BOXING.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16712, 30 January 1926, Page 18 (Supplement)

BOXING.

ANSWERS TO QUERIES

(By "Left Lead.")

Ikey."-7-Ts.Gisborne is Clarrie Blackburn's present address.

"Heavy."—Tom Heeney is still abroad. The last heard of him was from South Africa.

Fan."—Collins and Eagcl have not had a second meeting since Collins got the verdict over the Amecican last month.

Purdy and Murray.

A contest .which has been looked forward to for many a long day will be staged at'Dunedin this evening. Cha.s Purdy, the clever and unbeaten Aucklander and Les Murray, the New Zealand light-weight champion, are to be the principals. It should be a great go and Purdy should just about scrape through.

McKnight and Lovorldge.

A return match between Nelson McKnight and B. Loveridge, the Taranaki boxer, who recently got a points decision over McKnight at Westport, is to be staged by the Frankton Association. It is proposed to bring the bout off at the Theatre Royal, Hamilton.

Murray and Volairo. u ■ • The Southland Boxing Association has matched Les Murray and Eugene Yolairc for February 26.

Walker and Miliigan. The cable last, week announcing: that a London guaianlec of 150,000 dollars for a welter weignt championship fight in London in June between Mickey Walker and Tommy Miliigan. indicates that there is still plenty of EngliL.h money to promote the puglistic art.

Mickey Walker is holder of the world's welter-weight championship; Miliigan is the English champion. In. September last Miliigan' went to New York iii search of matches and was not long in securing one. He was sent against a rugged experienced fighter named Schaiffler, whom he outclassed in such a convincing manner that the sports vvritcrs rubbed their eyes in amazement. England had sent and was slill sending over some excellent lads in the fly, bantam and feather classes, but here was something out of the common in a heavier class. All round the critics extolled Miliigan in a manner ralher foreign to them where a British boxer is concerned, and ..the result of his sensational debut was his! almost immediate return to London He .did not wait for further matches. He did not need to, if the report which was circulated was founded on fact. That report was that the famous pro motor, Tex Richards, lost lio time hi getting in touch with Miliigan. and signing him for three matches, one of them against Walker. According |> recent,American files this match should have taken place' in December, ami apparently would have had

Hickards been able to get Walker's manager, Reams (Tor several year? Jack Dempsey's manager} to agree to liis terms. There has been something of a slump in boxing in America, an.fl possibly the London, offer of a purse of approximately £30,000 is due to this fact. Walker is not regarded by the critics as anything briliant. lie is a game, rugged fighter possessing a fair amount oh skill and a rather devastating punch. Milligan us much younger both in age and experience, but English and American critics regard him as a world's' champion in the near future. ■

Wills and Johnson. Harry Wills recently committed the awful atrocity of boxing Floyd Johnson, stopping him in less than two minutes of boxing.- Johnson, his nervous system shattered by punishment received in other matches, especially in the joust with Jess Willard two years ago, was little else than a.i animated punching bag. Wills punched him several times around the stomach, smashed over a rabbit punch which caused Johnson's legs to quake and tremble, and then drew back his right to finish him—just when the while towel of surrender was tossed into the ring. ' There was no reason for the match except the collection of a lot of loose cash. The bout proved nothing, except that it should never have taken place. Johnson was simply resurrected to make a holiday for Mr i Wills. Yet every seat was taken [when the pair stepped into the ring. I | Following the bout, the New Jer say board, to cover up its negligence in allowing such a contest, suspended i Johnson from boxing in New Jersey; [but Floyd beat the body" to it by anI nouncing his' retirement from the ! ring. , ■