TOUR OF AMERICA.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17742, 20 June 1929, Page 8

TOUR OF AMERICA.

LOCAL BOXER’S SUCCESS.

BERT BROWN RETURNS HOME. EXPERIENCES OVERSEAS. Bert Brown, ex-feather-weighf champion of New Zealand, w r ho for the last few years has been hunting fame in the States and Canada, has returned home on a brief visit. After a well-earned holiday of not more than four months' duration, he will return across the Pacific in quest of further laurels. Bert Brown, who needs no introduction to followers of the flstio world in Hamilton, commenced his boxing career nine years ago as an amateur, fighting a number of 'amateur bouts and winning the King Country championship. Bert turned professional in 1924, and lost no time in getting right in on the money. He held the feather-weight championship of New Zealand, which title he had to relinquish on leaving for Canada and the United States. The ■ New Zealander's introduction to Canada was a happy one, and four remunerative houts came his way in quick succession. Matched against Chris. Newton, light-weight champion of Canada, Bert was beaten on points' in an eight-round contest. Later, however, with two fights to his credit in Montreal, he accounted for Newton on a points decision within ? month of their first match. In every case the New Zealander had to concede weight.

After several preliminary bouts. Brown was featured on boxing programmes in the big stadiums of Canada and the States. In the New York stadium, before a packed house, he met Bruce Flowers, the leading contender for the world's light-weight championship. The decision went against him on points, but Bert achieved the honour of being the first man to knock down this hard customer of the U.S.A. fistic ring. The bout was of ten rounds, and there was little between the two men. A Fine Record.

Of the thirty fights to come the way of the New Zealander, Brown lost only four. Bobbie Garcia, who defeated the outstanding feather and welter-weight Australian champion, Billy Grime, lowered his colours to Brown. Two weeks after his defeat, Garcia went after the' world championship honours and was matched against the champion, Conzonerie. Bert still considers that had he had a live manager at the time he would have taken Garcia’s place to have a shot at the championship.

Among the New Zealander’s notable performances was his victory over Jimmy Mars, who, prior to this defeat, had fought a draw with Louis Kid Kaplan, the world's featherweight champion. Eddie Brady was another leading light in the fistic firmament to join Bert's list of successes. This boxer was prominent in the list of feather-weight championship contenders. Vic. Foley and Newport Johnny Brown were also accounted for, the latter on three occasions. George Bolduc, who has been starring in main bouts in the City of New York for the last three years, failed to take the measure of the New Zealander. Brown’s last match before leaving for home was a bout with Rito D’Punay, champion of the Orient.

Bert has experienced a busy time since he landed in his home town a couple of days ago, and has taken the opportunity of renewing a large circle of old acquaintances.

At, present he is nursing an injury sustained to his right hand across the water, hut expects to be in good trim for a match with Norman Gillespie, light-weight champion of Australia, at Palmerston North, in a few week's time.

When interviewed by our representative at home last evening, Bert' was loud in his praise of the hospitality that has been extended to him everywhere overseas. The boxing public were not slow to appreciate a man who knew his business, but could not tolerate the showy boxer. What they wanted was plenty of action, “a dingdong go from gong to gong.” It was the only place in the world where the fighting game flourished, and the right man had no trouble in finding plenty of remunerative matches. Brown’s advice to the young boxer seeking fame in the States or Canada, is that he exercise every care in his choice of a manager. The right man is a big item in success over there-