BOXING.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17412, 26 May 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

BOXING.

QRIFFO IN THE RING. SELF CONFIDENCE DISPLAYED. Since the death, of Griffo, many stories have .been told to. show his self-confidence and eccentricities, writes "Solar Plexus" in the Sydney Referc. Griffo, in his youth, was like his famous countryman of later years, Bob Turner, who lorded it over the lightweights, and was most restless. To ask cither to take a seat and remain quiet a few moments, was to request the impossible. They were ever on the move. If a question was not immediately answered, they would switch over to .some other subject, not the least bit' of interest.

One day, while talking to our esteemed friend, little Bobby Watson, a high-class -comedian, George Bignold, the famous actor, passed by, and, with him, was an equally well-known Thespian then taking a leading part in the "Corsican Brothers," drawing; big houses at Her Majesty's. As they passed, Griffo asked of friend Watson: "Blime, who's the pot with old George?" "He is one of the actors la the "Corsican Brothers." To which Griffo replied: "Strike me pink. They ■carn't beat the Coghill Brothers" (well-known vaudeville artists). In one of his early contests, in defence of his newly-won feather-weight championship, from Billy Murphy, Griffo opposed clever George Powell. A deal of money was wagered that Powell would beat the* champion. That this did not unnerve Griffo, the following will show. A Stray Shilling. Prior to toe main event, a willing preliminary bout had taken place, and, in the custom of the day, a shower of silver coin fell in the ring in appreciation of the efforts of the lads engaged. In those days, there were eight posts to a ring, each well padded. Against the middle post on the we6t side of 'the fighting space, a stray shilling had escaped the vigilant eyes of the gentlemen who were gathering in the silver. It stood on its edge. The fact that his world's title was Involved, and his opponent was the hero.of many battles, and regarded by good judges as the one made to order to clip his wings, meant nothing more to Griffo. He went ahead as though it were an ordinary three-round exhibition spar with Ghiddy Ryan, with whom he had so often delighted thousands.

In one of the very early sessions Griffo saw the shilling on its edge. While driving three straight lefts to his opponent's nose, he drew the attention of his seconds to it, saying: "Blime, Henna" (meaning Henry Horner), "cookarouso at the decna." Then, turning to another of his corner, the now well-known official of City Tattersall's Club, Mr Hock Johnson, "Dere it is, Hock, standing' on its bloomin' head." Griffo was a character; he had h>s wits alert in the ring.

PRESENT DAY PUNCHINQ. WHY IT IS WEAK. Many who had experience in boxing a little while back, and arc still followers of the game, arc at a loss to understand the reason why the modern mitt-slinger is so poor a puncher, writes "Solar Plexus."

They see youngsters physically developed, and in the right spot, too, high up on the sides, and behind the viceps, yet seldom do they win by a clean-cut knockout.

One reason is that they have little knowledge of timing. A swinging right to the chin is seldom as effective as such a blow would warrant, unless the butt of unpadded part of the hand be used. Even then, the only damage observed is the rubbing-off of skin. The same fight enthusiasts are also wondering at the prevalence of the lopen-hand method of warfare. A boxer should grip with the thumb far enough round to be against the middle knuckles of the second and index Angers. But most boxers, * these days, have no grip, for the thumb is athwart the top of the angle of the second and third joints of the index finger. If a boxer grip in the correct way, and feels the strength he has in his right or left hand, and then tries the incorrect way, with the thumb on top, he will straightaway discover how comparatively innocuous is the present method.

The hand held in the latter way inclines one to hit with it open, or with the heel, or, as it is more often called, the butt °f the hand.

Bad tuition is one reason for this absurd style of boxing. And. with gloves made so that the proper*- grip cannot be gained, only adds to the grossly incorrect methods of punching so common these days.

JOHNNY LECKIE'S INTENTION. It is the opinion of the writer "Hooker" of 'the Dunedin Star), that ere long "lighting" Johnny Leckie, feather-weight champion of New Zealand, will be packing his grip and making tracks for Sydney, but when I broached the subject to Johnny recently the champion shook his head and said that he did not Intend visiting Australia for some months at least. Johnny is in permanent employment in Dunedin, and docs not relish the idea of throwing up his job unless some definite offer is made to him regarding a visit to Australia. He has already been guaranteed six 'contests in Australia, but desires some monetary guarantee. Archie Leckie, his trainer, however, is very keen on taking the champion to Australia, and it would not surprise me if before long he prevails upon Johnny to try his luck across the Tasman.

WORLD'S TITLE BOUTS. Jess McMahon, Tex Bickard's match-maker, revealed recently that practically every world's champion of boxing will defend his title at least once under Tex's auspices during the next few months. Every titleholder, with the exception of Mickey Walker, middle-weight boss, who is persona non .grata with Rickard because of his •affiliation with Jack Kearas, lias either signed or is about to sign for a fight in New York, The pusilistio circus

will be one of those three-ring affairs, one group performing at Madison Square Garden, another at the Yankee Stadium, and still another at the Polo Grounds, but all on different dates, to be sure. McMahon, according to his announcement, has already booked six world's title matches, and two more arc sizzling on the skillet. The remainder of the championship programme in tentative form is:—

June 7, Yankee Stadium.—Tommy Loughran v. Jimmy Slattery, fifteen rounds for the world's light heavyweight title. June 14, Yankee Stadium.—Joe Dundee v. Ace lludkins or Sergeant Sammy Baker; fifteen rounds for the world's welter-weight title. July 26. —Gene Tunney v. Tom Hcency, for the world's heavy-weight title.

WHEN HEENEY MEETS TUNNEY.

AN ENGLISH VIEW. British sportsmen are delighted beyond words that Tom Ileeney is the man to next meet Tunney for the world's championship. Heeney is as well liked in the Old Country as in America, New Zealand, and Australia "Corinthian," in the Sporting Chronicle, giv£s. expression to an idea that will interest everyone at this side of the planet. He says:— "We must not view Ileeney as we know him when over here. For one reason it should be borne in mind that when Phil Scott beat him at Southampton Heeney, acting as deputy for Joe Beckett, who had broken down while shadow boxing, had very little time in which to prepare—a few jays— and yet he battled like a tiger, only needing a little greater speed in order to nave got still nearer to winning.

"Without describing him as 'the burly British blacksmith,' th© fact remains that Britain has taken Heeney to her bosom because of his fine, clean boxing, his splendid pluck, and, above all, his modest bearing. Heeney Is the type of boxer who pleases Americans. Ever going forward, he will give no opponent rest, and, if he were not quite so muscle-bound, I think he would be a world-beater.

"Pictures do not tell one everything which occurs in a boxing matoh, but what I saw, through that medium, of Tunney in his contest with Dempsey convinces me that the present champion relies almost solely upon that right hand which ■follows a left lead Here is a theory: Heeneys stance makes it very difficult for an opponent to hit him with the right band, for he stoops sideways, and away from a threatening right. That, along with his magnificent determinaUon justifies his friends in tlunkmg that'he is more than likely to stay the fifteen rounds with Tunney.