BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 92, 18 April 1929, Page 5

BOXING

LEN HARVEY’S QUEST AFTER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE GREAT WIN AT CRYSTAL PALACE A crowd of nearly 10,000 at the Crystal Palace, London, saw’ one of tfic greatest lights ever witnessed in this country, writes Trevor C. WignaTl, ot. the Daily Al ail. In the sixth round of a la-rounds contest, Len Harvey, the Plymouthborn middleweight, knocked out Frank Moody, the Welshman, who is generally regarded as tin l , light-heavy-weight Zianipion of Great. Britain. Aloody replaced Jack Hood, who had to cancel his bout, with Harvey owing to an injured thumb. The knock-out was of the technical kind, for when Moody went down for the ninth time, hopelessly beaten and practically helpless, the referee, Mr »Sani Russell, very rghtly stopped the proceedings and declared Ilarvev the winner. By then the majority of the spectators were in a state of shouting semi-hyste.-'a, and it is a long time, indeed, since «n much exciternent has been engendered. Tt was the astonishing endurance of Moody that was the outstanding feature. Tt. did not seem possible that a human being, much less a boxer, who, although with a weight advantage of about ,101 b had had only four days’ training, could accept so many terrific punches and still climb back to his feet time after time. Something like 50 straight lofts must have been hurled into Moody’s face in the first round—it was then that his right, eye was so battered that it later became sightless. But it was not until the third round that the fury of Harvey’s fighting wrath really descended on him. A straight right-hand punch soon after the round opened dropped Moody for a count of eight seconds. He retreated as he arose, but Harvey jumped in anTf again levelled him for another count of eight- When Moody slowly climbed back he was tottering, but another perfectly-timed right caught him flush on the point and down he went for one mor 0 count of eight. As the hell rang to end the round Harvey swung with all his force, and this time Aloody dived through the ropes in his descent. He had to be carried to his corner, wher e ho was given brandy, but a few seconds after the fourth round opened he was back on the floor as the result, of a right to tho jaw that would have kept most men down for the rest of the night. Completely outclassed, Moody yet was able, to do considerable “foxing.” He. tempted Harvey to th ( . ropes, simulated groggincss, and then flashed out with lefts and rights in a desperate hope that one of his punches would connect and give him victory. Harvey, however, was much too wary to be caught, and although he wa.s a trifle more subdued and cautious in tho fifth round, he. was still very much master of the situation. In the sixth round Moody was levelled for three counts ot eight seconds, and he was curled up, on the. canvas on his left side when the referee intervened. Harvey was a re,\ elation. In all his other fights, and this was his 235th. he started slowly, but on this occasion ho was forcing the pace from the first instant.

Aloody was wonderfully plucky, but that is really all that can be said for him. As*a boxer and as a fighter he was thoroughly outclassed. It may be said now that Aloody did not want, this fight. His wife was against it, and it was only after it was pointed out to him that the tournament would have to be abandoned if h,> did not act as a substitute for Jack Hood that life agreed to meet Harvey. He was £lOO9, Harvey’s reward being £1750. Leaving the hall, 1 ran across two people who were exceedingly jubilant. One was Dan Sullivan, Harvey’s manager. He said: “Please make this announcement. Harvey will fight Phil Scott fur £lOOO a-side whenever Scott likes.” Th e other was Airs Len Harvey tense with excitement, but very happy. All she, could say was, “1 am very, very proud of iny husband-” She has reason to be. On that night's form Harvey is the finest lighter this country has produced for a decade or more.

It is now Harvey’s intention to go to America to challenge Micky AValker for the middleweight championship of the world. TUNNEY WILL FIGHT AGAIN WHAT JACK DEMPSEY SAYS “CAN LICK HIM ANY DAY.” George Getz, Chicago sportsman, is Irving hard to induce Jack Dempsey to fight just once more in the AVindy City. He has secured the promise of the Manassa Afauler that if he lights again it will be in Chicago. It can be put down in the litle book that Dempsey is not going to light again. In an exclusive interview with a representative of ‘‘Collyer's Eye,” Ihe former champion made known his position in the following language: “I guess that I can sock just as hard as ever, hut one has to get on top of his opponent in order to slip over a knockout punch. Aly legs have "one back on me. ’There is no use in my trying to kid myself that I can light as well as a few years back. “The fact that, I cannot travel fast gives an opponent quite an edge. The only possible chance for me to ever step into the ring again would be for an opportunity to battle Tunney. L don’t think Tunney is a real champion. As slow as I am, I think I can whip him, because he lacks a punch.” ' Dempsey thinks that Tunney will fight again. He believes hat, when /Tunney’s money runs out he will announce he is going to light again. ' “Tunney’s wife is rich, but he has i not salted away as much as people believe. He, has also spent quite : bit travelling around. F don’t think that Tunney will fancy the idea of being accused of accepting money from his wife. And if he. is willing to light again, I will go into active training. “Personally, 1. don’t like Tunney or his methods. ‘That is one reason why I would like to light him, but. the main reason is because I am sincere in the belief that 1 can lick him any day in the week.”