Greatest Fly-Weight Since Jimmy Wilde

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 181, 21 October 1927, Page 10

Greatest Fly-Weight Since Jimmy Wilde

ANOTHER WELSH BOXER AMERICA IMPRESSED Now that Fidel la Barba has retired from the ring the flyweight title is vacant, and commenting on the situation “Ring General,” in the South Wales 'Football Echo,” says that La Barba’s logical successor is “Wee Willie” Davies, formerly of Nantyffyon, and described as the greatest fly-weight since Jimmy Wilde. Davies, who is 21 years of age, recently definitely established himself in American eyes when he defeated Willie la Morte, a boxer with strong claims for a title meeting with la Barba. Davies will cross the Atlantic soon, and will be managed on this side by Mr. Ted PL Lewis, who was connected

in a similar capacity with Jimmy Wilde when the Welsh wizard was at the height of his fame, and was the holder of the fly-weight title. “Wee Willie” Davies scales 1101 b., 21b. under fly-weight limit, and, according to American critics, is a streak of greased lightning and the smartest boxer in his class. Ho is the conqueror of Newsboy Brown, who twice held Fidel la Barba to a draw. Davies also holds two decisions over Frankie Genaro, the former champion, and amng his other victims are Ernie Paluro, Marty Gold, Dave Adelman, Black Bill, Joey Ross, Ernie Peters, Alec Burley, Jackie Feldman, Ty Coleman, Bucky Riggs, Matty White, Harry Hill, Corporal Izzy Schwartz, Young Denicio and Mickey Durano. When he defeated Newsboy Brown the American said: “How can you beat a racehorse? Davies is the fastest thing I have ever been up against. I could not get him set to hit him solidly. He is a great boy. La Barba will say the same some day.” The present lot of fly-weights are generally poor, and Davies has a great chance of winning a world’s title for Wales.