RINGSIDE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 20049, 14 December 1928, Page 14

RINGSIDE TOPICS

BOXIHG ns AND NOTES

[By HookjjrJ

Ex-Dunedimte Jack Paul had a win at Wollongong. New South Wales, recently. He defeated Jack Jones, a Welsh boxer, at the close of the tenth round oi a scheduled fifteen-rounder. Five times during the mill Paul had Jones on the canvas, and eventually the towel was thrown in. The loser was outweighed and' outpunchod. Tommy Fairhali has not now the snap and vigour that characterised his ring work on former occasions. Had he been at his best against Trowern the latter would not have gone the full journey. Fairhali still retains his power of punch, but owing to bis comparative slowness- he gets fewer opportunities now of getting it home (says the ‘Evening Post’ writer). Had Trowern not been so eager to swap punches he might easily have won on points, as he was going along splendidly until the Australian's right hand laid him low in the seventh round. Even then Trowern finished the fresher of the pair Against Purdy Fairhali never looked like landing a decisive punch. Purdy could see everything coming a mile away, and more often than not Fairhall’s glove simply whizzed through the air. Purdy twice troubled the Australian with his own right hand, and the issue was never in doubt. Those who have followed Fairhall’s career consider that he has never been the same since he had his jaw broken against Eugene Volaire in Dunedin about four years ago. This must have been a tremendous blow. However, since then Fairhali has fought some great contests _in Australia, including a draw with Billy Grime at the latter’s best. Thus it appears as if he is just going the way of all fighters- He is now twentyseven years of age. It is stated that he has been careful with his money and has a good school in Cessnock, as well as a steady job, so he can have few regrets. It is a long time since Artie Hay defended liis welter-weight title, and his meeting with the aggressive Reginald Trowern at Westport on Boxing night for a purse of £l3O and the title should ho productive of a good deal of interest as the pah have not previously met. If Hay is able to defeat Troweru he should be in line for more than one contest in the near future. The latest news of moment is that Ted Morgan, the Olympic welter champion, has decided to enter the professional ranks, and that early in the now year he will be ready to take on fifteen-round battles. Morgan should not have to wait long for a match, and no doubt Artie Hay will be sought out to defend lus welter crown. A Morgan-Hay title match would be a good draw in either Hastings or Napier, and if it could be secured would surely give the New Year a good start off (says the Napier Telegraph ’). . . . . Tommy Griffiths is now 111 solid training for his bout with Billy M'Ahstor towards the end of the present month, and Trainer Archie Bookie expresses his confidence that Griffiths will make a very creditable showing against the Australian champion when the pair meet at Palmerston North. It had been hoped that Jack Hood, the British welter-weight titleholder, and Teddy Baldock, the bantam-weight champion, would bo asked to take a trip across the Atlantic to participate in bouts for the world’s crown, but the plans have fallen through. Hood was half-promised a match with Joe Dundee for the welter-weight crown, and Baldock had been given reason to believe ho would be matched with Bushcy Graham for the bantam-weight title. However, the arrangements have fallen through, and so it is stated the two English champions will take a trip to Australia. Another Britisher who is thinking of visiting the Commonwealth is Corbett, the feather-weight, who, is angling for a world’s title contest with Routis, the Frenchman. The bantam-weight champion of Australia, Billy M‘A lister, made his first appearance in New Zealand at the Wellington Town Hall on Monday night (says the ‘ Evening Post ’). He carried too many guns for the comnaratively inexperienced Frank Taylor, and a knock-out in the tenth round ended the contest. The visitor is a well-built boy and a good puncher, but the consensus of opinion of those who saw the contest was that the Australian was lucky that Johnny Leckie was nursing an injured hand, and was unable to meet him. Up to the eighth round Taylor appeared to bo slightly ahead on points, but the New Zealander was being gradually worn down by a much stronger opponent, and ran into trouble in tho tenth. There is little doubt that M'Alister was not fighting at top, and was watching for an opening for his right, but he is not the fast mover and snappy puncher that one has been led from reports to believe him to be. He does not carry the lightning right hand of Lcckie, nor does he seem, as nimble on his feet. Johnny Leckie is working at bis ordinary occupation just now, and he does not anticipate that he will be able to take the ring before the end of January at least. Ho intends giving liis band every chance this time, and will not engage in a contest until ho is convinced the hand will stand any strain he is likely to place upon itTwo newcomers to professional ranks met when Tommy Donovan outed Cotterill in three rounds at Now Plymouth on Monday night, and no doubt the winner will receive further con tests in his home province. Cotterill must be far from a champion for a lighter such as Donovaij,'to beat him so easily, for Donovan does not particularly shine when it comes to the liner points of the game, and those Otago boxing followers who have seen him in action will agree with the writer that neither at Invercargill nor Auckland did he show signs of being possessed of a devastating punch. A good quick puncher able to place tbom accurately would give Donovan a lot of trouble.