BOXING

Southland Times, Issue 21097, 31 May 1930, Page 19

BOXING

(By Self-Defence.)

FIXTURES.

June 3.—Sammy Shack v. Johnny Leckie at Hawera.

June 6.—Tommy Donovan v. Billy Grime, at Auckland. June 12. —Max Schmeling v. Jack Sharkey (worlds heavy-weight championship), New York. June 21.—Johnny Leckie v. Tommy Donovan at New* Plymouth. June 28.—Tommy Donovan v. Lou Bloom at New Plymouth.

Bill North has a good school going at Gore, and in conversation with the writer recently remarked that he had at least 10 boys ready to put in the ring when the opportunity offered. Among the number there is an open flyweight, a novice midget, a novice bantam, a. novice and an open feather, a novice and an open lightweight, a novice welter and an open heavyweight. None of them, he stated, are in the “mug” category.

An American paper of March 19 states that up to that date Primo Camera’s share of the gate receipts in the ten fights in which he had appeared since he arrived in the United States early in January totalled 103,391 dollars. His fights totalled 21 rounds.

Tommy Griffiths is in solid training at .the present time, and says he feels better than ever, reports Hooker.' He is keen to get back into the game, and would fight anywhere for.a small purse. Griffiths had a run of bad luck last year, and after being unable to strike form in Australia, -failed to come up to scratch in several engagements in New Zealand. He was matched with Frank Taylor at Te Aroha, and subjected to some scathing remarks by the referee following the mill. The match was a bad one in the first' place, and the boys were made to carry the burden, the referee’s indictment being generally,regarded as unfair, especially by those who know both Taylor and Griffiths. Taylor has since got into harness, and won the New Zealand bantamweight championship, and Griffiths reckons he can still show the fans that he is not through. If he gets the opportunity of a match, he will leave nothing to chance in preparing himself for it. Jack (Kid) Berg, English fighter, who outed Mushy Callahan, world’s junior welterweight championship, in London, is recognized by the leading American fight paper, The Ring, as the world’s junior welterweight champion. Negotiations are under wtiy to induce Mickey Walker to defend his middleweight title against Len Harvey, the British champion, at Olympia, London, in June. Critics are in doubt whether any promoter in London can stage the show at a profit and pay Walker the guarantee he demands. There is also a doubt abouf Walker being able to make the middle-weight limit. Walker is offered £lO,OOO and expenses, and exfienses will be in the region of another £lOOO. At Detroit recently Jack Thompson, a' San Francisco negro, defeated Jackie Fields over a journey of 15 rounds and took the world’s welter-weight title. The ex-cham-pion’s correct name is John Finklestein. He was born in Chicago in 1907 and in, 1924 won the featherweight championship at the Olympic Games. The -Ring, America’s foremost boxing journal, sorts out the best-looking prospects in each division monthly, and in, the .May issue of this, monthly, Jack Haines, Austra-

lian middle-weight champion, is listed as the best prospect for March. If he keeps on as he is doing Haines is bound to attract the attention of American fight promoters. Jimmy McLaurin is on the road to a championship (says.the Ring). Those who saw him batter Sammy Mandell, world s lightweight title holder, all over the ring m Chicago, were fully convinced that as soon as Jackie Fields enters the ring with Jimmy in a championship match McLaurin will dethrone him. McLaurin’s second victory over Mandell was even more convincing than the first, and proved to the boxing world that the Vancouver cyclone is the greatest hitter in the world at. his weight. [Fields lost his title to Young Jack Thompson.] The Northern Boxing Association ha? arranged what promises to be an excellent match to open its season on June 3. Both Johnnie Leckie and Sammy Shack are experienced glove men, who can be relied upon to give first-class displays of boxing. The pair have met before—at Dunedin— Leckie gaining a points decision. The Northern Association is keen to get Tommy Mclnnes in the Auckland ring, and it is anticipated he will be seen in action in these parts before many months (states the New Zealand Herald). If so, there is little doubt a number of prominent Australians will be brought over as opponents for him, besides those at present in New Zealand. Auckland is to have another fully-equipped gymnasium in the ci’jf. Fritz Holland, the ex-champion American boxer, will be in charge, and is devoting his full time to training. He has decided to take up residence in Auckland permanently. He is vycll known throughout New Zealand as a trainer, especially in Christchurch, where he has been for the past six years.

