BOXING ASSOCIATION'S BIG SETBACK

Chronicle (Levin), 12 March 1947, Page 6

BOXING ASSOCIATION'S BIG SETBACK

CANCELLATION OF HANHAMJONES BOUT ' i The abandonment of the HanhamJones coiitest scheduled for Hastings on March 15 will be a severe blow to the Hastings Boxing Association. There is a possibility of Roy Stevens and Cliff Hanhpm ' meeting and while this fight will not be *the . good draw that the Janes;Hanham bout ' was, it should be a fight. well worth •s'eeiiig. • Hanham holds a de.cisioh;«over Stevens but- Stevens has impr-oved since tlieir las-t meeting and would stand a good chanee. • of taking the . decision. There has been a lot of comnient over the N.Z. Boxing Couneil snspending both Jones' and Murphy 's licences, also the promoting licence of the Hutt Valley Boxing Association. • When the inquiry is held I hope the proceedings are public and that all the facts are brought to light. There is a a lot of money being wagered on all sport today and if the betting is making the game corrupt it is time it was thrown up. The cancelling of Jones ' licence will not afEect Hira in Australia vvhere private promotion holds sway. The new Governor-General of Australia, Mr. McKell was a stauuch advocate ot a Coinmission to control boxing in Australia and the- idea is certainiy sound. A Commissioii would have power to uanie the champions and tlns would clarify the title positions. Another good thing a boxing coinmission could do would be to see that boys are medically examined and get a fair return tor tlieir services. Punch drunk iighters are a menace to the sport and should not be allowed to compete. The Feildng Boxing Association is stated to be negotiating for a classy team of Auckland boxers for tlieir lirst tournament wliich is to be held shortly. There should be plenty'of good opposition by local boys and I think a very strong team could be picked frorn ainong boys like Black (Okakea), ■ Maxwell and Jones (Rongotea), Gunn and Johnstone (Pahiatua), Withingham, Kreft, Hubbard, Waghorn, Hanuah, Toohey and Koeller (P.N.). This team would take a power of beating by any team of amateurs in New Zealand. • Local fans will be pleased to know that Bert O'Keefe is going to open a gymnasium, probably in the Showgrounds. Bert has long been a prominent trainer in the Manawatu and many good boys have had tlieir lirst lessons from this cap'able instructor, who will be a serious coutender for the De cleene Cup at present held by Ges Warne 's gymnasium. 'Jackie Jenkins (Auckland) the winner oi the lightweight title and the Jamieson Belt at the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championships, recently met with a serous accideut at work and the sympathy of sportsmen go to him. Jenldns was the "star" of the meeting and a descrvedly popular boy with all. Gus Lesuevlch is still the king of the world 's liglitweights. He defeated "Blackjaclt" Billv Fox in eleven rounds recently. Pox had a record of 43 knockouts but was beaten by the more scientiiic punching of the cham pion. Lesnevich knocked out Ehgland's best light heavyweight, Preddie Mills, but, when he met England 's heavyweight champion, Bruce Woodcock, he was knocked out in eight rounds. ATel Tarleton (England), three tiines Lansdale Belt holder a"ud oue of the most scientiiic featherweights ever, has hung up liis gloves at tlie age of 42. Twice Tarleton tried for the world 's championship but was beaten by Preddie Miller (America). There was an attempt being made quite latcly to match Tarleton with Willie Bep, reigu ing world 's champion, but, fortunately Tarleton has decided to retire. Toinmy Burns, Australian weiter champion, knocked out O 'Neill Beli, American negro, in eleven rounds in Sydney recently. Burns can throw ieather and the negro was in a bad way after the light. Dave Sands was uulucky, to break liis right hand on Emory Jackson, another negro, in the Sydney Stadium. This is bad luck for Sands and also for George Allen (N.Z.), who was to have met Sands in Melbourne on Marcli 15. The pictures of the Murphy- Jones light were well taken and certainiy sliowed both boys in a good light. Murphy certainiy used his left well, but the negro was too good for him in everything but courage. I often wonder whether Murphy should have changed from the "southpaw" stanee he started boxing with. His right hand was of no use to him as an oifensive weapon in his light with Jones. Visiting Palmerston North after an abseuce of 15 or 16 years is Eruie Anderson, formerly a well known wrestler and footballer. Ernie is now living in Melbourne and wrestled all over Australia under the ring name of Jack Potaka. Ernie is looking very well andr is a worth while conversationalist on sport in Australia. 1 understand that he is going to be in New Zealand for three months so he should be able to meet his old friends. The bout between Ian Cruickshanks (Dunedin) and Jack Duncan (Auckland) for the vacant weiter weight title and the ' ' Truth ' ' Belt was a very close oue, oue writer giving Cruickshanks eight rounds and Duncan six, with oue round drawn. Archie Leckie told this writer that Cruickshanks would go far. and it's not a bad start to Win a title at his third professional appearance. Certainiy he will not lack good advice from Archie Leckie who is one of the most capable' trainers in New Zealand. ' Billy Brown of Invercargill is stil! seeking a shot at the lightweight title and there is a possibility of Invercargill staging this contest sometime in the near future. Jim Griffin the holder of the title is a very clever boxer, talJ and rangy, but' he does not appeal at the box office and that is. why he lacks opportunities *to show his slcill. Percy Kelly is still waiting for a bout with any. lightweight- and this boy, always puts on a good light. Maybe when the Amei:ican, Claude Varner, comes to New Zealand he and Ivelly will be matched. This bout looks good as Varner is a crowd pleaser and with Kelly punching at his best there should not be .many dull moments. Auckland is trying to get Jack Johnston over from Australia to meet Don Mullett aird this return bout should be good." * _