Boxing Commission, offering the present featherweight champion of the world £lO,OOO to fight Grime in Australia. This statement brougnt forth adverse interjections, the point of most of which wore that it was late in the day to try and arrange for a world’s champion match for Grime in Australia. If Grime had decided to stay here for a while a system of elimination bouts with American fighters of different grades could have been arranged. For instance Reisler, who, by the way. left for America on Saturday, and Campo fought 20-rounds with Grime, but lost on points. They arc lightweights, and in a division nine pounds heavier than the section in which Grime fights, despite his championships in two higher grades. Cheaper Importations They are not of high standard, but could make a fight of it with some boxers of better status in the featherweight division in U.S.A. It seems that of the later some of about equal ring powers, and with financial ideas mucli below £lO,OOO could have been brought to Australia and if Grime polished thc*n off he could have been asked to get ready for more bouts. With further successes against more importations he could have. kept, going until the limit of the offers of Stadium Ltd., was reached. Then ho could ha,ve left for U.S.A. to tackle others who would not come to Australia on the terms of Stadiums Ltd. There must be a lot of reasonably cheap featherweights in America who could, under existing circumstances have diawn well in Australia with Grine. It is well to keep a draw card as long as possible. Fighters For Daxcy Darcy stayed in Australia' until he decided, as he said himself, to- go to America to make £lO,OOO, and win the middleweight championship of tne world. At other boxer thinking of going to America is Teddy Green, flyweightchampion. As he is a champion he should be kept busy here. At Thursday’s good-bye dinner to Grime the latter said he had to thank Air Lean, manager of the Melbourne Stadium, for giving him the opportunity to “make good” in first-class matches. At the same function Afr Afunro that Australians were not loyal to their own fighters. This was a reference to the want of support generally accorded Australians at Rusheutters Bay. J'tivs is true in many cases, but it was not so last year when Tommy TJren was brought back into the game, and also when Edwards and Thompson wore given chances to box at the Stadium. Australians turned up in thousands to see these fighters and further every mid-week at the Stadium and at AfcHugh’s Australians give excellent supoprt to local fighters. We have great fighting material in Australia. Who is going to mould it? We want another Larry Foley.