THE BOXING RING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 237, 27 December 1927, Page 16

THE BOXING RING

Notes From Far and Near ]=============== By “LEFT COUNTER” ■

It is likely that the Wairoa Boxing Association will match Dick Loveridge and R. Fitzsimmons for a bout on January. 17. • • • Frattini, the Italian middleweight at present in Australia, is stated to be a grand opera singer of no mean ability, but he prefers walloping to warbling. Tommy Angus, a young Scotsman, took up boxing in England a few months ago because he was unemployed. In his third fight he was knocked out and in falling his head struck the floor so hard that he died a few days later. * * * Latest advices state that George Cook, the Australian heavyweight, who has been fighting in Europe, is going to America in an endeavour to take part in the elimination tournament that Tex Rickard is staging for the purpose of finding an opponent for Tunnoy. • * * As a result of Artie McQueen’s efforts a team of Filipino boxers has arrived in Sydney and as bad Filipino boxers are rarities some good bouts should be seen in Australia in the near future. The team is Kid Fife, bantamweight, Young Aide, featherweight. Fighting Minders, lightweight, and Little Cdwboy, lightweight. * * • An Italian heavyweight with the mellifluous name of Aroberto Roberti, smiting hard and often in the Caucasian cause against the Ethiopian, knocked out Tut Jackson in the fourth round of a contest at Philadelphia, in which the coloured man was given a terrific beating. Jackson was boomed about five years ago as a wonderful fighter, but he faded into insignificance. • • • Micky Walker, the middleweight champion, was held on bail of fIOO at Red Bank (New Jersey), to answer a charge of assault which has been brought against him by Mr. Walter Reade, a wealthy theatre owner. Mr. Reade admitted that they were discussing the feasibility of Mickey Walker’s leasing of the Pier Theatre, which it is proposed to build at Ashbury Park, and that he remarked to Wilker, “You don’t suppose officials would lease the theatre to a prize fighter, do you?” There is some dispute as to who struck the first blow, but Mr. Reade’s forehead showed who had been hit the harder.

Although Willie Smith, the brilliant South African boxer, is in New York ostensibly to meet Bud Taylor, the American champion, for the world’s title, it will not be surprising if the contest does not take place. It is an open secret that Taylor has been considering for a long time the idea of entering the featherweight class. He is getting heavier and it may be that when called upon to make Bst 61b he will find the task beyond him. Smith, however, stands just as good a chance of landing the title. If Taylor fails to do the weight, then obviously there will have to be a contest or contests to set up a new champion. Smith, being on the spot, will be right in the market, and, as conqueror of Baldock, he has a claim second to none.

In reply to a cable asking film to return to England immediately, Phil Scott has replied, “I won’t come home; I’m staying right here; I’m head over heels in—offers.” In spite of his decisive defeat by Knute Hansen, Scott has not given up hope of making good in America, and says he is determined, if given the opportunity, to prove to America that he is a better boxer than he appeared to be when he faced Hansen. Humbert Fugazy, Tex Rickard’s rival m the promoting business, it attempting to arrange a return match between the British champion and Hansen, and other offers to Scott have been received from Brooklyn, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, and San Francisco. Scott said he would not leave America yet unless the reasons for his return to England were absolutely imperative.

Faster and in better nick than the heavier opposition, McDonald always had an edge on Frattini, but the Italian was a dangerous man right through, writes an Australian scribe of the Frattini McDonald clash. Remarkably tough, he took enough punishment to stop three other men, yet by alternately foxing and fighting he finished the stronger of the pair. Over the two last rounds McDonald, with both eyes split was blinded by blood, and in the 14th session he ran on to a right-hand that nearly finished the fight. He kept his feet, however, and it was a punchdrunk pair who used their damaged vision to sight sanctuary in their corners at the end of the round. Wearied by consistent and hurtful walloping, they battled out the last round desperfound bot h on their only fedYng ' as the winner - was the

