THE BOXING RING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 627, 2 April 1929, Page 14

THE BOXING RING

Notes From Far and Near

By “LEPT COUNTER”

Tony Canzoneri, former featherweight champion of the world, has been having plenty of fights since he lost his title to Andre Routis, and he recently knocked out Joey Sangor in seven rounds. When he lost his title, Canzoneri said he could make more money without the title, as lie was able to fight much more often. Tommy Loughran, light-lieavy-weight champion of the world, recently received the decision over Armand Emanuel, but some of the spectators thought the decision wrong. When the verdict was announced, one of Emanuel’s seconds leapt into the ring and aimed a blow at the referee, who hit back. The offender was removed from tho building. Risko v. Von Porat Further proof that the present elimination tournament, to find the next heavy-weight champion of the world, is being run on the “two-life” system, is shown in the fact that Johnny Risko, who was beaten by the German. Schmeling, has been matched to fight Von Porat, Tom Heeney’s conqueror, at Boston on Friday, the bout to be of 10 rounds’ duration. * * * Can Taylor Stop the Run? Next Saturday night, at New Plymouth, Frank Taylor, of Auckland, will face Tommy Donovan, the recently-turned professional featherweight, who has won his first three battles by the knock-out route. Taylor is tackling a solid proposition in Donovan, who is both older and heavier than the Auckland lad. But in the past Taylor has fought men much heavier than himself, and his trainers are confident that lie will stop Donovan’s run of victories. The Aucklander is a cool and clever boxer, with a solid wallop, and he will need it all when he faces the regular little roughhouse of Taranaki, who thinks nothing of scientific boxing, but rushes in, slinging punches from all angles. However, lie leaves himself fairly open, and Taylor may utilise that to the fullest advantage. mo*

Game to the Core For a long time known in New Zealand boxing circles as a hardworking amateur, Johnny Gray, or, as ho was better known in New Zealand, “Battling Nelson,” went to Australia and entered the professional ranks, fighting in preliminaries. However, last December he met with an accident, and lost a leg. Gray is not satisfied to rest on his laurels and let the boxing game go, but he is determined to start again as soon as he can get an artificial leg. This speaks volumes for his gameness, but he will find that an artificial leg, even in these days of advanced science, cannot take the place of a natural leg, and it is unlikely that he will be able to continue to fight. During the time he was fighting preliminaries. Gray had 18 contests for 14 wins, three losses, and one draw. His friends in New Zealand will join in wishing him the best of luck in the future.

Seldom have such evenly matched men been seen as Jim Broadfoot and Clarrie Pocock, who met at Greymoutli on Saturday night for the fifth time. This time, however, the Aucklander was the winner from the start, carrying: the fight to Pocock all the time, and romping home well ahead on points. Leckie in Australia Johnny Leckie wanted to have Glasson as his first opponent in Australia, but the powers that be thought otherwise, and matched him with Billy Grime. The New Zealand-champion brought joy to the followers of the sport on this side by scoring a technical knock-out in the fourteenth round. He will probably be matched with Willie Smith, or “Cocoa” Jackson, in his next bout. m m m Paul Beats Trowern The account of the Trowern-Paul contest in Christchurch last night is so far only meagre, and it is impossible, to comment accurately on the bout, other than to say that Paul’s win. narrow though it was, should secure him a match with Artie Hay, the welterweight champion. The report states that Paul’s left bothered Trowern, and the former will need a good left against the champion, whose main weapon is a straight left, should they be matched. • • • The “Three Musketeers” When Jack Kearns broke with Jack Dempsey he said that in the fulness of time he would produce a better man than the ex-champion. Since 1927 he has tried out over 80 heavy-weights which lie has reduced to three, whom he has named the Three Musketeers — Athos, Porthos and Aramis. These three young heavy-weights are “to swagger through the country knocking off contenders as soon as they arise,” as Kearns expresses it. Kearns says that from these three he will produce a super-Dempsey.

Two More Professionals? According to rumours current in Wellington boxing circles, Stone, amateur welter-weight champion of New Zealand, and Cyril Hurne, bantamweight champion, are considering turning professional. At the present time there are very few professional boxers of either weight in New Zealand, In the welter-weight class there is Hay, the champion, Reg Trowern, Hughes, and Jack Paul, and in the bantam there is Taylor and Larsen. Stone has hardly had enough experience to engage any of the present welters, unless it is Hughes, but Hurne should be a good match for Taylor. Both Hurne and Taylor have received special awards for scientific boxing, and on the former’s showing at the New Zealand championship at Auckland last year, and given the opportunity, he should do well among the paid fighters.