LES MURRAY, THE BOXER

Evening Star, Issue 19660, 13 September 1927, Page 12

LES MURRAY, THE BOXER

BACK IH HEW ZEALAND {Special to the •Star.’] AUCKLAND, September 12. “In America aggressiveness counts for everything and only the man who will tear in and fight and stand up to heavy punishment is wanted,” said Les Murray, the well-known Dunedin boxer and ex-light-weight champion of New Zealand, who returned to tho dominion to-day by tho Niagara. Murray, who has been absent from the dominion for sixteen months, spent eight or nine months in America, and during the course of a bout with Jack Bernstein, ex-champion light-weight of the world, injured a shoulder. Hoping to recover ho decided to make a tour of Europe, Asia Minor, Italy, and Africa. However, when ho found his shoulder was still tender ho decided to return home, “My shoulder is practically right again now,” he said to an interviewer this afternoon, “ and I expect ’to ho m harness again in a few weeks’ time. I will attempt to regain my former status of light-weight champion of New Zealand.” Murray saw a good deal of loin Keeney, tho New Zealand heavyweight, who, ho said, was fighting well, and had recently met three men of quite a good class. Asked if he knew whether Hecney was returning to New Zealand, Murray said he did not think so, as Heeney was doing too well for that. Whilst in America Murray, who is looking fit and well, fought three lightweight contenders for the world’s title —Bernstein, Petrolic, and Solly Seaman. The latter, who_ has just lost a very doubtful match with Mandcll, l',’e liaht-weight champion, was beaten by Murray. The New Zealander, however, lost to Petrolic and Bernstein.