F J a ? k 7 aylor ' the great little Auckland bantamweight, will have his second professional fight when he meets Tommy Griffiths in a return engagement at Napier on. January 2„ Grifse. curedthe decision on points when B 9 * met at Napier at the beginning ° n that occasion fight fans witnessed a fine scientific display had w any * hous:ht that the Aucklander ka ? "on- Aii enthusiast who was pres?hL a d the - Writer that “ waa so close that a decision either way could have a e d?aw Ve Tavm w* U should have been a draw. Taj lor s trainer, Eugene Donovan stated last week thlt Tayfl^f traiae d hls left arm early in the sfve t re ai if had to continue with a handicap. The arm has now practically recovered. Taylor is showhe™ J” 3 gs ' mnasiu m workof LS,, 1 * 6 certainly looks in the best fight melt n d w, 3 hls flrst Professional the rW f. ke<3 hiS flrst a PPearauce in mm T^ S £ or over a year the bout did aTard m good and Griffiths will find ? hard man to beat on January 2. It of his^ei that J aylor has to fight out bantem. ’ ’ because no professional m flf on , the active list. Unless ®. th‘ s class come across from Australia it appears that Taylor will t° ‘ ak ® on the featherweights. “Y.®h in the heavier class he can be jelled upop te give of fcis best.

Signor Mussolini has sent a personal letter to Enzo Fiermonte, the young Italian middleweight, congratulating him on his victory over Shoeing-Smith Davies at the National Sporting Club some time ago. • • • It is reported that there was record booking for the middleweight title bout between Gordon Kiely, who defeated Lachie McDonald on points, and Mer? Williams, at the Leichhardt Stadium, despite the fact that there was much tin-hare opposition. • • • An Australian opinion of Lachie McDonald: —“McDonald is one of thoet sudden-death scrappers who swing Into action from the first bell, and throw punches at anything and everything until the brawl is over. A hefty bodybelter with a stinging wallop In both fists, Lachie has troubled more than one in Sydney. A good boxer always has a chance with him, but the man who elects to stand in and trade thump 3 has trouble coming to him at express speed.*? • • • Writes an Australian scribe of Mike Flynn:—"As a mixer, Michael is unsurpassed. He’s one of those rough, tough, wild men whp reckons legal territory is any portion of the anatomy from the sole of the foot to the top of the head. As a fighter, Mike is highly successful—his only difficulty being that he can’t win fights. Ani when a pug is in that position, can still retain his popularity, he’s a house-pleaser all right/’ • • • In view of Elky Clark’s announcement some time ago that he intended to return to the ring, a declaration from him now that he has made up his mind definitely to retire will come as a surprise. The reason given for his decision is his injured eye. but he had taken expert surgical advice in Scotland and England, and had been assured that there was practically no danger attached to a return to the ring. Mr. Tommy Colquhoun, Clark’e manager, in a statement, said: "After his visit to a London specialist Elky returned quite uplifted and started serious training. During the week-end he had a real try out, and boxed with all his old skill and vigour. The after effects on his eyes, however, gave him serious cause for reflection, and after carefully considering the whole matter Elky has reluctantly decided to retire from the boxing game.” • • • The question of the greatest heavyweight the world has ever known, never fails to produce interesting opinion. One of the best American judges, Eddie Graney, said; "I have thought, and always shall think, that Peter Jackson in his prime was the greatest piece of fighting machinery ever produced, topping even the great John L. Sullivan! I shall never forget the picture of physical perfection he presented. Over 6ft tall, beautifully proportioned, he lookwl like a statue carved out of ebony. His features were handsome and well formed. Peter Jackson, remember, was not an African negro, and so did not possess the racial characteristics of thick lips and flat nose. His strength was prodigious, and yet he gave not the slightest impression of being musclebound. His were the lithe, stringy muscles of the true athlete. He moved like a flash of light, with the grace of a thoroughbred racehorse and the power and snap of a tightly coiled spring, suddenly released.”

The New York Boxing Commission has decided that in future, gum-guards, which previously had been forbidden, may be used. The age limit has been advanced from 38 to 40, but boxers between the ages of 35 and 40 must undergo a physical examination twice a year by three community physicians. "Solar Plexus” in the Sydney "Referee” writes as follows:—"All boxers should undergo a blood test every three months. If ono looks through doings of the past, one will find that those who met death in the ring were youngsters. In every case the post mortem examinations reveal that they were organically wrong. A casual examination of the heart is evidently not sufficient as those lads who lost their lives in the Australian ring all passed the heart test. I have suggested the blood test before, and put it forward again in the Interests of the boxers, the promoters and the sport.”