HE CAN BE KEPT HERE

NZ Truth, Issue 1173, 24 May 1928, Page 10

HE CAN BE KEPT HERE

But Associations Will Have To Import Opponents ' TF it Is at all possible, boxing associations should endeavor to keep ' featherweight champion Johnnie Leckie m the country.

AWONDERFTJTj draw card is this boy, and served up with suitable opponents there will always be a paying house to see him m action. At the present juncture there Is nobody In the country to fight him. I The Australian Invasion has ended j-and Gillespie, Harley and Melton are 'either back home or on their way. "N.Z. Truth" has every reason to believe that Leckie would rather stop at home than make the trip over to the other side. Sydney and Melbourne sound all fight at a distance, but once m those burgs they are not what they are • cracked up to be — from a boxer's point [■of view. ' Should Leckie go away to the other I side he* would have all sorts of expenses to meet, and, with money not .very good m either Sydney or Melj bourne, he would find there was not 'much left after a fight. 1 Here In New Zealand, Johnnie : has his trade m between times. j That brings a certain amount of jgrist to the mill. Then sparring partners he has aplenty at Archie's gym. — a very big consideration. ;ii!iifniiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!iii!iiiiiiiiii]iiniiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiii[iiiiiiii

Pursea are fixed —^he generally gets the maximum — and before the fight he knows what his cut Is to be. The "house" worries him not. Then In addition he generally always manages to get a certain amount as travelling exes. Taken all round Leckle la better off here, and probably nobody realizes that better than himself. To date associations have brought boys over to. try him out and there Is no reason to expect that practice to cease. • , . Not, at least, till Leckle has cleaned up everything of any mention. Otago has Tommy Barber to come, but at the present time the Stadiums people are placing some difficulties m Barber's way. Wellington are negotiating for Norman Radford, the English feather, and so far as matters have progressed all is well. • •' Leckie says he wants to •be kept b usy — n ot over -busy, of course — and it is up to associations to gratify his wish. For by doing so they will not only be helping Leckie, but themselves also. iii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiininiiiiiiiiiiiini