RINGSIDE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 13

RINGSIDE TOPICS

[By Hooeee.]

BOXING NEAR AND FAR

DATES AHEAD. February 25.—-Dick Loveridge ▼. Jim Broadfoot. at New Plymouth. February 29.—Dave Palmer v. Steva Hughes (Dunedin), at Napier; Artfe’ Hay v. Fred. Smitheram (Otago), « Napier. _ March I.—Tom Heeney (New Zealand) v. Jack Delaney, heavy-weight elimination contest, at New York. March (to be fixed). —Johnny Leckte v. Billy Melton, at Wellington. Dates yet to be fixed by the Otago Boxing Association for contests ia which the Australians Tommy Barber. Norman Gillespie, and Eric Harley will appear. DUNEDIN FAN RETURNS. After spending several months ia Australia, principally in Sydney, Tommy Batt, who has been a member of the Otago Boxing Association for many years, has returned to Dunedin preparatory to settling in Sydney for good. . He called in on the writer during the week-end, and had some interesting comments to make on recent contests he had witnessed on the other side. He saw a lot of boxing in Sydney, and was present the night that Charlie Purdy knocked out Little Cowboy, the Filipino boxer. The New Zealander is a greatly improved boxer, and in the contest referred to just played with ’-he Cowboy. Ho is much more aggressive than he was when he first arrived in Now South Wales, and has dropped some of his evasiveness for attack. He is closing his hands and driving ill short punches. Pat Connors, who “ training Purdy, is achieving splendid results with his charge. Purdy a contest with the Englishman Izzad provided an even contest, Izzard being much the same style of fighter as Purdy. A draw did not meet with the approval of the crowd, which favored a decision for Purdy. He is very popular in Sydney, and in conversation with the Dunedin fan stated that he had no intention of returning to New Zealand in the meantime. He may, however, go to Queensland for a contest. Mr Batt has rarely seen a man who is able to absorb punishment in tha way that Bruno Frattini, the Italian middle-weight, can. Against Johnny Sullivan, who defeated Lachie Macdonald last Saturday, ho took everything on his jaw. Mr Batt did not tluiuc he could be knocked out, hut Tiger Payne did the trick. Sullivan _ beat Frattini well, the Englishman being a straight puncher, who stands up in the Mace style. He is a most shifty boxer, and an accurate puncher. Lachie Macdonald is training very hard under Purdyjs trainer at Jack Dunleavy’s gymnasium, and, according to “Tommy,” he is punching far better and using his body in driving homo his punches, instead of just the weight of his arm. The ex-Otago man is taking on well over in Australia, and has improved out of sight. The mill between the ex-European champion Johnny Curley and the Australian feather - weight _ champion Tommy Barber, who will be in Dunedin shortly, was witnessed by about 9,000 people, and though Barber was giving away a good deal of weight it was a fine contest. Barber had not been extended previously over fifteen rounds, but on this occasion Curle.v’s_ weight and greater experience told its tale* and he secured the decision. Had Curley got down to the feather-weight limit the decision might have been different.

Barbel' is trained by PatO’ConnorSj who also looks alter the interests or the improved ex-Dunedin welter Jacld Paul. Barber, who is a. plumber by! trade, is a strong follow with big i.rms* He stands straight, and is an accurate! puncher. “ I will not say that Barber will beaii Johnny Reekie, 1 * said Mr Batt, u but if the match eventuates Leckia will have to be at his best, and I would not like to say who will win,” Ho thought that if Tommy Griffiths got down to the bantam weight limit he could beat any boy of that class in Australia. Speaking generally, he said that the big stuff was drawing the fans in Australia, but they wanted good attractions all the time. Leicbardt’s, which was a cheaper show than the Stadium, is packed every night contests are staged, the dearest part of the house being 3s. The preliminary boys did not particularly impress the visitor, who expressed the opinion that the average New Zealand amateur wmuld beat nine out of ten of them. FORTHCOMING AUSTRALIAN INVASION.

