THE BOXING RING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 650, 30 April 1929, Page 15

THE BOXING RING

Notes From Far and Near

By"LEFT COUNTER”

The Te Aroha Boxing Association is holding an amateur tournament on May 8, when the principal bout will be between the two Auckland heavyweights, Frear and McCarthy. In addition leading amateurs from the surrounding districts will take part. According to advice received from the South, Artie Hay and Jack Paul will probably meet in Dunedin on or about May 11 It was previouslv thought that Hay’s welter-weight title would not be at stake, as Paul’s residential qualifications were doubtful. However, advice received from the Boxing Council stated that it approved of the title being involved. With the retirement of Tommy Mulligan, England has lost one of her most popular and colourful boxers. He lias made a fortune in the ring and recently joined the Benedicts, both factors no doubt deciding him to close his career. Milligan's career was somewhat chequered, but he was always a draw-card, and was well liked by the followers of the sport. Broadfoot’s Next Popular Jim Broadfoot has been matched with Vince Parker, brother of Eddie Parker, and the bout will be decided at Palmerston North on June 3. Parker has been fighting successfully in Australia. TITe association wanted Broadfoot to tackle Lachie Alacdonald, but the Auckland middleweight reckoned that a fight with Afacdopald was worth more than the association was prepared to offer. However, Broadfoot is willing to meet Alacdonald whenever sufficient inducement is offered. Opponent For Sunni Narangan Singh, an Indian middleweight wrestler, is at present in New Zealand and he is looking for matches. He has never been beaten at his own weight, according to his manager, Air. S. Singh, but he is not particular about size, and will wrestle any man at any weight. The Indian is only 24 years of age, but lie has been engaged in wrestling since he was a boy. He is not settling in New Zealand, and will return to India before long. He should be a good match for Sunni, who is also undefeated at the middle-weight limit. Pladner’s Success and Failure Victories over Johnny Hill and Izgy Schwartz, and on March 2 over Frankie Genaro, established Emiie Pladner, the French liy-weight, as champion of his class throughout the world. The title is officially vacant, but America put Schwartb andSGenaro as’ the two outstanding contenders, and by defeating both Pladner qualified for the title. In a return match on April 18, which was billed as a world’s championship affair, Genaro received the decision on a foul in the fifth round, a punch of Pladner’s going low. In the first fight the Frenchman knocked Genaro out in under a minute. and the American’s seconds claimed that the punch was low. However, it was held to be fair and the decision went to Pladner on a knockout. In view of the result of the return bout, the claim is interesting, and the English and American writers will have plenty to write about.

Urquhart to Fight Donovan Leslie XJrquhart, who. his father and trainer tells me, will fight under his old ring name of G. Leslie, will have his first professional contest at New Plymouth on May 25, when he will oppose Tommy Donovan. The association tried to induce Matt Hatton, of Auckland, to journey South, but Matt wanted too much cash for the journey, and the proposal fell through. However, Leslie and Donovan should give the fans down that way plenty of fighting, and Leslie’s father is confident that the Aucklander will spoil Donovan’s run of wins. ' It will be remembered that Leslie defeated the Taranaki fireman lor the amateur championship of New Zealand, and it will be interesting to see if he can put a blot on Donovan’s professional record. Leslie has ulso accepted a match for the Christchurch Association for June 3, but his opponent has not yet been selected.

Old Harry Stone is still in tlie field looking for lights. Some of the fistic warriors, great and small, do not like leaving the ring, even though the advancing years make them somewhat slow in tlieir movements.

George Modricli lxas been fighting in the Old Country, and reports implied that he was another Tom Heency. However, Modrich was opposed recently by a good heavy-weight in Joe j Mullins, who knocked out the New Zealander in the sixth round. AMATEUR BOXING HIGH STANDARD IN NEW ZEALAND N.B.A. ANNUAL MEETING “As one who has seen boxing in many lands, I can say that our amateur boxers are capable enough of holding their own in any company,” said Mr. E. A. Craig, president of the Northern Boxing Association, at the annual meeting held last evening. Mr. Craig cited the cases of Keenan, Murray, Purdy, Trowern, Macdonald. Hatton, Leckie, Broadl'oot and Tom Heeney, as showing the class of boxer produced in New Zealand amateur boxing circles. In accordance with his policy of giving a summary of contests in New Zealand during the 12 months ending March, Mr. Craig said that, although only 30 professional contests were staged, compared with 47 during 1927, I, amateur bouts were staged, as against C7l during the previous year. FUNCTION OF ASSOCIATIONS Many people were under a misapprehension regarding the control of boxing in New Zealand, continued Mr. Craig. Many believed Jihat the associations were, proprietary companies, formed primarily for personal gain. To those with that belief he would say that not one penny was distributed by way of dividend or other form of payment to members of associations. “Our constitution forbids it, and th& workers are honorary, * giving freely of time and money in the interest of the sport, a sport which means so much to the youth of the community.” continued t he speaker. The building of a portable stage was being considered.- The present stage was really only half a stage. A portable one would enable the ring to be brought forward several feet into the body of the hall, and would also permit of the lowering of the height of the stage, and improving the view of the patrons. This would no doubt be finalised by the incoming committee. The year had been a strenuous one for the officers and committee. The association’s asset during the year was undoubtedly Tommy Mclnnes, who was brought from Australia. If another Mclnnes could be found this year there would be another successful season. BROADCASTING CONTESTS As a question of policy the committee decided against permission being given the New Zealand Broadcasting Company to broadcast descriptions of the association's contests, concluded Mr. Craig. After some discussion the meeting decided that permission, with certain reservations, be given to broadcast future contests. It was decided to recommend 1o the incoming committee that the question of the erection of the portable stage be finalised. The committee was a;so recommended to consider the advisability of erecting a stadium for the association. Officers were elected as follow: Patron, the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson; president, Mr. E. A. Craig; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. M. Connolly, D R. Caldwell. G Baildon. J. Gillett, G. Henning, E. Bavis, G. McMillan, .1. W. Russell; lion, secretary, Mr. J. U. Watts; lion, treasurer, Mr. E. Bean; auditor, Mr. C. F. Sanders; committee, Messrs. J. W. Russell, J. W. Brown, F. Burns, W. J. Ham ill. W. E. Dervan, R. W. Ilug'g, J. Gillies, M. Ricketts, J. A. B. Rellaby, W. Luke, T. P. Pountney and G. Bush.