Ringside Topics

Evening Star, Issue 23681, 14 September 1940, Page 7 (Supplement)

Ringside Topics

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Recognition of Trainer’s Services. Time and time again reference has been made in these columns to the remarkable record of service given to boxing by Archie Leckie, doyen of New Zealand instructors, and a very fine tribute* to his efforts has been made in a letter to the writer by Mr A. J. M'Millah, a.keen enthusiast. Mr M‘Millan refers to the mention made in the ‘ Star ’ of Mr Leckie’s association with the game for 40 years. l%rsonally, he says, he can remember Mr Leckie for longer than that. He belongs to a great fighting family, and he himself started from the day when he first pulled on a pair of short pants. After all these years of hard work and of great selfdenial in the interests of the glove game, his enthusiasm has never waned. He has trained and developed some of the best boxers south of the Line, and as a judge of a boxer’s capabilities and as a trainer he is the equal of experts anywhere. Mr M'Millan goes on to suggest that Mr Leckie’s services should be recognised in some way, and there is no doubt that if a move were made by the Otago Boxing Association, as the controlling body in this province, it would find support from the hosts of boxing followers who appreciate the worth of a man with a sporting record second to none. Mr M'Millan adds that he will use every endeavour in his power to further such a project. His son, Hector M'Millan, now resident at Bluff, boxed on many occasions before the Otago Association. He is willing to recognise the services of his old instructor, and is prepared to do his best so far as Bluff is concerned. Archie Leckie is almost inseparable with the development of post-war boxing in Otago, and recognition of his efforts should meet with ready approval. “ We Licked it.” Buddy Baer lay abed recently, home from the hospital after a week’s treatment of a potential grave spinal injury, thinking of “ a couple of guys oh my fight list.” The ring career of the younger brother of one-time heavyweight champion Maxie Baer was perilled by the spine condition suffered in training last spring, which threatened to paralyse both legs. Buddy was due for another week in bed at home under treatment, but prophesied he would be in training within a month. Said he: “We licked it. Now I can start thinking about a couple of guys on my fight list.” Auckland Titles. There were several stirring contests in the Auckland Championships last week, and outstanding performances were given by E. Underwood in the welter-weight class, and D. Rollinson, in the heavy-weight class. In each case these boxers conceded a stone in weight to their opponents to gain meritorious victories. Rollinson also won the light-heavy-weight title. Underwood took both the light-weight and welter-weight championships.

Keen Supporter Passes. By the death of Mr P. R. Chapman last week, boxing in Dunedin lost one of its keenest supporters. “ The Colonel,” as he was affectionately known, was an enthusiastic member of the Otago Boxing Association for many years, and at the time when Johnny Leckie was in his prime that great little fighting man had no more ardent admirer than “ The Colonel.” His “ on parade ” messages to Johnny, no matter'where Leckie was lighting, were always looked on as a good omen by the champion, and they were typical of the kindliness of “ The Colonel.” Mr Chapman was a judge of a boxer’s worth, and many a promising amateur owed something to him for his encouragement and interest.

Local Activities.

Archie Leckie has now taken up quarters at the association’s gymnasium in Princes street, and although no mention has been made of a tournament in the near future, he has quite a good lot of lads in steady training. It is a pity these keen yoimg fellows could not bo provided with more frequent opportunities for competition even if this was arranged merely in the form of special nights in the gymnasium. Several members of the Otago Boxing Association keep an eye on activities in the gym., and one who is regularly in attendance is Mr Bob Fulcher, former New Zealand amateur light-weight champion. Although it is a long time since Lex Greaney, New Zealand professional feather-weight champion, had a match, he keeps in good shape and also assists Archie L'eckie in the conduct of his school. Greaney is one of the boys who have put back into the game something in return for what he has derived from it, and the veteran trainer is lucky in having such a capable assistant.

Loss to British Boxing. Boxing in Great Britain suffered an irreparable loss some time ago in the death of John Mortimer, who may be recalled as the man who brought Tom Heeney to America. Mortimer, brother of Bernard, another famous British sportsman, died at the age of 64. He was actively engaged in boxing promotions in Portsmouth and Southampton, his home town, for more than a quarter of a cenfury. “ Uncle John,” as he was called, was one of four brothers, the oldest being Bernard Mortimer, who, together with brother John, became known in two continents as keen searchers for boxing talent. Their great ambition was to bring a world’s championship to Great Britain. Their first find was Joe Beckett, who sadly disappointed the brothers. Later they were rewarded by finding Tom Heeney. 11 Uncle John ” went to New York with him, and after a series of good fights with lesser talent. Heeney was eventually matched with Gene Tunhev for the world’s heavy-weight championship. Tunney won in the eleventh round, Heeney retiring with both eyes damaged. At a later period John Mortimer discovered “ Seaman ” Watson, one of the finest small boys F.ngland has produced. He had many difficulties to surmount when he arrived in New York to challenge Kid Chocolate for bis world title, but the pugnacity ' of Mortimer eventually convinced the Boxing Board that both he and Watson meant business, and the fight took place. The coloured boxer got the verdict, but “ Tommy ” "Watson gained all the applause, and a great name as a fine, clean fighter. “ Left is the Brains, Right is the Muscle.” Jem Mace, a JJ-ycar degree graduate in the masonry of the stuffed glove, was wont to observe in his choicest cockney ; “ A cove as has a clever left band, yon knaw, is clever enough to make an even with those bloomink chaps as

depends on the h’auctionecr's hammer —that is, the right. The left hand is the brains, and the right is the muscle. If one develops both, the oue to jab correctly and the other to hit hard when opportunity presents itself, he’s the chap who’ll always be ou top.” Mace’s sentiment is correct (says a writer in ‘ The Ring ’). It. has always been in fistic circles as the ideal combination—a powerful right and a tantalising left. Some fighters underestimate the value of the right hand. They seem to pay no attention to its proper development. They don’t realise what a hard-hitting right, with the full toss of the shoulder behind it, can do in the way of damage, but Mace did. Ho was a master of the science of selfdefence, but he wasn’t only a clever boxer. He would jab and jab, and then, when the opening arrived, he would shoot over a heavy right that carried plenty of damage with it.

