NEW BOXING CHAMPION

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1920, Page 1

NEW BOXING CHAMPION

(LONDON, April 2. Tom Glimmer, of Rotherham,Avon the middle-weight boxing championship at the National Sporting Club last night by defeating Jib S u h>van, of Bermondsey, in the fourteenth round. It was the’old, old story, of youth triumphing over age. The contest as a matter of fact was aptly summed up at the end by Pat O’Keefe, Sullivan’s chief second, when he said, “It was nature that did it.” Sullivan lost because his star mina failed at the moment when he needed it most. And yet, one minute prior to lus first knock-down, lie seemed to be going strong enough. That lie was I tired and very slow- footed was obvious, but there was plenty of fight in him, as was jlemonstrated in the twelfth round, when he chased Glimmer all oyer the ring, and at one period at least simply belaboured him with .lefts and rights. This twelfth round was Sullivan’s best. He had his opponent in such a. groggy state that the w ondei was, Gummer did not go down. A DRAMATIC FINISH. The fourteenth round was dramatic in ! the extreme. SVlllivan started by scorI ing with a succession of left jabs, and (then, in attempting to sway- v out of i distance ho was caught by a. blow j j which turned him completely around. He fell heavily, and although he came ! back to his feet at nine, it was all too I dear that he was beaten. Yet he threw i in a tremendous right hook as he sprang to his feet which sent Glimmer staggering across the ring. It was a very near thing for the Rotherham man, but Sullivan had expended his last ounce of energy in delivering this

punch and the next time lie went do vn it was more as the result of exhaustion than as the result of a- blow. He was down five times in all; for nine three, eight and six seconds—but on the fifth occasion Mr Douglas wisely.stopped the proceedings. • For a man who. won the middleweight championship ten years ago Sullivan did exceedingly-well. He is naturally slower than he used to be, and it is-doubtful whether he retains his punching power. His years, owever, really robbed him of victory. Glimmer, as yet, is not up to the standard of some of the men who have held Lonsdale belts. He lias a good left, which he does not use enough, but lie is rather inclined to fall into clinches, and in last night’s contest he was warned on several occasions for ly-intr on his man.