TWO MORE FIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 192, 10 May 1940, Page 13

TWO MORE FIGHTS

Ron Richards To Retire From Boxing HOLIDAY IN DOMINION Ron Richards, Empire middleweight boxing champion, announced the other day that he will retire from boxing after two more contests. "I have spent the best years of my life in the ring. The boxing profession and tlie sporting public have treated me splendidly. and I want to go out while at the top of my form.” Richards will be ready for a return fight, with Archie Moore iu about a month's time, and also wants to meet the recently arrived American, Carmen Barth. After that nothing will induce him to fight again, he says. “I know I can lick Moore, and I want to make a good showing this time. When I put him down in the first round, believe me he will stop down for keeps,” Richards said.

His eye is still puffed from the pummelling it received from Moores straight lefts at the Stadium. The stitches will not be removed for a day or two, stated the. “Daily Telegraph” two days after Moore had defeated him by a t.k.o. in the tenth round. “It is not sore now, but I want to give it the extra spell so that I won’t be troubled with it during the contest,” Ron added. Asked whether he would fight Moore a third time if he turned the tables in the second contest, Ron said: “No, sir. There’s going to be no third fight.” Awkward Style. “1 think he was a bit lucky to win last time. Mind you, I’m not taking any credit from him. He is a good .fighter and will win more fights in Australia. “He is awkward, but I’ve got the answer to that the next time we meet. “Apart from my eye injury he didn’t hurt me with any of his punches. I have met dozens of harder hitters than Moore. But it is only his style that had me tricked.” . “My wife has relatives in New Zealand, 'and that’s where we’re making for after the second contest is oyer,” he said. “We have planned this holiday for some time and now it’s going to take place. Definitely, no postponements. We will both benefit from the change and it’s going to be a holiday in every sense of the word. I should have taken it months ago.” Wife Doesn’t Like Boxing. Mrs. Richards, who was taking in every word her husband said, then gave her opinion. “Yes, he will beat Moore and Carmen Barth. Then there will be no more fights and no more worry,” she said. Mrs. Richards, who saw Ron beaten by Moore, admits she does not like the boxing game. “I -worry more over Ron’s fights than anything else in the world,” she said, “and I will be glad when he turns the game in for good. “I don’t know much about boxing, but I think no matter how good a fighter a man might be, there is always the chance that something unforeseen might happen during a contest.” Ron has made no plans for the future. “I can’t say just what I intend doing,” he said. “I won’t make up my mind till we come back from New Zealand.” In the meantime, Ron is carefully nursing the answer to Moore’s straight lefts and weaving style. ■When informed of Richards's announcement, his manager, Mr. Jack Munro, said: “This is the first I have heard about it. The holiday in New Zealand should make all the difference to him, as he badly needs a spell. Perhaps he might change his mind after that.”