The return Donovan-Grime match was to have taken place at Hawera two weeks ago, but advice has been received that the meeting has been postponed until June 6. Hector Leckie is working out exceptionally well at present, and is awaiting matches in defence of his New Zealand lightweight title, says “Hooker.” It is a matter for doubt whether Hawera will go ahead with the Glen Leslie-Hector Leckie match, in view of Leslie’s recent knockout at the hands of Johnny Leckie, but in the meantime Hector is keeping in good shape in view of possible matches. At Oakland, California, recently Eddie Murdoch, a San Francisco lightweight, established a knockout record that should stand for all time. Murdoch came out of his corner at the sound of the bell, hooked a left to Art Seigal’s jaw—and the fight was over. The actual fighting time was about one second—not counting the counting. Previously the record was held by Battling Nelson, who knocked out William Rossier in two seconds, on April 5, 1902, at Harvey, Illinois.

LECKIE’S TRIUMPH

FIGHTING FIREMAN KNOCKED OUT.

NAPIER BOY RETAINS TITLE.

LARGE CROWD WILDLY EXCITED.

In defending his title of feather weight champion of New Zealand against Tommy Donovan, Johnnie Leckie demonstrated in the Napier Municipal Theatre on Saturday night that he had returned to his old form, and to win by a technical knock-out in the twelfth round came as a great surprise even to his most ardent supporters, says the Hawkes Bay Tribune. Leckie had every reason to regard the challenge with concern, as Donovan was regarded as a most dangerous adversary in view of his triple defeat of Pete Sarron.

The contest was fought at a great pace, with Leckie having the advantage all through, with the exception of the eighth and ninth rounds. In both these rounds the Waitara man predominated and, forcing the fight looked as though his condition was going to stand him in good stead and relieve Leckie of his title. The eleventh round, however, spelt disaster for the challenger, Who went down to the canvas following a salvo of lefts to the face and a right to the jaw. The gong was in time to save the referee the trouble of making the count. The twelfth round had only been in .progress a few seconds when a right cross to the jaw from Leckie ended the contest. The bout will long live in the memory of the 2000 patrons who witnessed it. Leckie was awarded the decision amid scenes of the greatest enthusiasm. Both men entered the ring at 8.13, with Leckie having an advantage in reach. Leckie’s straight left continually rained on the challenger’s face, while the latter’s counters frequently missed or fell short. In the earlier stages of the contest considerable amusement was caused when some one from the house called out while both men were mixing it W'ell, “What do you think about it, Sarron?” Sarron, who was occupying a ringside seat, was accorded an enthusiastic reception when introduced to the house.

Leckie’s feat on Saturday night was noteworthy in that it was the first time that the nuggety fireman, who has had a great run of successes, has been declared the loser on a technical knock-out. Donovan's Best Round.

Early in the eighth round Leckie connected with his left twice to Donovan’s face. Leckie was sent to the ropes, where the Taranaki man sent in a hard right to the face. In the fighting at close range Donovan was very busy with his right on Leckie’s body. In the resultant clinch Leckie ripped a nasty right cross to Donovan’s face, which was replied to with body punches. Leckie again rushed in, playing a tattoo on his opponent’s head. A dingdong battle was in progress as the gong sounded. This was Donovan’s best round.

In the ninth round, after a little sparring, Donovan landed a heavy right to Leckie’s body, the latter replying with a right to his opponent’s ribs. Leckie ducked smartly and avoided some heavy stuff from the attacking Taranaki man. On the ropes Leckie was obliged to stop a nasty right to the face, which was repeated with equal effect. Working back to the centre Donovan failed to connect with a left uppercut. Again the challenger was back on Leckie to score with both hands to the face. This was also Donovan’s round.

Then tenth round opened with the Napier man making a vigorous attack, in which he handed out a nasty right cross to the challenger’s face, which was replied to with two straight lefts to the same mark. Both' men were going strongly, with Donovan looking for an uppercut. A strong attack by Donovan was replied to with heavy lefts to the face. Leckie ducked and missed Donovan’s right swing. The champion was going at surprising speed. Donovan ducked smartly and avoided taking a right swing. Leckie’s round.

The eleventh round opened with both men going at great speed, Donovan leading with a left to the face. Donovan’s face was now Leckie’s mark, and he sent in vicious rights and lefts. Donovan seemed helpless to stem the salvo of lefts that were being directed at him. Keeping up his attack Leckie caught his opponent off his feet to drop him to the canvas with a right to the jaw. The referee had only begun to make the count when the gong intervened. Donovan was immediately carried to his corner by' his seconds, who worked on him during the interval.

The Final Round. The gong for the twelfth and final round did not find Donovan equal to the great task ahead of him. Leckie was determined on settling the question without delay and attacked vigorously with both hands, which Donovan gamely tried to avoid. The end came quickly. On breaking from a clinch Leckie ripped in another of his right crosses to the fighting fireman’s face, which sent him through the ropes. ' Donovan, who had stood up gamely against Leckie’s terrific hard hitting, was in a bar! way and the referee stopped the contest giving the decision to Leckie.