It was announced last week that anrangements were in train to bring over Norman Gillespie, Victorian featherweight, and Eric Harley, another wellknown feather-weight, for contests in Dunedin, and the writer is now informed that negotiations have been advanced another stage, and that Gillespie has been offered two contests in Dunedin and Harley one.

The pair will probably reach here about the middL of March, and it seems likely that Gillespie’s first bout will be against Tommy Griffiths, followed by his meeting with ‘‘Fighting Johnny” Leckie. Harley will most likely bo engaged on the same night as Gillespie meets Griffiths, and indications point to his being matched with Leckie. Should ho live up to the good reports that have preceded him he may be given a second bout with Tommy Griffiths as his opponent. But the Australian invasion is not to end there, for Mr Jack Kilmartin baa received a letter from Pat O’Connor, who manages Tommy Barber, the feather-weight champion of Australia, stating that he is prepared to bring Barber across to New Zealand for a contest in Dunedin under the auspices of the Otago Boxing Association, which, will have first call on his services. Barber will not be permitted to meet boxers over Ost, as his manager does not wish, his charge io bo faced with the hurdle he encountered when he met Johnny Curley, the English champion, who weighed round about lOst. Barber has had nineteen contests, and has lost only the one against Curley. A cable has been despatched to Barber by the secretary of the Otagoi Boating Association, and it seems likely, that he will be seen in action in Dunedin during April. An option has also been secured on Johnny Leckie’s services for a contest with Barber, which should prove one of the greatest ring attractions ever offered in New Zealand. With three Australian boxers in Dunedin during the next month or two there promises to be a great boom in the fistic game, and it looks as if contests will have to be staged almost weekly for several weeks on end._ Public support should bo forthcoming in greater numbers than ever before, and as a grand finale to the appearance of all these champions the writer would suggest that an effort be made to match the two Australians, Tommy Barber and Norman Gillespie. LOCAL DOINGS. Great activity is now being shown in the Archie Leckie establishment, and the Dunedin mentor has charge or four professionals who are well in the limelight at the present time. They are Johnny Leckie, Tommy Griffiths, Steve Hughes, and Fred Smitheram. Leckie is a very busy man these days, and, apart from, his professional charges, hq has several promising amateurs in commission. A likely-looking novice amateur lightweight who has joined up with Albeit

Parker’s school is \V. Elliott. He has more than a smattering of the game, possessing a useful straight left and a fair right cross. W. Webber will bo fighting in the open amateur feather-weight division this year, and has been getting down to solid training with Albert Parker. If he learns to time his punches more accurately Webber will find himself able to make quite a good showing in the open class, for he has a useful left and is quick on his feet. Moir and Gilchrist have reopened their school at Roslyn, and if they, achieve as good results as they accomplished last year there should be no cause for complaint. Roth instructors are rare enthusiasts, as is shown by the fact that they had a schoolboys’ class in commission, tuition being free. Though raw, young Warburton showed promise last year in the novice bantam-weight division, and under Albert Parker’s guidance ho should furnish into a useful boxer. DUNEDIN WELTERS MATCHED.

For a long time past the winter has been pushing the claims of the ex-Otago amateur welter-weight champion, Steve Hughes, for a professional contest, and 1 am pleased to see that next week he will be getting the chance he has so long awaited. At Napier ho lias been matched to meet the Australian Dave Palmer, who won on a foul from Jamito last year, ft will be a tenround cnotest, and should suit Hughes down to the ground, for the longer he is in the ring the better he goes. He should not 'suffer from stage fright, for he has had plenty of experience, and in England acted as sparring partner to Tommy Milligan, the middle-weight champion of Europe. On the same night Fred. Smitheram, the cx-Oamaru welter-weight, who is now with Archie Leckie in Dunedin, will be making his debut in professional ranks also, his opponent being Artio Hay, holder of the welter-weight title. Smitheram fought a draw in an amateur preliminary at Oamaru recently with Hughes, though the writer favors Hughes the more of the pair. Still, Smitheram is a tough customer, and and it is on the cards that he will wear Hay down. Archie Leckie is unable to go north for the contests, but he has an able substitute in Johnny Leckie, who is a t present awaiting his next engagement. Both contests are for purses of £SO.

MERV WILLIAMS UNIMPRESSIVE. The form of Merv Williams recently in opposition to Billy Harms in the main liftoeu-round contest, was unimpressive. Williams throughout showed no inclination to fight, and allowed Harms to do all the leading. It was very uninteresting, and Harms found it hard to make an impressive showing against one so disinclined to fight (says “ Centaur,” in the Sydney ‘Referee’). After his good form against Gordon Kicly, it was expected that Williams would prove too good for Harms, who had not fought for many months. But this idea proved wrong. Williams was seconded by Les O’Donnell, Fred Kay, and W a lb' Tullipau, iind it was plain to see hy the expressions on their faces during the rounds that they were not at all pleased with his showing. Harms was in need of a fight, and showed want of condition, while Williams’s condition was not as good as it might have been. With the exception of tho eleventh round, the sessions were very tame. Several times during, tho early rounds Williams landed low punches on his man and received cautions from the referee (Joe Wallis). The decision in favor ot Harms was popular, and tho only one possible. Williams weighed 11.4, whilst Harms weighed 11.5-1. PUGILISTIC PLASHES.

Tho New Zealand Boxing Council lias approved of the Otago Boxing Association arranging for Norman Gillespie to visit the dominion, and lie will probably secure matches elsewhere than in Dunedin. Johnny Lcckie has accepted a contest under the Wellington Boxing Association witii the Australian feather* weight Dilly Melton, and tho bout will probably be staged early next month. Melton has fought Billy Grime, and is a clever boxer, with a good left hand. According to tho wireless announcer, Johnny Sullivan was definitely, superior to the New Zealander, Laclue Macdonald, in their encounter at Sydney last Saturday night. Sullivan was delivering straight lofts most of the time, and the announcer made it plain at one stage that Sullivan _ had driven six straight lefts in quick succession to Macdonald’s face. Purdy was m Macdonald’s corner, and before, the contest sent his regards to friends in New Zealand through the medium of the radio, Macdonald also sending greetings to Tiinaruvians. On the same night Beg. Iroweni met the Irishman, Bob Miller, at Melbourne, tho announcer describing the contest as a good one, which went tho full distance. Miller was very aggressive but Trowern, while also nothing loti/ to mix it, was too clever, and secured the decision. Miller’s wife could be heard plainly by listeners-m, urging her good man on, and at the conclusion of tho bout the announcer stated that, when the decision was given, she was the most unconcerned woman IB tho stadium. Taylor’s defeat at Auckland by Matt. Hatton by the short route came as rather a surprise, and as a result Hatton should not want for contests m the near future, esepecially 111 view or the coming feather-weight importations, By drawing with Bobby Garcia, a crack junior light-weight, Grime’s stock should rise considerably in America, and the Australian may now obtain matches a little more frequently, Garcia has a good record, and Grime should now bo in lino for further trials with some of the best feathers and junior light-weights. Delaney, of Bridgeport, Conn., contender for the heavy-weight championship, celebrated the opening of his new campaign for Gene Tunney’s title by knocking out Sully Montgomery, termer Centre College football star, in the first 20sec of a scheduled ten-rounder, (says an American writer). The llapicr of the North, fighting for the first time under his new manager, Joe Jacobs, smashed tho Chicago heavy-weight just one to the jaw. Montgomery crashed to the canvas in Delaney’s corner, rolled over twice, and was counted out with his body half through tho ropes. Rushing from his corner, the former light heavy-weight champion, who relinquished his crown to mingle with the weightier battlers, danced about Montgomery for ten seconds. Feigning an opening for his right, Delaney slashed his first fist to Sully’s jaw and the bout was over. Montgomery failed to land a single punch, although be threw both hands at Delaney’s head once in an effort to locate his elusive target. The huge Chicago’s battler’s head banged the floor as he went down. Handlers carried him bodily to his corner, and a physician worked five minutes before Sully revived. Tho smashing knock-out, one of tho fastest ever scored by a heavy-weight, added immediate impetus to tho Bridgeport warrior’s new surge toward title contendership. [Delaney meets Tom Heeney next week.] Sammy Mandell, world’s light-weight champion, won a shade newspaper decision in ten rounds over Billy Petrolle, Duluth, in Minneapolis (U.S.A.) recently, but barely escaped a knock-out. A terrific right to the jaw early in the eighth rotund knocked Mandell into the ropes and a smashing left to the head had him groggy. Sensing a knock-out, Petrolle pumped both hands to tho head and body, but Mandell’s footwork saved him. Coming out for the ninth, Mandell worked away from the rushing Petrolle, but the Duluth boxer caught him with a left hook to tho jaw that caused' tho chamnion to clinch. Again

