Bos Murphy Puts His All Into Training

Chronicle (Levin), 21 January 1948, Page 8

Bos Murphy Puts His All Into Training

Roeeived Tuesday, 7 p.m. ■ LONboN, 3 am 19. With a week to go tili his light with Vinee Hawkins for the British Cmpii'e middl-eweight title, the New Zealand boxer Bos Alurphy, to use his own words, is "feeling 100 per cent. fltter" than when he climbed into the ring at the Al'bert llall to light Roy Peterson. Nat Seller, head trainer . at Jack Solomon 's gymnasium, told me this afterndoh' as we watched Alurphy worii out, "Bos has every ehance against Hawkins if he is iit* alid can last out ro rounds. If the iight goes that dis* tance then I think he can win on points. ' '1 should know what I am talking about, " added Seller, "beeause J trained Hawkins wlxen he beat Rod erick and won the, title. I know, every one of Hawkins' moves." ' , 1 ' Tliis Boy is Good' '* ''This boy," he went on, nodding towards Murphy, as he was shadow boxing, ' ' is good. He is f ast and he is fit. He did a work-out of 15 rounds the other day, including six with spar ring partners, and he vvrasn't ,even blowing at the end of it. ,,He has a lightning lef't and' a really good righthand punch." . Earlier we had watched Murphy spu'rring with a young polieeman for tnree rounds. lt was quite enough for the polieeman. "Alurphy has a beautiful left, ' ' he said. ' ' When he ciosed in 1 couldn't see it coming. And his right. Well, he was pulling his punches and 1 am very giad that ho was, thank you." Not everybody takes this optimistic view of Alurphy' s chances. There was a short man, almost as broad as ne was roug, Watching the New Zearander. "Nah," he told us, "if Murphy beats Hawkins then I'm willing to go to work again, and believe, me, I u.o.i't want-to do that." " He hasn't shown me vanything to make me think that he v can beat .Vince," this observer went on, "but he may be fast, but how do we know thiit he packs a punch — unless" and here he smirked — "it's one of those secret punches. I reckon he's just a tlurd-rater. Anyvyay, we haveu't seen him up against auything yet. Of course, the boy's worki'ng hani enough. " Murphy 's Big Aim Murphy is certainly working. He could li.Uve had more liglits before meeting-i'IiawKins, but he is lteen to meet tii^.British champion and get as tar as li| can before returning to New Zealand later this year. Hawkins is being trained by Wally May, who used to look after the Britisii heavyweight Len Harvey. Aiay doclares that Hawkins wili be superbly iit' for the light and will be" puncliing better than in the ^ast. It is criticism of Hawkins that he hasn't a knock-out punch. Those who like Alurphy 's chances mention this and also the fact that the Englishman has not shown up too well in his last four iights. They also say that he cuts easily about the eyes. The fight, which is to take place at the Royal Albert Hall next Alonday night, is causing wide interest here, though boxing writers are cautious iD their comments about Alurphy sinee they have seen him fight only onee. There scems to be no doubt, however, that if Alurphy wins l>e will be right. in the limeliglit — and higher cash figures. Alurphy will get £400 for this fight. At present odds. are being given in' Hawkins ' f avour. .