BOXING.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16747, 13 March 1926, Page 18 (Supplement)

BOXING.

(By “Left Lead.”) ANSWERS TO QUERIES. "Glove.”—Mickey Walker is the welter weight champion of Ihr world, and Phil Rosenberg the bantam-weight title-holder. Both of them receive their letters in America. “Curious.” —I can't tell you why Reg. Trowern is not trying Australia, but I hold with you that ire would do well there. "Pluggcr.”—There is not a boxer in Australia to-day 4-who is within cooee of the late Les Darcy, from a merit point of view. Miller Abroad. The young Australian, Hluckii Miller, who held the Aussie heavyweight championship for a few months, is now in London, where he has favourably impressed the critics in his training. Miller weighs list, lie is expected to he given a try-out on March 18.

Murray and Purdy. The match of the season wilt be on tap at Wellington on Monday evening, when Les Murray, of Dunedin, and Clias. Purdy, of Auckland, will meet for the lightweight Utle, which is held by Murray. At Dunedin a short time ago Purdy accounted for Murray rather badly, but there may be a different tale to tell after Monday's clash. It seems certain that Murray will be in belter physical condition to combat the Aucklander, and liis combination of boxing and lighting qualities, if applied to ttie holders best ability, will make him a tough proposition. Purdy’s chief dependency lies in tiis smartness as a boxer, and if tie can steer clear of any "loaded” deliveries from Murray there should he a new wearer of the Lightweight crown.

Conqueror of Collins. Critics in England have staled that Lon Johnson, the conqueror of Harry Collins in Australia recently, lias the skill and ability of a natural boxer, l,ut is deficient in the will to make a rousing fight. A few days before he left for Australia be was beaten in t>o rounds at The King, Kiackfriars, by Jack liodd. A report of the bout stated that liodd was the aggressor from the start, lie shook Johnson with left hooks in the sixth round. Johnson then improved, and the points were even, till the seventeenth term, when Hood scored with both hands lo the head. Hood finished a narrow but popular winner. .Most of Hie present-day followers of boxing appeared amazed at the cool way Johnson treated Collins, but old heads wore not surprised (says Ihe Sydney Sun with reference to the Johnson-Collins contest on February 20;. The latter realised that the Englishman had been trained in a fairly good school, hut they had seen “icebergs” in ihe ring in Australia decades ago. There were no fighters in ihe world as cool as Peter Jackson, Criffn, Fitzsimmons, and Co. As for the oilier phases of boxing, well nothing in I lie way of comparisons need be made. All Hie same, as fighters go nowadays, Johnson is brilliant, and bv far the best middleweight seen in Australia for a few years. He has been trained on some of ihe Mace lines. It was stated in Ihe cables a few weeks ago that he had shown in his matches in England that lie lacked fire in the ring. Judging from his display against Collins lie does not possess the tigerish instincts of Hie real fighter. To lie it good, forceful fighter a man must when In action be vicious and unmet citul. lie must hit to smash and punch Ills opponent. lo Ihe boards. Willi all . Ills cleverness, Johnson does not Hash in liio ring. On Saturday tie should have ended the light In the twelfth round, after lie landed squarely on Collins's chin, and bad him groggy. In the twentieth round, lon, If lie were a "finisher," lie would have knocked out Collins. He appeared not lo understand that when an opponent Is groggy one punch of full force is better'tliaii a dozen lighter blows, and often ends n match. As before stated, Johnson Is u fine performer. lie stands up lo his work, shoots ids left straight from Jlie shoulder when leading lo tho face., and does not llap It or let it drop at tho end of tho punch; keeps his right guard well up; guards his body well, especially with uis elbows; does not move far away when hack-stepping; keeps within hitting distanco 11s much as possiblo; and plays llto left often. Thesis are, a few or Ihe, points or his work In the ring, and they nro worth copying hymns) of our seasoned boxers, and those who intend taking on the game.