in the tenth, Petrolic, trying for a finishing punch, was met by superior boxing defence that carried Sammy through a hard finish. [Petrolle was one of Lcs. Murray’s opponents in America.] , ... ~ Mike Flynn, who has been getting his full share of contests since he landed in Sydney some months ago, is likely to return to the dominion shortly (says an exchange). While Flynn has not been a consistent winner, his bouts have all been of a stirring character, particularly ih© one with M'Allister, in which he handed the Aussie a “busted eyebrow ” and sundry .punches in the lower regions that made M'Allister squirm and claim “ foul.” M'Allister had nothing on Flynn at the conclusion, but the referee reckoned his better boxing made him a winner on points. Flynn should be able to pick up a few good matches in the dominion if ho comes this way just now, when opponents for Lectio are as scare as the Moa. Boxers and boxers’ managers in America must often sigh for a return of the good old days from their point of view, when there were no boxing commissions in existence, and managers and boxers ran the game to suit themselves. The other day a commission suspended for an indefinite period a boxer who had been detected using illegal tape for hand bandages, and the suspension included the boxer’s manager and all other boxers under contract with the manager. Another commission warned a promoter that, unless he arranged better matches and provided patrons with decent value for their money, his license would be cancelled. This commission announced its attitude as follows:—“To the fighters—Fight or get out of the business. To the promoters— Put 1 on good programmes or lose your licenses.”

Jim Donald, ‘ Smith’s Weekly ’ boxing writer, is another who says that Purdy well earned the decision against Izzar'd. He also says: Purdy is the most improved boxer in the game, and has developed an aggressive spirit. The popular English feather-weight, Norman Radford, who made good here less than twelve months ago, and went to South Africa, where he did so well, has arranged with Stadiums, Ltd., for another series of fights under the usual percentage, and with return fares (says the Sydney ‘Referee’). It is likely that Radford will be attended on this side by Jack Dunleavy, Radford is a clever, experienced fighter, and supporters of boxing will be delighted to know that he is returning to this counI try. All his fights have been well worth watching. Dave Palmer, who was introduced to the Wellington spectators on_ the occasion of the last fistic exhibition in the city, was then stated to be willing to meet any welter-weight in the dominion. Having a win over Jamito and other scalps of value on_ his pugilistic belt, Palmer was soon being interviewed with regard to matches, the firsji being a ten-rounder with Harry Casey at Tokomaru Bay for a £SO purse and expenses. While Casey, with his usual keenness, accepted the match, Palmer hung fire, and finally declined to have Casey on until he had met one or two of the lesser lights, Hay, Loveridge, and Co. (says the New Zealand ‘ Referee’). The Wellington Boxing Association has held an inquiry into the showing of Taylor and Griffiths, who fought there recently, and has expressed the opinion that tlieir drab performance was due to the humid atmospheric conditions.