BRITISH BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 13 October 1938, Page 13

BRITISH BOXING

J. LONDON'S COMEBACK VICTORY OVER AL DELANEY PUTS HIM IN THE TOP CLASS. Blood smearing his face from a deep cut on his left cheek, Jack London, of West Hartlepool, battled himself back into a place among the top British heavyweights by decisively outpointing Al Delaney, of Canada, over 10 rounds, at the White City, Manchester, on September 2. Only 2000 people huddled together in the biting cold wind to see one of the best heavyweight fights of recent years. The fight was all the more sensational since London completely reversed the defeat handed to him by Delaney in London two months ago, says our boxing critic. Then London was worried by a personal bereavement. This time he was free of worry, strong and confident. He slipped on one knee in the first round and lost the first two or three, but in the fourth round, although he had his cheek cut by a blow irom Delaney, he fought back like a fighting fury, and had Delaney on the floor for a count of eight with a right swing. Took Many Blows. He followed this up in the fifth round and shook Delaney with left swings. It looked like London’t fight all the way from that point, although in tlft seventh round he stood with his back against the ropes flat-footed, and took a terrific fustilade of blows from the Canadian. Delaney's inability to hurt London worried him, and he looked a very tired fighter in the closing rounds. In the last round London punched him ail round the ring. Referee Jack Smith had no doubt about the winner, and the crowd cheered London to the echo for his magnificent display. Boon Still Winning. Eric Boon, the Chatteris (Cambridgeshire) blacksmith, beat young Eric Dolby, of Derby, into defeat inside three rounds. I have never seen a more remarkable young boxer than Boon. He is built on the lines of a heavyweight, with rippling muscles and a silky skin, and he has a fighting spirit that will carry him to many more victories.

He dropped Dolby for four counts in the first round —six, eight, nine and eight seconds—all with terrific left hooks that would have dropped many a heavyweight. Dolby was down from a righ hook in the second round, and for counts of eight and six in the third round. He was on his knees for two or three seconds when the referee walked across and raised Boon’s hand.