THE BOXING RING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 516, 20 November 1928, Page 7

THE BOXING RING

Notes From Far and Near

ty ‘‘LEFT COUNTER";

Ton l< .medy .aimer neavy-weight o ..er .who is now playing in the films, has a protege named Buckwaiter>s who is looked upon as a likely aspirant for high fistic honours. American sports scribes say that Gene Tunney was not a popular champion because he lacked a killing punch, and they contend that the next champion wiil have to win quickly or he, whoever he is, will not be popular either. m It is reported from the south that Johnny leckie has injured his hand so badly that he will be unable to fight for three months. His bout with Whybrow at Palmerston North has been cancelled so that it is now unlikely that the champion will journey to America as originally intended. Mclnnes and Harms Arrive Arrangements for the Contest between Tommy Mclnnes and Billy Harms in this city on December 3 have been completed. Mclnnes arrived in Auckland from Sydney yesterday and Harms, together with Jack Warner, arrived to-day. Mclnnes will probably train in his old quarters at the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium and Harms at the Fire Station gymnasium. Three Ring Veterans Three old veterans of the rijig, Jack Britton, Mike McTigue and Battling Levinsky, are still fighting well in the States, and although not in the front rank, are winning quite a-number of decisions and collecting a deal of money. They are skilful enough to outclass the younger men who are far inferior as boxers. Britton is 43 years of age N.S.C.’s New Rule The National Sporting Club, the most "toney” boxing club in the world, in deciding to admit the general public to its matches, has shed a little more of its old conservatism. Up to the present time only members and friend.have been allowed at the club to see the contests, a rule which found great disfavour with the sporting public. The new rule will wipe out ill-feeling, although the numbers of the general public admitted will be limited owing to the accommodation capacity. Negro Sensation The sensational negro welter-weight. Jack Thompson, who knocked out the champin. Joe Dundee, in two rounds and became a great draw card, suffered a setback when he met Jackie Fields at San Francisco soon afterwards. Fields was an easy winner and during the last three rounds of the 10-round bout had the* negro very groggy. It is now doubtful if the negotiations for a title bout between Thompson and Dundee wifi eventuate Jack Johnson, the ex-heavv-weight champion, who thinks highly of Thompson, recently said: ‘‘lf Thompson could remain a light-weight, ne w'ouid be nearly as great as Joe Gans. who, 1 consider, was the greatest lightweight in boxing. Thompson is one of the most natural pieces of fighting machinery I have erv seen, and I look i for hi a to go a long way in the game.”

Jim Corbett, the ex-heavy-weight champion of the world, is more popular in New York to-day than when he held the title. After knocking out Armand Emanuel, Mickey Walker expressed his sympathy and persuaded the Jewish heavyweight not to retire as he had intended. A long enforced spell, as the result of no matches coming his way, has been the lot of Steve Hughes, the Dunedin welter-weight. Hughes is very anxious to get in the ring with any boxer his weight in the Dominion. Owing to breaking his collarbone in a bout with Jimmy Goodrich, Sammy Mandell, light-weight champion of the world, will be out of the game for about three months, and seekers after his crown will have a long wait before opposing the champion. In a financial report to the stockholders of the Madison Square Garden Corporation Tex Rickard states that the era of million-dollar purses has ended, and it should be possible to arrange future contests on a basis giving greater protection to the promoter. * * * The light-heavy-weight champion of the world, Tommy Loughran, who is to fight in the elimination tournaments to find the next heavy-weight champion, has been offered 25,000 dollars from a Buenos Aires promoter to fight Luis Firpo. If Loughran accepts he will be conceding nearly 1001 b. in weight. Trowern’s Next Bout When he faces Tommy Fairhall at Wellington next Monday evening. Reg Trowern will be having his first fight in New Zealand for many months. The fight should be one of the best seen in Wellington (a place where good matches are frequent) for a Jong time. Both are hard hitters and are noted for their skill and forceful methods. Trowern is training at the Fire Station gymnasium. Wrestling at Te Awamutu This evening the £SO aside match between Bill Bayne, of Te Awamutu, and Jack McLaughlin, the American, will be staged at Te Awamutu (writes the Te Awamutu correspondent). The contest will be of six 10-minute rounds. Bayne is an athlete of great strength and determination and although perhaps not so up-to-date as his opponent, is a worthy foeman. McLaughlan is only 23 years of age, but is thorough in his methods Dempsey’s Return Unlikely Yankee scribes are predicting that Dempsey will soon be in the ring again in an effort to regain his title. The former champion is appearing on the stage in Broadway at present and the critics say he has quite a fair amount of stage talent. The name of the play is ‘‘The Big Fight,” and Dempsey's wife, Estelle Taylor, is in the cast. The former champion Is drawing £ 2,000 a week and as the play will probably run for another twelve months he will then be a boxer of the past. His salary in that time would be £104,000, a sum he would not receive if he again took up boxing.