Hutchinson’s Win Over Caltaux. . Before a packed and fully apprecia- > tive house at Palmerston North last r Saturday, Johnny Hutchinson, _ ac- ) claimed one of the best half-dozen light- ; weight professional boxers in the world, • defeated Vie Caltaux, the_ Auckland \ boxer, who has had a meteoric rise since [ he turned professional. The bout was , easily the best staged by the Manawatu , Boxing Association for many seasons, and from the outset the contestants | thrilled the spectators with the fast and ! aggressive display, that reached a cli--1 max in the eleventh round when the ; referee, Mr Geff. Watchorn, disquali- ’ fled Caltaux for bumping his head into | Hutchinson’s chin. t ft was apparent ffom_ the outset that Caltaux was most anxious to improve ! his status as a boxer with a win over Hutchinson, and when it became apparent that the opening for the knockout he sought was not going to he offered to him, Caltaux resorted to tactics that were more in keeping with wrestling than boxing, and at the end of the eighth round, when breaking from a clinch after the _ gong had sounded, Caltaux bumped his head into Hutchinson’s chin. This earned the referee’s censure, and Hutchinson showed his resentment by making for Caltaux. However, the referee separated the boxers and sent them back to their corners. Caltaux was again warned for the same offence in the tenth round, and when he used the same illegal tactics in the following round, the referee disqualified him. This decision did not suit Caltaux, who desired to continue the fight. Hutchinson was equally agreeable, and some blows were exchanged before the boxers were separated by the referee and other officials who climbed into the ring (says an ex T change).

With the most substantial purse of £l5O offered to the boxers, the highest purse offered by any New Zealand association since the Tommy DonovanPete Sarron series, the bout attracted a considerable amount of interest, and the fight more than lived up to its expectations. The Manawatu Boxing Association has not been as successful as was anticipated with its previous bouts in recent years, and it took a decided chance of losing substantially in offering such a big purse, but the bold venture was more than justified by events, and as the outcome of the bout, boxing interest has been stimulated considerably in the district. Though at 9st 91b, Hutchinson conceded 101 b in weight to Caltaux, whose weight was announced at lOst 51b, the American negro enjoyed a considerable advantage in reach. He was also much faster on his feet, and a better infighter as well. Consequently, though Caltaux adopted aggressive tactics from the start,, and took a lot of face and body punishment in looking for an opportunity to terminate the bout by the short route, Hutchinson was too experienced and usually had a counter for Calaux’s attacks. The bout was brisk throughout, and at times the exchanges became very willing with both boxers throwing ail their weight into double-handed punches, to the delight of the fans. Hutchinson kept on battering away wi.th lefts and rights to Caltaux’s body, interspersing variety and keeping Caltaux guessing by swinging in a number of weighty punches to Caltaux’s eye. which gave him some trouble toward the end of the bout. Of the eleven rounds, Hutchinson won seven, one (the fourth) was even, and Cautaux won the third and fifth. Disappointing Bout at Wellington. The fair-sized crowd which attended at the Town Hall, Wellington, last Saturday night to see the 12-round professional boxing contest between Ciarrie Rayner,-Blenheim, and Jackie Sharpe, of the Royal Air Force, did not get much for their money, as Rayner, after having all the better of the opening round, put the R.A.F. man on the canvas for the full count halfway through the second round (says ‘ The Dominion ’). The early finish did not come as a surprise, as Sharpe, at 9.9, was carrying too much condition round the waistline, whereas Rayner, who was lib less, looked trained to the minute.

Hopping about on his toes, Rayner was too fast for his opponent in the opening round, and placed no fewer than five straight lefts flush to the face

Early in the second round. Sharpe scored with a solid left rip to the body, but Rayner again found his face with a straight left. The Blenheim man followed this up with a left hook to the side of the head, and then dashed in to land a perfectly-timed left rip to the body which caused Sharpe to crumple up on the mat to take the full count. So effective was the blow that it was some minutes before his seconds could get their man on his feet again. This seems to be Rayner’s year, as he has already beaten Young Gildo (twice’) and Johnny Hutchinson this season. He certainly shaped well on Saturday night. Bluff Club’s Appreciation. The secretary of the Bluff Boxing Club (Mr Tom Kelly) has written to the ‘ Sports Special ’ expressing appreciation of the attention drawn in these columns to the Southland amateur championships staged by his club this week. Splendid entries had been received, and some 20 championship bouts were anticipated. The support accorded the Bluff Club indicates that enthusiasm will go a long way.

Picked Conn to Win. Joe Louis, who is to defend his world heavy-weight title shortly against Billy Conti, light heavy-weight champion, picked Conn to beat Bob Pastor in the match which earned Conn his shot at the heavy-weight championship. Conn is-,said to’have a fine fighting spirit and lias plenty of speed, both in punching

and in getting out of •trouble. But an American writer puts a pertinent query: “Someone should ask Louis how long it would take him to whip Conn if be were to turn on the beat as be did in his second fight with Max Schmuling.”